2 LDS youth are missing after a hike.

[clackamascoug]

Tell us more about the former partner backpacker. Any news links we can follow?

[BigPiney]

In the Central Sierra. There's been snow there already this last week. I'm fearing the worst.



Isn't that in your neighborhood?

Yeah that is my backyard. Luckily it has been a lot warmer these last few days. I can see Split Mtn from my front yard.

[Moliere]

Yikes. I did that a couple of times during college. My parents never seemed to worry. The last time I did it was right after I graduated college since I had a couple of months before my start date. I was recently married but talked my new bride into letting me go alone while she went on a trip to Europe with her mother as a graduation gift for her.

I wasn't in our apartment when she returned since I was "delayed" on the trail. Actually, I had a lot of luck trout fishing so my freeze dried food lasted longer than planned and I decided to hike some additional trails. By the time I was back on the grid and called, she had worked herself into a panic and was convinced I'd been eaten by bears (there are no or few bears in the national forest I was in). I had a great time.

About one month after getting married I made a late night run to the grocery store. The battery in my really old car died and, since it was late, there were very few people out and about. It took me about 30 minutes to find someone with a car that was willing to give me a jumpstart. I should have been gone 10 minutes but was really gone 45-50. When I got home MJ was crying. She was afraid I'd been taken. It was a funny conclusion at the time given that this was south of campus in Provo, but I guess new brides are just weird that way.

[sparky]

I do solo backcountry motorcycle rides a few times each summer, and keep one of these clipped to my jacket. I send it with my son whenever he goes on long hikes for scouts. Not that it's 100% foolproof, but has worked great so far to keep my wife updated.

Highly recommended if you're into the solo experience, or even if you're with a companion.

[LA Ute]

Tell us more about the former partner backpacker. Any news links we can follow?

There will be updates posted here:

http://www.nps.gov/seki/parknews/newsreleases.htm

This is getting bad. A bunch of us who worked together with him for years are staying in touch and trying to help. One of the group lives on his street and is watching his son (age 6) while his partner heads up into the search team's staging area. (He lives in West L.A.)

[Green Monstah]

This just in on the LDS emergency email system - Boys Found! All Safe!

Film at 11.

http://www.oregonlive.com/west-linn/...l#incart_river

That's fantastic!

[Katy Lied]

I do solo backcountry motorcycle rides a few times each summer, and keep one of these clipped to my jacket. I send it with my son whenever he goes on long hikes for scouts. Not that it's 100% foolproof, but has worked great so far to keep my wife updated.

Highly recommended if you're into the solo experience, or even if you're with a companion.

Do you know if the signal is strong and/or better than a cell phone? My son has started scouts and we are thinking of getting him a phone watch in case he gets lost. The phone watch is too small to allow him to play games on, so he wont burn up the battery. It also waterproof and will stay on his wrist, so he cant leave it back at the tent.

Does your device send a stronger signal?

[SteelBlue]

Yikes. I did that a couple of times during college. My parents never seemed to worry. The last time I did it was right after I graduated college since I had a couple of months before my start date. I was recently married but talked my new bride into letting me go alone while she went on a trip to Europe with her mother as a graduation gift for her.

I wasn't in our apartment when she returned since I was "delayed" on the trail. Actually, I had a lot of luck trout fishing so my freeze dried food lasted longer than planned and I decided to hike some additional trails. By the time I was back on the grid and called, she had worked herself into a panic and was convinced I'd been eaten by bears (there are no or few bears in the national forest I was in). I had a great time.

Since then, I've always taken one of my sons (at my wife's insitsence) on my backpacking adventures but they have been too few for my liking. I was planning a great western backpacking tour where I go alone from national park to natural park and spend a few days in a motel with hot water before I spend another 1-2 weeks in a national park. That was until the film 127 hours was released so my wife knows there are other dangers besides [mountain] lions, tigers, and bears..

I just took 3 of my brothers on a 3 day backpacking trip. One of them was barely (ha) allowed to go because his wife was terrified we'd be eaten by bears. Of all the dangers that could befall a backpacker in CA, bears and lions are very, very low on my list. I respect bears enough to hang my food, but bears have not killed a human in CA since 1974, and that guy was probably doing something stupid. I've seen a few over the years and they couldn't get away fast enough. I fear two legged creatures growing and guarding pot much, much more. Of course, this all changes if Brown bears are in the mix, but since we don't have them in CA it's all good.

