Man hits SOS on his Inreach, and is treated poorly.

I’m very surprised and disappointed by the unprofessional behavior described in this video.

He starts by saying he is completely prepared. Uh huh.

Then he says that the trailhead and the destination are at the same altitude, so there should be no climbs–a flat walk. By this logic, you could hike from the South Rim to the North Rim in the Grand Canyon, because they are almost the same elevation. Maybe he should learn to read a topo map.

Then he says he’s overly prepared, with six or seven days of food. Then admits that he doesn’t have enough fuel to cook that food. Uh huh.

He won’t hike cross country up to the trailhead–he needs a trail. But anyone who has done real hiking in the snow knows that trails are of very limited help—it’s often easier just to hike straight up the slope…since the snow covers a lot of what would be obstacles. And it’s half a mile, which the SAR team can see, and they keep telling him that. And he keeps not hearing it.

He won’t hike 1/2 mile up the hill, but he has energy enough to set up camp, and to hike around to “scout out his situation.” He even has enough energy to tamp down a large area of the snow so that the SAR team can spend the night with him there. That’s what he does for three hours. It would take far less energy to just hike the hell out. Especialy since he tells the SAR that two and half hours isn’t enough time for him to do that, and then they come down and walk him out in plenty of time…well within the two and half hours.

I did like the part about how he bought his Garmin just for these kinds of situations…and learned that it doesn’t really solve the problem.

Nope. Not even Garmin can fix stupid.

But I am looking at this from the SAR team point of view: I hear the guy. He says he’s fine, if a little tired. He has food and shelter. He’s not in danger. Great. We’ll send a team out to the nearest trailhead, 1/2 mile way, and he can meet us there. Should be no problem.

Next day he says, Nope. No can do. You’ve got to come get me.

They walk down the 1/2 mile and show him the way out. He grumbles. He says he seriously needed rescue, then points out how he was strong enough to help them turn around their snowmobiles–even makes fun of them for needing his help to do this.

And then complains that after he posts everything he does on YouTube, they shouldn’t post about the rescue because, you know, it makes him look like an idiot.

Yes it does.

I have solo traveled thousands of miles in coastal Alaska over the past 30 years, and I have been deeply involved with our local search and rescue organization for decades, including working closely with the US Coast Guard and Alaska State Troopers. From this vantage point, I can sympathize with both Matthew’s take on the situation as well as Paul’s.

But as either a rescue volunteer or professional, the subject in your charge deserves your outward respect, support, and courteous response whether they are an otherwise well-prepared but unlucky backcountry traveler who simply misjudged the conditions, a truly hapless and accidental victim who had no business being there in the first place, or a demanding and click-thirsty Internet drama queen obsessed with vindicating their side of the story. Part of the burden of search and rescue is treating every subject in the same professional manner and keeping your opinion to yourself.

Somewhat orthogonally, it really seems like Garmin acquitted themselves well in this instance.

Great post Phillip. Completely agree.

I hope everyone helps his guy out and buys something with all of his affiliate links.  Plus at the bottom of all of his links he has a “hire me” link.

Makes one wonder if this is nothing more than a click bait stunt.

It’s almost like perfect people don’t get lost/stranded, hence every SAR effort responds to an imperfect human.

This happened in my neck of the woods. I have to say I agree with Paul W on this one. I also think the professionalism of the deputy’s could have been better (but they aren’t a SAR team so it was nice of them to show up 👍🏻)…but in almost all cases it’s up to you and your skills in the backcountry. #expecttoselfrescue

Have been out there since cub scouts. and still have screwed up plenty of times.  Did not watch the video because of baja bob’s heads up.  Life is for learning, but only for those who are willing to learn.  Here in NH, you can get stuck with a big bill for a rescue, which costs big time.  Guess that’s the only way.

Have to watch video again. But why didn’t he just hike back out the way he came in? Trail already broken and he was familiar with that route, abeit tough way in. Obviously he was scared, he even wrote it in a text, and panick set it. I would say he should have brought 2 cannisters knowing the snow was there and he could melt snow for water and cooking. It seems other then that, he had all necessary gear, so even if he had to backtrack his trail in, and take an extra day or so.. it was possible instead of calling for help breaking trail out? Scared and panick.. thats what happened. Thankfully is was not a  complicated rescue and everyone was ok. Not everyone is nice, thats just life. I wonder if he was some cute lady if the rescue guys would have been nicer in that situation?

