A gang of about 60 very good friends who I put an event on here a month ago found my online MEC wish list and surprised the living heck out of me by passing the hat, and buying me an appreciation gift - An ACER Microfix 406 PLB! - which they gave to me and said was as much for my wife (who doesn't hike) as me. Anyway, I did explain to my better half what it is and what it does, registered it, and she has my trip plans at home as always anyway.

Well, I'm heading off in a few hours for a 3 dayer - hardly isolated, it's skyline, which is very nice, but not "remote" like when I wander off trail or into willmore, and I'm not solo I'm dragging a newb along, and I've been through the area more times than I care to remember - so I really had no intention of taking the PLB with me - a solo trip where I'm dorking around off trail sure!, but not skyline....

My pack for this trip weighs 18 pounds with everything but water in it. A nice walk in the park. unfortunately it'll now weigh 19 - As I was heading out for the morning at work this morning and hucked the backpack in the car my spouse handed me the microfix. No amount of protests like
"it's skyline - it's practically west edmonton mall... I'm not solo! if one of us is hurt the other gets help!" would be heard.. I got "the look" - and the she who must be obeyed voice: "I don't care what you think it weighs. strap it to your pack".

Yes, I could leave it in the truck at the trailhead, but she'd probably find a way to get me to admit it to her after... SIgh, I know when I'm licked.

HA!

Not that I have much room to talk, my parents made me get a small can of pepper spray after the unfortunate incident on the AT awhile back. Like you, no amount of reason could dissuade them. Luckily mine is only about a 3 oz penalty. They didn't specify what they wanted me to get, so I asked for the absolute smallest, lightest unit at the gun store. I'm actually more afraid of it accidentally going off on me than I am of actually needing to use it.

Adam

phat,

It would be lighter without batteries!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Quit whining and be glad she does not change the locks while you are gone. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Congratulations on the new toy. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I almost ended up in the same situation. While I was gone on my last trip the neighbor told her about the SPOT.She was sure that I should go out and purchase one I had to tell her about how unreliable it was. I agreed that the concept is good but in practice it is mostly dead weight. She still insists that I take a cell phone but she has finally realized how seldom it works in the areas I hike.

Everyday someone or something reminds me, yet again, why I choose to remain blissfully single! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

At least she cares. It could be worse. You could of caught her spraying your clothes and gear with rabid bear attractant, spraying a Teflon coating on the bottom of your boots, and replacing your iodine tabs with rat poison. Just about the same time she raises the premium on your life insurance.

Tom

Phat,
Just tell the other guy to carry it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Say it's for his own protection or something....

Bigfoot <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Amen brother!

Not to go off topic but a couple years back there was a rapist at Mt. Rainier that targeted female rangers. How was he finally taken down? By a female ranger with pepper spray.

A cheap $10 unit of it can fight off humans and dogs nicely. Yours could be lighter - mine has a guard over the trigger to prevent accidents and weighs in under 2 ounces.

Well, the microfix ain't a spot - it's a "real plb". I'm actually glad to have it for
some areas, particularly solo - the pound it weighs is justifiable to me then..

Just not on skyline, where I have cell signal on at least half the trail. In the end
I rebelled and left it in the truck - just taking my cellphone. Will I take it other
places? Sure!

Sssh. don't tell the better half!

phat,

Another option is telling your wife that the unit needs to be hiked at least 1000 klicks per year to keep it calibrated. Similar to turning in circles to calibrate the GPS compass. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I like that idea................Not that I would ever do anything that devious. Hummm I wonder if she would buy that idea.

well, it's not quite practical with the Microfix - the battery is a long life thing that is built in, it is
not user changable - every 5 years, or if you actually press the button for the big red helicopters
to come, you have to send it back to ACR to have the battery replaced.

So I can't take it without batteries <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

"Turning in circles to calibrate the GPS compass"

I'd forgotten how entertaining it is to watch my buddy do that. Of course, I would never poke fun... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Now there's an idea. Cept I think she's kind of on to me as I've already taken too much glee when
she stops referring to individual pieces of gear I own and starts referring to them as entities (plural)
you know, like instead of "the green tent" stuff is discussed like "The Tents" "The Sleeping Bags" "The Backpacks" "The Guns" etc. etc. - freeing me to add pieces to the groups with less risk of chastisement from the CFO. I think she might figure that one out... I've been married to her
a bit too long.

Not to sound depressing again...this thread got me thinking of a couple years ago. My husband rode the bus with a lady who's brother in law disappeared while on a solo trip. He left behind a mortgage, a stay at home wife and 8, yes, 8 kids under 18.

His camp was found after a long search by other hikers blundering into it - he had been pretty far off trail. They have still not found him though. This was 3 years ago I think at this point. No body, no death certificate. No insurance payout, no social security for the kids. It caused severe stress to his family.

My point here - is it that much to make a spouse happy? I cannot imagine disappearing and leaving my husband with our child like that. Hence I never change routes and am always where I say I will be. I check in via cellphone when I can as well.