[sparky]

Do you know if the signal is strong and/or better than a cell phone? My son has started scouts and we are thinking of getting him a phone watch in case he gets lost. The phone watch is too small to allow him to play games on, so he wont burn up the battery. It also waterproof and will stay on his wrist, so he cant leave it back at the tent.

Does your device send a stronger signal?

Yes, much better than a cell phone. It receives GPS signals, and when you hit the button it beams a pre-determined message with GPS location to the SPOT satellites. The message is routed to either pre-determined texting/email or 911, depending on which button he pushes. As long as you have open sky you can communicate from anywhere in the world.

Be warned that the initial unit cost is about $100, and the yearly service is also $100. I also bought helicopter rescue insurance for $12 (I think) yearly.

[Paperback Writer]

Yes, much better than a cell phone. It receives GPS signals, and when you hit the button it beams a pre-determined message with GPS location to the SPOT satellites. The message is routed to either pre-determined texting/email or 911, depending on which button he pushes. As long as you have open sky you can communicate from anywhere in the world.

Be warned that the initial unit cost is about $100, and the yearly service is also $100. I also bought helicopter rescue insurance for $12 (I think) yearly.

Thanks for the info and link. That's something I've heard about but never got around to checking out. I'll make sure to have a custom message for my wife: another beautiful day on the trail and survived yet another attack by bear, mountain lion, and/our pack of wolves.

At least if you have to "hunker down" you can alert park rangers that you are OK. My worst expereince was being caught in a June snowstorm in Wyoming mountains before there was GPS. The trail disappears. I had a compass and map so I knew where I was (more or less). Just hunkered down in my tent until things cleared up. Kind of ruined my trip itinerary though.

[sparky]

Thanks for the info and link. That's something I've heard about but never got around to checking out. I'll make sure to have a custom message for my wife: another beautiful day on the trail and survived yet another attack by bear, mountain lion, and/our pack of wolves.

At least if you have to "hunker down" you can alert park rangers that you are OK. My worst expereince was being caught in a June snowstorm in Wyoming mountains before there was GPS. The trail disappears. I had a compass and map so I knew where I was (more or less). Just hunkered down in my tent until things cleared up. Kind of ruined my trip itinerary though.

Yep,my greatest joy is going places where few have been, my greatest fear is getting lost or immobilized. Todays tech is nice to have in both cases.

[Paperback Writer]

Yep,my greatest joy is going places where few have been, my greatest fear is getting lost or immobilized. Todays tech is nice to have in both cases.

Also one of my greatest joys. Going off trail and seeing things that probably few have seen and being in places with no one around. One of the funniest experiences I had was exploring some glacier lakes that were off trail. They were magnificent! I was framing a camera shot of a long waterfall spilling into one of the lakes when I hear voices... And out of nowhere a fellow backpacker emerges from behind a boulder and introduces himself. He then introduces his new bride. They've set up camp in a secluded boulderfield and are on their honeymoon. Didn't expect to see anyone... and here I am with a camera lumbering around.

[Donuthole]

Also one of my greatest joys. Going off trail and seeing things that probably few have seen and being in places with no one around. One of the funniest experiences I had was exploring some glacier lakes that were off trail. They were magnificent! I was framing a camera shot of a long waterfall spilling into one of the lakes when I hear voices... And out of nowhere a fellow backpacker emerges from behind a boulder and introduces himself. He then introduces his new bride. They've set up camp in a secluded boulderfield and are on their honeymoon. Didn't expect to see anyone... and here I am with a camera lumbering around.

99 times out of 100, a girl willing to go camping on her honeymoon isn't worth photographing anyway.

[Paperback Writer]

99 times out of 100, a girl willing to go camping on her honeymoon isn't worth photographing anyway.

Your observation is correct but she was the 1 (out of the 99). Very young couple, perhaps they couldn't afford other honeymoon options.

I mentioned backpacking to Mrs. PBW as an idea for a "second honeymoon" as we have a big anniversary coming up. Her counter offer was Paris. Negotiations are continuing but I'm going to lose this one. We had a very short original honeymoon as we were both students at the time with only a long weekend between semesters/terms. Apparently, a B&B in Emigration Canyon counts as backpacking.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Your observation is correct but she was the 1 (out of the 99). Very young couple, perhaps they couldn't afford other honeymoon options.

I mentioned backpacking to Mrs. PBW as an idea for a "second honeymoon" as we have a big anniversary coming up. Her counter offer was Paris. Negotiations are continuing but I'm going to lose this one. We had a very short original honeymoon as we were both students at the time with only a long weekend between semesters/terms. Apparently, a B&B in Emigration Canyon counts as backpacking.

Are you nuts? Go to Paris.