After watching the video and looking at the facebook post, I agree with Philip’s second paragraph. The guy seemed freaked out by the steep ascent and limited floatation of his snowshoes with his 50ish pound pack. He deserved more compassion.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02y8WCTTCdizFUUWL9EF7seYKcgP8W4Am5DaC3dBrsW6vohFi48JUZbXP6hCi7juvbl&id=100064442959438

Totally agree that another can of gas would have made sense. Also, aren’t Jetboils a poor choice for melting snow?

Seems like the ability to build a fire would have solved his water needs and a more suitable kettle for melting snow wouldn’t have hurt either.

thanks Paul for summarizing

now I don’t have to watch video :)

I’d love to see an Audit the Audit on this?

Should I really give this video another view stat? Seems like a set up from what y’all are saying. Not sure if that needs to be rewarded. Maybe I’ll just skip it.

I can’t imagine filming my rescue, should I ever need one. I’d be totally embarrassed, or else hurt so badly I’d be thinking about vicodin not youtube.

lol he’s literally a videographer. Also, basing you opinion on the opinion of others seems irrational.

Reading up the various accounts of SAR rescues that happen and are documented either by Garmin or other sources over the years, almost all the rescued have high praise for the rescuers and how professional the SAR team was.

Unfortunately, the rescuers in this case turned out to be cops who are not trained SAR rescuers and probably they were not happy they were doing this rescue of a guy who appears to be in good shape – that is not hurt etc. Just bad luck that he got these folks to rescue him. If it had been a team of trained SAR rescuers, maybe it would have been different.

People react differently to situations. This hiker seems to be an experienced hiker – but, who knows what goes through people’s mind when they think they are in “oh shit” situations. People become irrational. Sometimes hikers die when they don’t call soon enough. Or overestimate their abilities. It is better to be labeled stupid or a snowflake – but be rescued to live another day. The hiker should just ignore how others treated him and be happy that he got rescued!

Life is too short to be angry or hurt by how others treat you! That is a life lesson we all can learn – difficult to follow – but a good lesson. (I learnt this by reading Stephen Covey’s 7 habits of highly effective people).

Amen Murali C…Amen!

“It was a one person snowmobile.” What a stupid choice of equipment for RESCUE work!!

And how ignorant were the sheriff deputies to act the way they did. But again they had NO search and rescue training which speaks to the ignorance of the county government itself, a county in Idaho with millions of acres of backcountry.

On the other hand I feel Mike should have carried snowshoes because in that time of year he could expect possible heavy snow. And as well he should have known how “to build a fire”. Outdoor skills go way beyond knowing how to use your backpacking gear. When winter camping in addition to my MSR Universal stove (with white gas, in winter) I carry ESBIT tablets for tinder and a roll-up titanium Trail Designs Sidewinder stove to burn wood for melting snow to save my MSR stove’s fuel.

Yes. I was a Nordic National Ski Patroller for almost 10 years and taught US Army ROTC cadets winter survival in the classroom and in the wild as well so I am more experienced in that environment more than Mike was. Still Mike made some mistakes. Lack of emergency food was one of them as well. But given his situation I feel using the InReach emergency button was justified.

I highly recommend buying and reading “ALLEN & MIKE’S REALLY COOL BACKCOUNTRY SKI BOOK” It is about 30 % backcountry skiing and 70% backcountry winter camping and travel. Best book on the topic I know.

Nope. Not even Garmin can fix stupid.

I think that sums it pretty succinctly, but all means click on his link to help him make some $ though

Not justifying the public shaming the sheriffs did after the rescue-that’s uncalled for, but the hiker seemed very entitled and I couldn’t get over the fact he said he was out of food-nope-he had plenty and could have easily melted enough snow on his person-enough to rehydrate said food. No one dies from not eating for a day or two or 7 and they certainly don’t from eating cold soaked food. He wasted everyone’s resources in my opinion.

By wasted everyone’s resources, you’re saying that he ought not have used his inreach? I’d love to hear the inference you used to arrive at that conclusion. If it’s your opinion, meh whatever. Also to say entitled, I’m confused as to if you’re just using the meme pejorative, or the common usage described in dictionaries. If the latter is the case, then activating your inreach subscription is just a plain counter factual to what you’re saying.

Another evidence that inReach Mini works. The rest is just noise.

I watched the video. I have to agree with Paul on this one. He sure as hell didn’t seem to want to help the rescue efforts much and didn’t seem to worried about risking other’s necks once his inexperience shined through. They probably could have been a little nicer, but he kind of needs to stop being so sensitive. Sorry you were scared, but you put yourself there. Man up and put in some effort to get out. I think people think they’re going to hit that button and a helicopter is going to show up 5 minutes later. Doesn’t quite work that way.