The thought of that lady is always a sobering one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I think that's a very good point sarbar. and I do keep that very much in mind - which is
why I will be taking the unit with me when I am solo. most places I go there's no cell
signal. This trip, on the other hand is a bit different, I had a hiking partner, both of
us had cell phones, and, f'rinstance, we had cel signal from the place I took this picture:



and on top of it there was cel and data signal - I phoned the better half to check in, and my brother was e-mailing pictures from his crackberry! It just happens because the skyline is across a valley from ski hills. Not to mention that with the plb, here at least, it is a serious offense to press the button unless in imminent risk of loss of life or limb, and
all possibilities of self rescue or other methods have been exhausted. I'm not sure an
incapacitating injury for me, lets say, while I have a partner with a cel phone who can walk to the highway in 4 hours of hard hiking counts

I love the picture! Thanks for sharing it...

You are exactly right in regards to the use of the PLB. It should be stressed that it should only be used in times of severe emergency when all other options have been exhausted.

Having said that, there are times, even in the situation you found yourself in, that would warrant the use of a PLB. I encourage people to carry anything they have at there disposal including, along with their PLB, a cell phone (if there is cell coverage where they're going), sat phone (if they own one or can afford it), a night time signaling device (headlamp w/ a strobe mode, a dedicated strobe light, etc.) and a daytime signaling device (signaling mirror, whistle, etc.). Obviously most people don't carry a sat phone and I personally seldom take my cell phone (just too unreliably built and spotty service especially in the western US). I always carry a headlamp w/ strobe and a signaling mirror even on dayhikes. You might have found yourself injured, though highly unlikely, that would need immediate attention such as severe internal bleeding (or severe bleeding of any kind), ruptured appendix, severe head injuries, etc. By turning on the PLB in these instances you have began a series of events that is the quickest and surest way of getting yourself or the person rescued, way before 911 could respond. The greatest attribute that the PLB has brought to market is not that it will work in the most remote parts of earth (which is pretty cool), but that it has the potential to save even when other options are available. For instance, once you've set off the PLB, you can then communicate with 911 the injuries involved which information those responding will use to make sure they're ready for what's to come.

Although the likely hood of something happening this severe is very remote, one can never know. It's good to know that because you own an ACR PLB you can substantially minimize the injuries sustained will be life threatening. Would I carry the PLB on the trip you were on? Only if I felt that there was a small potential for severe injury. So my answer would most likely be yes (4 hours of hiking is a good distance if there is a possibility of injury).

How bad would it have been if something terrible would have happened on your trip, where the PLB would have been a life saver, but it was sitting home in your gear closet? The weight of the unit (specifically the battery) is the biggest concern for the engineers at ACR because they know that if it's too heavy, many people won't justify taking it. This is always brought up in our sales meetings. They are constantly working on solutions that will lighten it up and make it super ease to use. Of course it has to withstand all the outdoors can throw at it which requires a battery that works in any temp and under severe conditions. That is why it weighs what it does.

There have been several rescues attributed to the PLB this year when cell phone reception was good and the road was fairly close. That is the beauty of having a PLB over all the other emergency options available. When it is turned on, the folks who respond to the signal know that someone's life is on the line. That is the exact reason why a substantial punishment awaits those who misuse it.

I guess that's my conundrum jason - bear in mind, for the record, the ACR will probably be going with me on *most* of my trips, since most of them I might see one other living soul in 3-4 days. My thought is where do you draw the line on the "self rescue" point when at any point in time on that trail I am at worst, 5 km from cell phone coverage, and 15 km from a road? It's actually not that clear, Let's try a scenario which might be informative for everyone:

First the Scenario:

I have broken my ankle and can't walk much more than a hop and hobble and am in a lot of pain. I can set up my tarp as a nice shelter, get into my sleeping bag to stay warm. I have a litre and a half of water, and there is water within crawling distance. I have a days worth of food I can stretch to three. I have 6 percocets, 6 Aleve, and 6 ibuprophen with me that could be used to take the edge off. (and everything else that's in this gear list while we're at it), I have a cell phone, and
I have an ACR microfix 406 PLB.

Now the locations, Both in Jasper National Park - google the locations to find them:

A) I am on Skyline trail in the snowbowl, let's say anywhere in the bowl, after the campground hiking towards big shovel pass. Nobody is with me but 10 hikers or more a day pass through here, and I know 3 to 4 were leaving the snowbowl campground that morning behind me and will be heading my way probably within the hour. Cell phone coverage is 5 km away in either the east or west direction, Ranger station is 15 km away at Maligne Lake trailhead which is the nearest exit.

B) I am at Southesk lake on the side loop from the South Boundary trail. I suspect it sees two hikers a year, and maybe a ranger twice on horseback. I'm pretty much 3 to 4 days hard hiking from anywhere where there is anyone else, unless by some miracle someone chances by. Cell phone coverage is nonexistant anywhere.

So in each place, what to do:

0) Hack up my trekking poles to splint it, and limp/crawl/suck it up to head for civilization
myself? (or otherwise do something similarly desperate)

1) Flag down a passing hiker for help, ask them to head for one of the nearest passes and contact the warden station to get me out on a horse or otherwise? - give them my cell phone if they don't have one.

