Tag Archives: hiking

Survival Weekly – 5/12/15…

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Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Breastmilk –  not just for babies, but thirsty survivors too!! – https://home.bt.com/news/world-news/lost-runner-drank-breast-milk-to-survive-night-in-new-zealand-wilderness-11363980489533

News – 

Heli-drone – http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/video/VID20150511061259/

Water Safety – 

Recovery of boating accident victims – http://www.myarklamiss.com/story/d/story/search-and-rescue-crews-recover-body-of-missing-bo/87440/jRKm_7gkeEa_S-_TxaQj0A

Stranded boaters rescued – http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/local-news/search-and-rescue-find-stranded-boaters-1.1930916

Sailors rescued from island –  http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20150416_2_rescued_after_sailboat_runs_aground_on_trip_from_Lanai_to_Tahiti.html?id=300232971

Hiking – 

** For Carol** PCT hiker rescued after water sources dried up – http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/05/06/drought-hiker-pacific-crest-trail-rescue/26967587/

Lost & Injured hikers rescued –

Hunter-gatherer – 

SAR for mushroom hunter ends –http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150511/NEWS/150519907

Climbing – 

Injured climber rescued – http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/climber-rescued-after-almscliffe-crag-fall-1-7253665

Vehicles – 

Injured motocross rider rescued in Desert Challenge – http://www.thenational.ae/uae/injured-swedish-motorcyclist-praises-uae-search-and-rescue-team

Small plane crash – http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2015-05-09/pilot-dead-after-light-aircraft-crashes-off-north-stradbroke-island/1445524

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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Survival Weekly – 4/28/15…

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Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Sisters survive two weeks off Girl Scout cookies and melted snow – http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/26/us/missing-women-found/

Flight nurse dies during rescue –  http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20150428-nurse-dies-after-falling-from-hoist-during-medical-rescue-in-austin.ece

Rescuer dies in swiftwater rescue – http://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/index.ssf/2015/04/rescue_worker_dies_after_misha.html

News – 

Drones to be used in Project Lifesaver – http://www.gizmag.com/lockheed-martin-drones-search-rescue/37211/

Article on PLB’s and satellite messengers – http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27977480/high-tech-backcountry-gear-wilderness-smarts-can-save

Water Safety – 

Point Reyes National Seashore (CA)
Three Dead, One Missing Following Boat Wreck

On the evening of Friday, April 17th, the Coast Guard began a search for an overdue 21-foot pleasure craft with three men and one woman on board in waters near Point Reyes National Seashore.

The search continued into Saturday, when a floating debris field and grounded vessel matching the description of the missing craft were discovered within the park’s boundary in the area of Bird Rock off of Tomales Point. Shortly thereafter, the bodies of a man and woman, later identified as Richard Hargreaves, 60, and Diane Kelly, 61, were recovered from the Tomales Point shoreline and nearby waters.

Search efforts were suspended on April 19th. During a follow-up overflight of the area on Wednesday, April 22nd, the body of Ryan Viall, 29, was recovered in the area where Hargreaves and Kelly were earlier found. Additional overflight searches of the area have produced no additional clues; one man remains missing.

This was a large, multi-agency search that included National Park Service rangers, United States Coast Guard naval and aviation assets, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, the Marin County Fire Department Water Rescue Team, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, California State Park rangers, and Tomales and Bodega Bay Volunteer Fire Departments. Media interest was high.

Body recovery from flood waters –   http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/04/22/11/03/search-and-rescue-operation-in-maitland

Hiking – 

Lost & Injured hikers rescued –

Hunter-gatherer – 

Climbing – 

Climbers rescued from Everest avalanche – http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climbers-trapped-high-on-everest-seeking-helicopter-rescue/

Vehicles – 

Mountain biker rescues – http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/04/25/ric-busy-day-for-search-and-rescue-3-rescues-busy-year-continues/#.VUA_NSG6fIU

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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Survival Weekly – 4/13/15…

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HelicopterOverVolcano_large

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Autistic boy rescued from bush after four days – http://abc7news.com/news/autistic-boy-lost-in-australian-forest-found-after-4-days/637865/

Inside the search –  http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/searchers-in-the-shadows-inside-the-hunt-for-luke-20150411-1mi6zg.html

News – 

“Denali Justice” released – http://www.adn.com/article/20150408/denali-justice-examines-legal-fallout-botched-1981-mount-mckinley-rescue

Water Safety – 

Missouri National Recreational River (SD)
Search For Missing Boy Enters Third Day

A multi-agency search and rescue operation was begun on the evening of April 5th when a six-year-old boy went missing at Yankton’s Riverside Park. The boy was reported to be fishing with family members when he fell off the dock into the Missouri River.

Yankton County Search and Rescue and the Yankton Police Department responded to the park at approximately 7:30 p.m. and began a shoreline-based ground search. The Yankton County Search and Rescue dive team arrived shortly thereafter and searched in the water in the area of the boat dock. Search efforts continued until midnight when they were called off due to poor weather and cold temperatures.

On April 6th, the Yankton Police Department, Nebraska Game and Parks, Yankton County Emergency Management, Cedar County Emergency Management, and South Dakota Game Fish and Parks joined in the search, employing towed sonar to locate underwater anomalies.  A helicopter from Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls performed limited aerial searching due to poor weather, with a dog team from Brookings, South Dakota, assisting.  The Yankton County Sheriff’s Office continues to coordinate search efforts, and Yankton Police Department is handling the investigation.

Searching will continue in coming days, with the focus moving towards recovery plans, but are being hampered by cold and rainy conditions, swift currents, and deep water. The NPS will continue to be engaged in helping locate this young boy through continued assistance in this interagency effort.

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Hiking – 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Rangers Rescue Seriously Injured Hiker

On the afternoon of March 29th, rangers rescued a hiker who had taken a fall onto a pile of rocks a little over two-and-a-half miles from the Ramsey Cascades Trailhead.

The hiker had sustained chest trauma and required evacuation by litter carryout from the backcountry over very rough terrain. The challenge of patient care increased when his airway became compromised subsequent to the chest injury.

In addition to the deterioration of his condition, the extrication from the backcountry required the park’s technical SAR team to construct a Tyrolean traverse to get the patient safely across a river. The SAR operation took a total of seven hours from the time of injury to the waiting ambulance at the trailhead.

The injured hiker was flown by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and immediately admitted to the OR. Prior to departing the landing zone, ambulance personnel and flight medics had to perform a surgical cricothyrotomy to secure the airway. The patient is expected to make a full recovery.

Ranger Brad Griest was the incident commander. Go Brad!!

Lost & Injured hikers rescued –

Hunter-gatherer – 

Hunter rescued – http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/injured-hunter-rescued-from-waimakariri-gorge-2015040910

Climbing – 

Video of hoist – https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/545862/video-dramatic-rescue-two-women-climbers-ben-nevis/

Climber rescued – http://kron4.com/2015/04/11/coastal-bluff-climber-rescued-in-sea-ranch-after-fall/

Vehicles – 

SAR assists drivers – http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/04/08/search-and-rescue-assist-drivers-mountain-pass

SAR for missing snowmobiler – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/search-continues-for-missing-62-year-old-snowmobiler-1.3029828

Snowmobiler and skiers rescued – http://www.thefreepress.ca/news/299568901.html

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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Survival Weekly – 4/7/15…

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kn

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Two months lost at sea – http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rescued-north-carolina-boater-louis-jordan-explains-how-he-survived-for-66-days/

Doubters – http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/05/why-skeptics-think-a-south-carolina-sailor-lied-about-being-lost-at-sea-for-66-days/

News – 

Article on “arm chair quarterbacking” SAR stories – http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-sports/article/Outdoors-Stranded-hikers-shouldn-t-shoulder-6174753.php#photo-7755040

Drone stuff – http://www.startupsmart.com.au/growth/start-up-profiles/aussie-drone-startup-assists-new-zealand-search-and-rescue-operation/2015040214462.html

Water Safety – 

Lake Mead National Recreation Area – NV, AZ
Teen Dies In Jump From Cliff Into Lake Mohave

A body has been recovered in Placer Cove on Lake Mohave where a teen disappeared on April 1st after jumping from a cliff.

Rangers began searching the area around 12:30 p.m.  after witnesses said a teen jumped from a cliff to help a swimmer below. The swimmer made it to safety, but witnesses said the teen was seen going underwater.

Rangers located the body underwater using sonar and called in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue Dive Team for support. The dive team recovered the body.

The Clark County Medical Examiner will confirm the victim’s identity and determine the cause of death. The incident is under investigation.

Recovery from lake – http://www.twcnews.com/nc/triad/news/2015/04/2/rescue-crews-find-body-of-missing-greensboro-man.html

Recovery from coastal cliffs – http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/berwick-cliff-death-16-year-old-boy-8983863

Coast guard rescues two – http://www.click2houston.com/news/two-men-rescued-by-coast-guard-on-island-in-san-antonio-bay/32206052

Coast Guard rescues four – http://www.app.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/2015/04/06/coast-guard-rescues-shrewsbury-river/25349663/

SAR for missing six year old – http://www.kdlt.com/news/local-news/yankton-missing-child-update/32211268

Winter Sports – 

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Hiking – 

Two Rescued from Smokies Backcountry

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers and members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Special Operations and Aviation Section rescued two individuals from the park’s backcountry near the Spence Field Shelter on Saturday.  At 6:10 a.m. park dispatch received a call from an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker advising of a pair of hikers in distress near Spence Field Shelter.

The hikers, a father and son, got separated from a third member of their party while trying to make their way from Derrick Knob Shelter to Spence Field Shelter on Friday night, a distance of 6.3 miles. After leaving Derrick Knob the weather deteriorated and the hikers were left traversing over rocky terrain in the dark, driving rain and thunderstorms. Only one member of the party made it to Spence Field Shelter as planned.

In the morning thru-hikers, headed Northbound from Spence Field, were on the lookout for the two hikers that had not made it the night before, and quickly came upon the first individual, who had a knee injury and could not walk unassisted. Not long after the call came in to dispatch of the initial party, other hikers found the father farther north near Thunderhead Mountain.

Two rangers responded on horseback from Cades Cove with a wrangler from the Cades Cove Riding Stables. The hiker with the knee injury was taken out on horseback, while rangers continued on foot to assess the condition of the father who was several miles down the AT. After an assessment by park rangers, it was determined that air extrication would be the best option for rescue.

Lost & Injured hikers rescued –

Hunter-gatherer – 

Missing crabber – http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Search-underway-for-man-who-went-missing-in-Neuse-River-298663151.html

Russian trawler crew rescued – http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32168406

Climbing – 

Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
Teenager Wedged Into Rocks Rescued Via Interagency Effort

On Thursday, April 2nd, a 17-year-old hiker became wedged between rocks while scrambling in the Johnson Canyon area of the park. The incident was reported to 911 late in the afternoon.

Several agencies responded, including Morongo Basin Ambulance, Twentynine Palms Fire Department, Marine Corps Air and Ground Combat Center Fire and Rescue, and National Park Service search and rescue rangers and volunteers.

During the six-hour rescue, a mechanical advantage system was applied to no avail, requiring the MCAGCC team to utilize a pneumatic chisel. The hiker was successfully freed and walked out on his own, with only minor scrapes and bruises.

“It’s great to have the relationships the park has with other local agencies,” said Mike Shuman, park ranger and IC. “Their equipment and expertise was key in the rescue and the favorable outcome.”

Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
Climber Suffers Multiple Injuries In Fall

The park received a 911 call reporting a falling accident above The Loch late on the morning of Tuesday, March 31st.

It was later determined that 28-year-old Janet Heung of Boulder, Colorado, took an 80 to 100 foot roped fall near or on a climbing route called Deep Freeze. She was with a climbing partner at the time.

Heung was located in steep scree roughly 500 feet above The Loch on Thatchtop Mountain. The Loch is three miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Rangers reached her at 2:30 p.m.; they found that she’d sustained numerous injuries but was conscious.

Rangers lowered Heung down a steep scree slope to The Loch, where an air ambulance was able to land on the frozen lake. At a little after 7 p.m., Flight for Life transported her to St. Anthony’s Hospital.

Fortunately, weather conditions and the location were conducive for assistance from a helicopter.  Otherwise, it would have been an even lengthier rescue operation. A total of eighteen rescue personnel had reached the Glacier Gorge Trailhead by approximately 8 p.m., including the park SAR team, Larimer County Search and Rescue and Rocky Mountain Rescue.

Lava Beds National Monument (CA)
Child Rushed To Hospital After Fall In Park Cave

A five-year-old Klamath Falls boy fell approximately 20 feet while exploring a lava tube cave with his family on Friday, March 27th.

Park rangers were the first on the scene. Emergency crews were contacted and the child was flown via helicopter to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls and transferred to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, where he is now recovering.

Park staff are investigating the circumstances of the incident.  Of the approximately 135,000 visitors that visit Lava Beds each year, about 25,000 visit Skull Cave.  It is a popular cave due to its large entrance and ice floor.  There are no records of a similar incident occurring in Skull Cave.

Injured canyoneer rescued – http://fox13now.com/2015/04/03/search-and-rescue-extracts-man-from-bottom-of-canyon-at-zion-national-park/

Vehicles – 

High angle rescue MVA – http://www.azfamily.com/story/28700795/3-rescued-after-car-goes-over-cliff-near-strawberry

Rescue of mountain biker – http://www.pe.com/articles/officials-764036-linda-loma.htm

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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Survival Weekly – 3/31/15…

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RESCUE

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Yosemite Falls helicopter rescue with video –  http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article16808024.html

News – 

BORSTAR expanding ops – http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/border-patrol-expanding-search-and-rescue-teams/nkhfH/

Water Safety – 

SAR for missing boater – http://www.katc.com/story/28642446/search-and-rescue-crews-look-for-missing-boater-in-fatal-boating-accident

Lake rescue – http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=1184100#.VRn_9flQMsM

Woman recovered from creek – http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/local/west-seneca/2015/03/28/search-and-rescue-on-buffalo-creek-underway-in-west-seneca/70600840/

Man recovered from river – http://www.clarechampion.ie/body-recovered-from-river-shannon/

Coast Guard rescues two boaters – http://abc7news.com/news/coast-guard-rescues-2-people-from-sinking-boat-in-monterey-county/581706/

Rescue on the river –  http://www.news10.net/story/news/local/sacramento/2015/03/27/water-rescue-in-american-river/70548610/

SAR launched for ice flow rider – http://www.torontosun.com/2015/03/26/ice-floe-riding-navy-diver-sparks-search-and-rescue-operation

SAR suspended for missing man – http://lostcoastoutpost.com/2015/mar/25/young-man-attempts-rescue-dog-ocean-near-orick-now/

Winter Sports – 

SAR numbers up in Nunavut – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/number-of-search-and-rescues-on-the-rise-in-nunavut-1.3011578

Hiking – 

Death Valley National Park (CA)
Two Day Search Ends With Rescue

On the evening of Monday, March 23rd, rangers received a report that a visitor was stranded on a ledge in Golden Canyon, a popular hiking area in Death Valley. Rangers hiked the trail system by headlamp but were unable to locate the visitor.

On Tuesday, park personnel were able to make voice contact with the man, who was trapped at the top of a series of dry waterfalls, some of which were greater than 100 feet high. Rangers directed a U.S. Navy search and rescue helicopter to his location, where he was hoisted into the aircraft without incident.

He was flown to the Furnace Creek Airfield, where he was medically evaluated and debriefed. He said that he left the main trail system and began following a series of social trails until he became “cliffed out”. Once he realized that he was trapped he sheltered in place overnight and awaited rescue.

Search and rescue efforts were supported by members of protection, fee collection, interpretation, resource management, maintenance, and management branches, as well as military personnel from the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

Lost & Injured hikers rescued –

SAR-5

Hunter-gatherer – 

Body of missing fisherman recovered – http://fox13now.com/2015/03/25/crews-recover-body-of-man-missing-at-willard-bay-since-sunday/

Climbing – 

Injured climber rescued – http://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/South_Okanagan/15/03/30/Penticton_Search_and_Rescue_Evacuate_Injured_Climber_at_Skaha_Bluffs

Climbers rescued – http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/2015/03/30/rescued-climbers-started-late-in-day/70694054/

Vehicles – 

Fatal pane crash –  http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2015/03/30/main_line_times/news/doc55193c97eb419798293118.txt

Another plane crash – http://fox4kc.com/2015/03/31/fatal-plane-crash-reported-in-pleasanton-kansas/

Urban – 

Missing dementia and Alzheimer’s patients –  

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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One Pack to Rule Them All – Part II – Cold Cold World Valdez…

8 Replies

y1

The other day, I sat down to start my fire for lunch and I gasped in horror when I discovered that the fatwood stick that I have been carrying for 2 years was missing out of the mesh pocket of the Flash 45!!

Fatwood is easy to come by in my area, but having started hundreds of meals with this stick, I was  a little heart broken. My successful day on the front lines of the War on Swine had taken a sour turn and I cursed the open top mesh pockets of the Flash 45 for my loss and swore to break out Ole Faithful the next day.

Well, when I got picked up that afternoon, I found my beloved fatwood stick in the bottom of the pack cabinet on the boat. Relieved, I still decided to switch back to Ole Faithful, my custom built Cold Cold World Valdez pack, for a little while.

Back in 2010, I  found Cold Cold World packs through an online search of alpine packs. It seemed like a perfect fit when I found out that Randy, the owner of CCW, was willing to customize.

So I started off with the Valdez, his 40 liter pack. http://coldcoldworldpacks.com/valdez.htm

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I wouldn’t be climbing, so I asked to ditch the ice axe loops, daisy chains, ski slots, and crampon straps. In their place, I added a front pocket for my ticket book, a real hip belt with MOLLE compatible webbing, and MOLLE webbing on the sides, both low and high. Nowadays the pocket carries my radio, a saw, and my fatwood stick. The webbing holds my water bottle pouch and a roly poly pouch that I usually stuff with tinder, but can add another water bottle if needed.

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One of my favorite aspects of this pack are the compression straps, seen here compressing two different loads. This, along with the slim profile, allow me to crawl through some hellacious rhododenron and laurel thickets, lovingly referred to as “Rhodo” and “Laurel Hells”. The 500 D Cordura has held up great under the abuse of daily work. The color scheme of coyote and olive drab blends in well, without being overtly camo for family vacations and other travels.

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At 2 pounds 4 ounces empty, I stuff a 4 ounce bivy pad in the designated sleeve and still have a lightweight, ultra tough pack that can double as a lower body bivy bag with the storm collar extended and a 3/4 closed cell pad.

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The top lid has two pockets, one on top and one underneath. It is removable and I had two loops sewn on to allow use as a fanny pack if needed.

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The Valdez is extremely well built and has a few finer touches, like the yellow lining of the pockets for better visibility while searching for contents and the reverse adjustment of the shoulder straps.

My only gripe would be that the torso length is a little short for my frame. This isn’t by accident, as the pack is designed for climbers wearing a harness. This worked out great when I was wearing a duty belt, but I no longer need that feature since I am only toting a rifle. With heavier loads ~ 30 pounds, this means it can be a little heavy on the shoulders, but my typical load is 15 – 20 pounds, and it handles that well.

I love this pack so much, that when my wife tried to take it to Florida last month, I gave her my “only one ever built” and “if something happened to it, it couldn’t be replaced” speech. Luckily, she caved under the pressure and took one of my other packs.

That story is only partially true. My buddy Jake, a LE Ranger in Yosemite, also had one built after mine. Jake’s pack has seen some cool stuff too and hopefully he will weigh in his experiences in the comment section. In fact when you read this Jake, send me a pic of your pack with El Cap in the background or something else cool.

Is the CCW Valdez the “One”? It is pretty damn close for my needs. All I need is some high tech fabric, 10 more liters of space, and some integrated water bottle holders.

The search continues…

Part 1 of “One Pack to Rule Them All” – https://bigpigblog.com/2015/01/31/one-pack-to-rule-them-all-part-i/

Survival Weekly – 3/12/15…

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ICE3

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Another great piece on ICE-SAR – http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-03-11/winter-storms-and-intrepid-tourists-keep-icelands-search-and-rescue-teams-busy

News – 

Winter Sports – 

Skiers call for rescue – http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/03/06/skiers-glacier-call-search-and-rescue

Stranded snowmobilers rescued – http://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/free_content/article_1ffda55a-c43d-11e4-ae1e-577093568655.html

Hiking – 

SAR for lost hikers – http://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/breaking-news/santa-clarita-valley-search-and-rescue-seeks-lost-hikers-146553

Injured hiker rescued – http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/BREAKING-NEWS/SEARCH-RESCUE-PERSONNEL-LOCATE-INJURED-HIKER-NEAR-MT-PILCHUCK-2043867

Dehydrated hikers rescued – http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2015/03/08/police-search-dehydrated-hikers-indian-canyons/24620881/

Lost hikers rescued –  http://www.theprovince.com/Coquitlam+search+rescue+find+lost+hikers+near+Pitt+Lake/10872785/story.html

Hikers rescued – http://www.courant.com/community/manchester/hc-manchester-rescue-0311-20150310-story.html

Injured hiker rescued – http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/03/11/dsc-search-and-rescue-called-out-after-woman-falls-in-snow-canyon-state-park/#.VQD3V_lQMsM

FI3

Hunter-gatherer – 

Climbing – 

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Two Vandals Rescued And Arrested By Rangers

Proactive ranger patrols and a vigilant public made this last week one of the more successful in apprehending vandals in the park. Rangers arrested five people and issued two more several citations on graffiti-related charges.

Two of the vandals arrested attempted to flee when contacted by rangers. While fleeing, they became stuck on a cliff face and needed to be extracted by a helicopter and technical rope rescue system. Click on this link for a news video of the rescue: http://abc7news.com/536624/.

Golden Gate NRA protects a large number of historic coastal defense structures that span the nation’s military past. These structures date back as far as the mid-1800’s and include red brick fortifications, concrete gun batteries, and cold war Nike missile sites.

Graffiti at these sites has become an increasing and costly problem. In addition to historic military sites, vandals have defaced rock walls, trees, roadways, signs, fences, benches, and more. The cost to restore all historic structures to their pre-graffiti state would cost well over a million dollars. In addition to the financial cost of graffiti abatement, vandals frequently enter closed areas, which can be not only hazardous but also damaging to natural resources.

Over the past two years, the park has conducted 20 operations focused on both the apprehension of vandals and graffiti abatement. During this two year period, 22 vandalism suspects have been arrested and 39 have been issued citations.

State and federal charges are currently pending for $20,000 in damages performed by two vandals at various sites throughout the park.  There are also four open investigations for similar damage amounts.  Rangers have worked closely with the District Attorney’s Office, Assistant US Attorney’s Office, Facebook/Instagram, Google, and many others in these investigations.

Injured climber rescued – http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2015/03/07/rescue-underway-fallen-poudre-canyon-climber/24574749/

Another injured climber rescued – http://www.standard.net/Police-Fire/2015/03/07/Fallen-rock-climber-rescued-by-Cache-search-and-rescue.html

Stranded climber rescued – http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/search-and-rescue-launched-vesper-peak-climber/nkSZL/

Water Safety – 

Search for missing snorkeler – http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2015/03/05/search-and-rescue-launched-for-missing-snorkeler

SAR for missing swimmer – http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/search-rescue-teams-scrambled-find-5293728

Crew of fishing vessel rescued – https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/western-isles/516011/video-huge-waves-batter-fishing-boat-lifeboat-launches-dramatic-rescue/

Vehicles – 

Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)
Two Die When Van Goes Off Ferry Into River

On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 3rd, a van boarding the Green River Ferry from the south side of the river went off the far end of the ferry and into the river. The van drifted downstream about 100 feet and quickly submerged in 16 feet of water.

Flood conditions, including drifting debris, existed at the time of the incident.  The air temperature was 57 degrees; water temperature was 45 degrees.

The van was located a couple of hours later and was pulled from the river. The bodies of the two occupants, both from Munfordville, Kentucky, were recovered from inside the van.

The ferry is a cable-guided, three-passenger craft that is licensed through the US Coast Guard. An investigation is underway. The US Coast Guard is also conducting a parallel investigation.

Sixteen responding agencies from three surrounding counties and the state assisted in the incident.

Dive crews recover body from submerged car – http://www.wsfa.com/story/28278570/dive-team-recovers-body-from-car-in-creek

MVA call into searcg – http://www.wdam.com/story/28280976/one-vehicle-accident-turns-into-a-search-and-rescue-in-jones-and-wayne-county

Urban – 

Missing dementia and Alzheimer’s patients –  

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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Survival Weekly – 3/4/15…

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North-Shore-Rescue-GrouseMountain_062214

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Meth and getting rescued don’t mix well. Injured SAR team member wins lawsuit – http://patch.com/california/lakeforest-ca/injured-search-and-rescue-volunteer-settles-suit-against-lost-trabuco-hiker

News – 

Northwest Alaska SAR reports – http://www.thearcticsounder.com/article/1509search-and-rescue_teams_have_busy_week

Winter Sports – 

Injured snowmobiler rescued – http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=33627100

Another injured snowmobiler rescued – http://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Central_Okanagan/15/02/28/Snowmobiler_with_Serious_Back_Injury_Rescued_Near_Peachland

Hiking – 

Search ends for missing hiker – http://www.cbs8.com/story/28199875/rescue-crews-continue-search-in-the-east-county-for-missing-hiker

Stranded hikers rescued – http://www.8newsnow.com/story/28191782/metro-releases-chopper-video-of-search-for-stranded-hikers

Injured hiker rescued – http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/28214913/search-and-rescue-teams-help-hiker-at-tanque-verde-falls

Lost hikers rescued – http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/two-women-rescued-from-mangerton-mountain-in-kerry-1.2121814

Helicopter rescue of stranded climbers – http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/03/01/helicopter-assists-in-rescue-of-2-men-who-fell-down-hill-in-marin-county/

Injured hikers rescued – http://www.cknw.com/2015/03/01/66818/

Another injured hiker rescued – http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/03/03/dsc-search-rescue-team-helps-man-who-fell-40-feet-in-red-cliffs-recreation-area/#.VPfKF_lQMsM

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Hunter-gatherer – 

Stranded hunters rescued – https://www.adn.com/article/20150225/extensive-search-finds-interior-hunters-safe-after-two-nights-missing

Climbing – 

Injured climber rescued – https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/502759/ben-nevis-rescue-effort-underway/

Stranded climber rescued – http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=40699

Climber rescued – http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/03/01/3514154/climber-stuck-on-morro-rock.html

Water Safety – 

Two sailors rescued – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-27/two-men-rescued-after-boat-runs-aground-cape-barren/6268846

Coast guard rescues nine sailors – http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/coast-guard-rescues-nine-sailors/article6952639.ece

Vehicles – 

Fatality at river crossing in Mammoth Cave – http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Search-and-Rescue-at-Mammoth-Cave-National-Park-294909821.html

Multiple vehicle SAR’s – http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2015/02/28/county-search-rescue-busy-saturday-calls/24206407/

Stranded man rescued – http://elkodaily.com/news/search-and-rescue-team-locates-stranded-new-yorker/article_fac7b81a-7f93-50b9-b08c-00b6e382c7d4.html

Urban – 

Missing dementia and Alzheimer’s patients –  

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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Survival Weekly – 2/25/15…

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search2_met

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), satellite messengers, and cell phones save lives, but have their limitations. They can fail, give erratic signals, and do not guarantee that the rescue teams will be able to get to you in time.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the coordinates that we received over the night were all over the place within a mile circumference,” Fish and Game Lt. Jim Goss told WIMU

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/21/the-young-woman-and-mountain/SEBPucaGpA1Fun4R5uoj7K/story.html

Two stories of satellite messengers failing – 

Overdue skiers found – http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/292301261.html

sarsart-highres

News – 

NASAR launches new website – http://www.nasar.org/

RIP to SAR Technician – http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/news/local/search-and-rescue-technician-funeral-to-be-held-in-the-comox-valley-1.1773220

Drone policy in works for Utah SAR – http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622689/Bill-eases-restrictions-on-police-drone-use-for-search-and-rescue-training.html

Winter Sports – 

Overdue skiers found – http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/292301261.html

Teens survive an icy night out – http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/snow-bound-maine-teens-survive-sub-zero-night-stranded-woods-n308061

Lost skier rescued – http://www.conwaydailysun.com/newsx/local-news/119312-wayward-skier-rescued-at-attitash

Snowmobilers rescued – http://fox13now.com/2015/02/22/search-and-rescue-crews-locate-two-overdue-snowmobilers/

Hiking – 

Lost hiker found – http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/02/18/search-and-rescue-find-lost-tourist

Adironack Ranger Rescue highlights – http://poststar.com/news/local/adirondack-forest-ranger-search-and-rescue-highlights-feb/article_feb7ba6c-b770-11e4-8788-cb5376d768cc.html

Hiker self-rescues – http://www.standard.net/Police-Fire/2015/02/16/Davis-Creek-Canyon-fall

Injured hiker rescued – http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/helicopter-rescues-injured-hiker-on-juan-de-fuca-trail-1.1764349

SAR for missing hiker – http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/emergency/search-underway-for-missing-german-tramper/

Hikers rescued – http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/02/20/lost-hikers-dog-reach-safety/23758081/

Injured hiker rescued – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11406263

Hikers rescued – http://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2015/02/23/3-hikers-rescued-in-red-rock-canyon-area/

Student group rescued – http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/02/24/stranded-nau-students-grand-canyon-abrk/23936159/

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Hunter-gatherer – 

Wounded hunter rescued – http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/66688644/Shot-hunter-rescued-from-Tararua-Ranges

Hog hunters rescued –   http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/02/lost_hog_hunters_rescued_from.html

Ice fishermen recount story of survival –  http://www.postcrescent.com/story/sports/outdoors/blogs/2015/02/24/schram-green-bay-ice-survival/23931739/

Climbing – 

Injured climber rescued – http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-31634704

Climber rescued – https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/497006/climber-rescued-after-cairngorm-fall/

Water Safety – 

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River (TX)
Overdue Canoeist Rescued From Lower Canyons

On February 15th, rangers Greg Drum and Beau Bracken began a search for a 68-year-old man from Albuquerque who had departed on January 30th to canoe the remote Lower Canyons portion the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.

When his permit revealed to rangers that he was overdue, a request for assistance was put in to the U.S. Customs Air and Marine Branch out of Alpine, Texas. Drum joined the pilot to assist him with the aerial search.

The man was spotted on the Mexican side of the river near Upper Madison Falls, a Class III/IV rapid. He’d attempted to portage the rapid,  but became stranded due to his physical condition and diminished supplies. He said that he’d flipped his canoe several times earlier in the trip and had lost a bag filled with essential medication. Without his medication, he had begun to succumb to extreme lethargy and was unable to continue his trip. He said he hadn’t seen another human during his entire time on the river and therefore believed his chance of rescue was miniscule.

Drum was dropped off nearby and hiked to the man’s location. Using his canoe, Drum helped him back across the Rio Grande. The pilot waited on the Texas shore, then flew him to park headquarters in Panther Junction. He was transported to Big Bend Regional Medical Center, treated there, and released with no lasting injuries.

The remote Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic are among the most rugged and desolate locations in the Lower 48. Rangers are the only people who patrol the river along this stretch of international border. For more information and photographs of this area, click on the link below.

SAR called off for missing man – http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2015/02/17/breaking-search-and-rescue-operation-underway-in-gibraltar/

Rescue for fishing vessel – https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/496484/large-rescue-operation-launched-sinking-north-sea-fishing-boat/

Search suspended for missing boy – http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-02-20/river-rescue-teams-end-third-day-of-searching-for-boy-11/

Vehicles – 

Stranded motorist rescued – https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/02/20/hrc-search-and-rescue-saves-the-day-man-stranded-near-kolob-reservoir/#.VO1J-flQMsM

Stranded ATV riders rescued – http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/local/southern-tier/2015/02/21/atv-riders-rescued-at-sturgeon-point/23823547/

Rollover turns to SAR – http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/follow-the-sirens/rollover-leads-to-search-and-rescue-operation-1.1771657

Urban – 

Missing man – http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Wolfe-Co-rescue-crews-searching-for-missing-man-292150581.html

Missing dementia and Alzheimer’s patients –  

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?  Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

635603708929829270-DSCN1667

Survival Weekly – 2/17/15…

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1

Welcome to another edition of Survival Weekly, where the real wilderness survival “reality show” plays out everyday, in the wild places around our world. These unscripted stories will give you insight to the true threats and challenges you may face in your outdoor pursuits. So sit back, relax, and read on to get a dose of reality to sharpen your most valuable survival tool. – BPO

Featured – 

This article about evaluating risks and decision making applies to all pursuits, not just pilots – https://www.adn.com/article/20150214/alaska-pilots-sometimes-winter-survival-means-not-taking

News – 

Three planes left in bid for Canadian SAR plane –   http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadas-fixed-wing-search-and-rescue-aircraft-contest-down-to-three-contenders

Body of rescue tech recovered – http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1268761-body-of-missing-rescue-tech-recovered-from-mountain

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Winter Sports – 

Rescue of sledder – http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/02/16/young-sylvan-lake-sledder-saved-from-creek-bed-near-golden-bc-by-search-and-rescue-team

Missing snowmobiler rescued – http://county10.com/2015/02/13/quick-search-and-rescue-yesterday-has-positive-outcome/

Injured snowmobiler rescued – http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/02/15/injured-snowmobiler-rescued-gallatin-county/23465013/

Snowmobiler rescued – http://globalnews.ca/news/1831956/sylvan-lake-snowmobiler-rescued-from-creek-near-golden/

Hiking – 

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ) **originally reported at Shenandoah by morning report, but Chuckzilla caught their mistake
Hiker Dies At Ribbon Falls On North Kaibab Trail

Early on the afternoon of Thursday, February 12th, park dispatch received a broken 911 call reporting the discovery of a man’s body in the vicinity of Ribbon Falls near the North Kaibab Trail.  Ranger medics responded by helicopter.

The victim was found to be a 73-year-old man who was day hiking from Phantom Ranch to Ribbon Falls with several companions.  He’d collapsed shortly after reaching the falls. Bystanders began CPR while another visitor hiked to a place on the trail where limited cell service was available.

When park medics arrived, the man had been down for about 90 minutes. They pronounced him dead.

The man’s body and his companions were flown to the South Rim. The body was then transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Flagstaff.

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Search For Missing Man Scaled Back

The search for a missing 21-year-old Texas man has been scaled back due to a lack of clues as to his whereabouts.

Drake Kramer, 21, was last seen near Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim on Sunday, February 1st. He was reported as missing by members of his family on Monday. A six-day search for him ensued, but failed to turn up any evidence as to where he might be.

Rangers searched the South Rim developed area from Hermit’s Rest on the west side to Grandview on the east. Teams of searchers walked miles along the canyon rim, searched heavily forested areas, utilized dog teams, performed several over-the-rim technical searches, and conducted multiple aerial reconnaissance missions to support ground searchers.

With no additional clues to guide search efforts on land, the search will be scaled back to a continuous but limited mode in which rangers and pilots will continue to search for clues when in the area. Flyers with Kramer’s picture and description also remain posted at various South Rim locations. Anyone who may have information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to call the National Park Service Silent Witness Line at 928-638-7840.

A photo of Kramer may be found on a previous park news release at this link:http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/expand-kramer-search.htm .

Stranded hikers rescued – http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/02/11/hrc-search-rescue-teams-find-hikers-stranded-in-darkness-near-valentine-peak/#.VOPKlPlQMsM

Hikers rescued, overnight with SAR crew – http://www.kesq.com/news/hikers-forced-to-spend-night-in-tahquitz-canyon/31258694

SAR for missing hiker – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/north-shore-rescue-searching-for-missing-hiker-marilyn-mann-1.2957598

Hunter-gatherer – 

Recovery of missing fisherman – http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-south-pinellas/st-petersburg/search-underway-in-gulf-for-two-missing-fishermen

Climbing – 

Climber rescued – http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2015/02/14/climber-rescued-from-barton-creek-greenbelt/23418121/

SAR team rescues sheepdog off  cliff – http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/search-team-rescues-sheepdog-8650867

Climbing party rescued – http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/02/09/19-climbers-rescued-after-15-hours-of-ordeal

Water Safety – 

Missing kayaker – http://www.wyff4.com/news/authorities-searching-for-missing-boater-on-lake-hartwell/31228996

Tourist rescued from riptide – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11402653

Another kayaker rescued – http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/UPDATE-Major-rescue-operation-injured-kayaker/story-26028904-detail/story.html

Vehicles – 

Search for missing utility worker – http://gazette.com/search-and-rescue-team-looking-for-utility-worker-stranded-near-almagre-mountain/article/1546130

Couple stuck in snowbank rescued – http://oilcitywyo.com/2015/02/13/couple-found-safe-by-washakie-county-sheriffs-and-worland-police-department-after-being-stranded-in-a-snowdrift/

Rescue leads to arrest – http://www.chinookobserver.com/co/coast-guard/20150214/deanos-dream-turns-to-nightmare-when-rescue-transitions-into-arrest

Urban – 

Missing teens rescued – http://www.8newsnow.com/story/28100280/tip-leads-dad-red-rock-search-and-rescue-to-missing-teen-girls

SAR for bridge jumper – http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/search-rescue-operation-underway-after-8646209

SAR rescues suicidal woman – http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/02/15/suicidal-woman-found-unharmed-search/23461697/

Missing dementia and Alzheimer’s patients –  

Interested in learning skills to handle emergencies like the ones you read in Survival Weekly?   Check out BigPig Outdoors Survival 101 class  – http://www.bigpigoutdoors.net/survival-101-1.htm

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