2) press the PLB button on my ACR unit.

Personally, I'd definately press the button right away at Southesk Lake. I know I would, I know
I'd be screwed without it, and I'd stand in front of a judge and confidently say so. Without the PLB I would probably consider (and don't ever do this kids it's very illegal) just waiting for favorable wind and getting a very large "signal fire" going - the kind that burns a few acres and is visible from fire towers and and gets them to fly over to look.

I'm not sure I'd press the button on Skyline - I know darn good and well I'd hurt like heck, and
I'd want to push the button and have the big birdie come get me. But should I? Or should I pop my pills, and wait for what I know is coming down the trail? I think the location definately
matters for this doesn't it?

(and the reason I chose it is I think a busted ankle is a heck of a lot more likely to happen to me
than internal bleeding that doesn't just kill me outright or within a short enough time that it doesn't matter)

Excellent questions and this is exactly what we want people to do before heading out in regards to using the PLB. It is very serious business.

In both instances you are justified in pushing the button. To rely on folks to rescue you when you have no idea how badly broken your ankle is, is not an option in my book, even if you know that there will be someone coming down the trail and/or the trail your on is a popular one. The criteria to using one is simply: LIFE, LIMB, SIGHT, and/or PERSONAL PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAGE. The worry for most owners of ACR PLBs is that you might feel justified using it, but when the event is reviewed the authorities might think differently. This most likely won't be the case.

The activations we want to avoid are those who turn it on because they are tired and don't want to walk out, get a minor blister but can walk, want a helicopter ride, playing around with it (akin to pulling the fire alarm in school), want to disrupt the system, run out of coffee or somehow inconvenienced while in the backcountry, etc. However, a broken ankle in a mountain location while your out by yourself and where there is no way you can hike out is why a PLB was made.

The Terrafix and Microfix is not just for soloists who venture 100 miles into the backcountry, who have been lost for days and are about to cut off their arm. The great thing is once the signal is received, it may only take a couple of guys in a truck to come get you. This is due to the signal eventually being transmitted to the local SAR team who should know the area. In the case of the Skyline instance they would probably dispatch a helicopter. Your likely hood of being charged and/or prosecuted for this is virtually zero.

Well, I took a look again, and my microfix instructions (the canadian version, not sure they're different) only mention Imminent danger of loss of LIFE or LIMB.. and I think the worry you mention is front and centre to me, and at least in the case of my last trip (on Skyline) and the scenario in question. Combining this uncertainty for when to press the button in a likely scenario on a popular trail, with the fact that I had cell coverage a lot, and a partner with me , is the reason the ACR sat under my truck seat and my cell phone went into my pack. I didn't want to take it when I thought it likely if I was in a situaiton, I'd be facing my above conundrum and not using it on my popular trail. (and is actually
the same reason I didn't take it on West Coast Trail a few weeks ago either).

While my scenario says "I broke my ankle" - does it change any if my ankle is just badly
hurt - and I don't know (since I ain't a doctor) if it's broken or just badly spained? I don't
think your answer changes, and it does sound like yeah, I really should take it with me
more often and not worry about it so much.

Since I think you're involved with it - show this thread to people at ACR. I think it would be a very great thing for you folks to put together a few SAR approved scenarios to include with the unit to assist some folks like me over that uncertainty factor over when it's "the right time" to use the unit. At the moment, I open the box, read the directions, and I know when I press the button the big birdie comes, and all I have is some threatening legal stuff about life and limb that says "you'll be in deep ka-ka if you press the button when you shouldn't". Some of us who have these things have been running around the backcountry enough without PLB's that when we think about an injury that is not immediately life threatening, and simply waiting for rescue on a popular trail as "no immediate danger to life or limb" - since trust me, all of these type of scenarios and what to do in those situations have been thought over plenty in many years of hiking without a PLB! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PS. if anyone actually involved with ACR wants to do this, I'd help if I can. PM me
for contact details.

Yeah...it sucks living with women...but it does have some advantages:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ3MSCLBpaM&feature=related

BF <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Phat...

As a SAR volunteer, here is my take on using a PLB:

If you have a situation of any kind that will significantly delay you from returning on time/schedule from your trip, you are unable to communicate your delay by any other means (phone, other hikers), you are not on an established trail or in a location that would be easily found by a hasty team or aerial survey, and there is a good to excellent liklihood that a search will be launched for you, then by all means, push that button! The 2 women who were lost in Denali Park weren't injured or incapacitated (i.e. not life or limb), just lost... had they had a PLB and pushed the button after they'd been trying to get back for 2 days, they would have saved the NPS and AK State Troopers (among others) $118,000+. I do understand the dire warnings to use only in "life or limb" situations, but the reality is, if you don't return from a trip at your expected time and you've left instructions on when to "worry," you know that people are going to come looking for you, and you will save them all a great deal of trouble/$$ if you can use the PLB. If you want to play on the safe side, wait 12-24 hours after you think a search might be launched - by then the searchers will already be in place and you'll get less grief over pushing the button.

On the other hand, if a situation truly is "Life or Limb" don't hesitate to push.

MNS

Couldn't have said it better myself. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />