Several lost hiker incidents near Sisters, Oregon, resolved by SAR

TRADITIONAL MOUNTAINEERING ™
www.TraditionalMountaineering.org ™ and also www.AlpineMountaineering.org ™

TraditionalMountaineering Logo - representing the shared
companionship of the Climb ™

Search this site!
Read more:

Several lost hiker incidents near Sisters, Oregon, resolved by SAR

Lost Hiker Found Cold, OK South of Sisters - Spent Night Huddled By a Log, Then Walked Out
By Amy Easley and Kelsey Watts, KTVZ.COM
July 15, 2010

SISTERS, Ore. -- The search for a missing 70-year-old Sisters man who became separated from his wife during a hike near Three Creeks Lake and the Tam McArthur Rim Trail south of Sisters ended happily Thursday morning when he was found in good condition.

Gregory Pozovich told Deschutes County sheriff's deputies that after he became separated from his wife Wednesday afternoon, he spent the night huddled next to a log, trying to stay warm, said Deputy Rhett Hemphill.

When it became light enough to see, Pozovich said he began walking and eventually got to Forest Service Road 370, where he got a ride from a passing motorist and was found by searchers around 10:30 a.m.

"Pozovich was in good condition, besides being cold and hungry," Hemphill said in a news release. "(He) was reunited with his family members, who were waiting nearby."

Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue got the call around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday that Pozovich was missing, and that brought deputies and sheriff's Search and Rescue members to the Tam McArthur Rim area of the Deschutes National Forest, about 17 miles south of Sisters and just east of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area.

Pozovich said he had been hiking with his wife, Shannon, and left the Tam McArthur Rim Trailhead near Three Creeks Lake around 11:30 a.m., Hemphill said.

Around 2:15 p.m., they became separated near the wilderness boundary, at which time his wife returned to the trailhead and called for help.

About 30 SAR members responded to begin the search with ground search teams and tracking teams, working through the night, Hemphill said. More resources were called in Thursday morning, including Crook and Jefferson County search teams, working in an area of roughly 16 square miles.

Pozovich reportedly was fairly well equipped, but had no cell phone. His wife said they became separated when he stopped to look at something, and she decided to walk on and meet him at the end of the trail, but he never showed up.

Sheriff's Search and Rescue had a helicopter fly over the area before nightfall Wednesday evening, trying to find him from the air. The search on foot continued through the night.

Fellow hikers like Eric Beck, who'd heard helicopters searching Thursday morning, confirmed the trail was made up of rough terrain.

"There's spots where it would be easy to get off of the main trail, and there's also spots where people have created multiple trails up there, I think going around the snow," said Beck. "So we had some route-finding to do ourselves when we were up there today.
--Italics by Webmeister Speik

http://www.ktvz.com/news/24269455/detail.html

Cell Phone GPS Helps Find Lost Hiker Near Sisters - Man Called 911; Second Search in Area in a Day
From KTVZ.COM News Sources
July 16, 2010

SISTERS, Ore. -- Less than 12 hours after finding a Sisters man lost in the woods near Three Creeks Lake, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue members were out again Thursday night, this time west of Sisters, helping find another lost hiker.

And it was a quicker success, this part, thanks in large part to the man’s cell phone, which narrowed the search area down.

Sheriff’s deputies and SAR were dispatched around 7:30 p.m. to the report of a lost hiker in the Black Crater area, north of the Three Sisters and east of McKenzie Pass, said Deputy Rhett Hemphill.

Jacob Richard Reents, 31, of Elmira, had been hiking with his father when they became separated and he went off-trail, Hemphill said.

Reents tried to find the trail again, but could not. Hemphill said the hiker became concerned that he was lost and called 911 on his cell phone. (The Sisters man who became lost and spent Wednesday night in the woods reportedly did not have a cell phone.)

SAR officials made contact with Reents and told him to stay put, Hemphill said.

Then they pinpointed his location by the GPS in his cell phone, helping in finding him.

A total of 18 SAR members responded to the area, starting the search on foot and by vehicle in the area he was last seen and where the cell phone GPS indicated he was.

Reents was found by ground teams and a tracking team around 11:30 p.m., a short distance from the indicated cell phone location, Hemphill said.

Reents was in good health and taken back to the trailhead, where he was reunited with family members.
--Italics by Webmeister Speik

http://www.ktvz.com/news/24284733/detail.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Cell+Phone

Two More Lost Hikers Found West of Bend - Several SAR Missions in Recent Days; Advice Offered
From KTVZ.COM News Sources
July 21, 2010

BEND, Ore. -- Two hikers who didn’t know each other met up Tuesday while trying in vain to find a way back to the Tam McArthur Rim trailhead west of Bend, then called in rescuers, who found them in an eight-hour mission, officials said.

Nearly two-dozen Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue members and deputies took part in the operation that located Rick Marcotte, 71, of McMinnville, and Jonathan Monson, 19, of Owatonna, Minn., said Sgt. Scott Shelton.

Deputies and SAR members were dispatched around 4 p.m. to the area on a report of two lost hikers, Shelton said.

Both had left the trailhead Tuesday morning, intending to hike west toward Broken Hand, located southeast of Broken Top, about 4 1/2 miles from the trailhead, he said.

The hikers left at different times and met during the hike, in the area below Broken Hand, learning that they both did not know how to return down to the trailhead, near Three Creeks Lake, Shelton said.

The pair spent several hours trying to make their way out before calling 911 to seek help. Shelton said several phone calls were made, and an approximate location determined.

The two hikers were advised to stay put, as initially 10 SAR volunteers were dispatched to the area. More were called in later, as deputies staffed the incident management team.

Searchers eventually made audible contact with the lost hikers, then were able to find them near Broken Hand and led them back to the trailhead.

Both hikers were in good physical condition when found, Shelton said.

SAR has been out on missions involving five lost hikers in the past week, several in the same area, Shelton said, adding that the snow fields in the area could be confusing people. He urged people heading to the woods to carry a fully charged cell phone, a compass and a map.
--Italics by Webmeister Speik

http://www.ktvz.com/news/24338466/detail.html

Latest Missing-Hiker Rescue Prompts Reminders
Woman Left Group West of Sisters -- First Mistake, Deputies Say
From KTVZ.COM News Sources
July 26, 2010

SISTERS, Ore. -- Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies who responded to yet another lost hiker west of Sisters Monday evening had some familiar advice for those in similar situations, most importantly: If in a group, stay together.

A Clatskanie, Ore., couple, John and Janine Salisbury, their son Justin and a family friend had gone for a planned 8-mile hike to the summit of Black Crater, located north of the Three Sisters and east of McKenzie Pass, said sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Bilyeu.

After reaching the summit, Janine Salisbury became concerned about the storm clouds forming in the area and decided to head back ahead of the rest of the party, Bilyeu said.

However, on her way back to the trailhead, she apparently left the trail to walk around a patch of snow and became lost, he said.

After returning to the trailhead and their car, John Salisbury realized Janine had not returned, Bilyeu said. After about 40 minutes, he began flagging down passing motorists for assistance.

John Salisbury had a cell phone, but service was unreliable in the area, and calls to 911 dispatchers kept dropping, the sergeant said.

After the call came in around 5 p.m., sheriff’s patrol deputies responded to the area. About an hour later, they found Janine Salisbury on Highway 242 (the McKenzie Pass Highway), about seven miles east of the Black Crater Trailhead, Bilyeu said.

She was unhurt, in good condition, and reunited with her family and friends, Bilyeu said, adding that Search and Rescue crews had not been dispatched at the time she was found.

In a news release, Bilyeu urged everyone to plan and prepare for every outing.

“Pay attention to the current weather and forecast,” he wrote, “but remember weather in Central Oregon, particularly in the mountain regions, weather can be unpredictable and change rapidly.”

“Prepare for the worst possible situation by taking enough water, food, clothing and supplies that would make an overnight stay possible, or at least more comfortable, if it came to that,” Bilyeu added.

“Know the area you plan to visit, be familiar with map, compass and/or GPS use,” he said, adding, “When participating in a group outing, STAY TOGETHER!”
--Italics by Webmeister Speik

http://www.ktvz.com/news/24403218/detail.html

Three Lost Hikers Rescued Near North Sister - Women Spend Cold Night Without Food, Gear
From KTVZ.COM News Sources
September 11, 2010

SISTERS, Ore. -- Three women who went on a day hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area missed their trail turnoff, became lost and spent a long, cold night in sub-freezing weather before being rescued Saturday morning, officials said.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Sheriff’s Search and Rescue were dispatched around 12:15 a.m. to a report of three missing hikers in the Mattheu Lakes area, north of the North Sister, said Deputy Rhett Hemphill.

Jessica Jo Hill, 24, of Bend, Nicole Hana Stinnett, 24, of Portland, and Rosita Kristine Rerat, 25, of Bend, had gone for a day hike from the Lava Lake trailhead, heading toward their destination of North Mattheu Lake, and last were seen around 1 p.m. Friday, Hemphill said.

Authorities later learned the three had missed their trail turnoff, ended up south of South Mattheu lake and became lost, he said, adding that they were not prepared for an overnight stay with either the proper clothes or gear.

Family members became concerned and began to check the area, eventually finding the hikers’ vehicle at the Lava Lake trailhead, then called 911.

A total of 26 SAR members responded and began to search the area early Saturday, by foot and on horseback.

Around 8:30 a.m., a horse team found the lost hikers two miles south of South Matthieu Lake, near Yapoah Crater, Hemphill said.

They had spent a very cold night exposed to the below-freezing conditions, without food or property clothing.

Rescuers provided the three with warm clothing and food and took them back to the trailhead for a reunion with family members.
--Italics by Webmeister Speik

http://www.ktvz.com/news/24972484/detail.html

My comments on www.KTVZ.com

OldTimerOriginal-
I may be wrong here, but I've been told that not all new cell phones have the GPS capability. I believe it's the ones without the SIM card? Can anyone else confirm this? Just don't want folks assuming they have this when they may not. Glad this person's had it, and it helped him and SAR. Good job SAR and thanks. I may not be able to wander the woods like I used to, but I can still appreciate the help you offer others who can.

Robert Speik reply OldTimerOriginal-
You make a very important point. Do you need to have the much more expensive cell phone with a "GPS" to help SAR find your location in the backcountry?

The answer is NO!

Cell phone providers now are required by FCC E911 Regulations to provide the location of ALL their cell phones in lat-lon (WGS84) coordinates, whether the cell phone contains an actual Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of not. With very few exceptions, this is done by triangulation from cell towers. One tower will provide a circle at a distance from the tower, two will provide a "fix" and three or more towers can pinpoint the location. Verizon uses only cell tower triangulation.

Costly cell phones with a GPS receiver (in contact with the DOD satellite system) only work if you pay extra monthly for a special GPS application.

Who cares? I make an important distinction because folks should just carry their ordinary digital cell phone in the backcountry. They should not just leave it in the car because they choose not to pay allot more for a GPS Equipped cell phone and Application.

Cell phone Providers are not helpful in explaining "why you do not need to have an optional extra GPS in your phone". However, a few kind Customer Service people will check your phone and say with a bright smile "Yes, your phone has a GPS". What they are talking about is a little indicator on the cell phone that shows it is a current digital model that is "E911 enabled" and that the owner has agreed that the lat lon location of the phone can be found by triangulation and can be given to law enforcement upon request. I think this is the default setting. (Perhaps this default setting is only changed by conservative folks who hate the government or are on the lam?)

It is not true that you need to have a "GPS" in your cell phone to be found and assisted by SAR Volunteer Units. Read more here: http://traditionalmountaineering.org/FAQ_CellPhones.htm

cluedweasel in reply to OldTimerOriginal
My phone doesn't have a SIM (it's CDMA) and it has GPS capabilities. I have the GPS turned off, but that's another story :)

Robert Speik in reply to cluedweasel
Hello cluedweasel-
You have a digital cell phone from Verizon which is the only local Provider using CDMA technology. Verizon does not use "GPS" to locate a cell phone under FCC E911 Regulations. Even if one in 100 phones have an on-board GPS receiver, Verizon uses only cell tower triangulation.

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a DOD constellation of (GPS) satellites that communicate by radio signals with GPS Receivers, in your hand or on your car dashboard. Locations are provided by Coordinates expressed in Latitude and Longitude. These Coordinates are used by SAR (or Geocachers, etc.) "GPS Coordinates" are only those Coordinates that are provided through radio signals from the Department of Defense constellation of satellites.

Read more here: http://traditionalmountaineering.org/News_OpEd_Cells.htm

OldTimerOriginal
Wow! thanks to all for your input! I really appreciate your help and information!

Barney Lerten in reply to Robert Speik
Always nice to see you weigh in here with valuable info, Bob. Thanks.

Klatonya wrote
most new phones have the gps when callen 911 that's the new phone with contract phone co. all phone that have card use and none contract dont. its a plus i favor a great deal haven 4 girls each with phones.

Cell phone tracker wrote, in response to Klatonya
In the US almost all carriers offer cell phone GPS tracking services, although it's not free, but it may help a lot in some cases.

Robert Speik in reply to cell phone tracker
Hello cell phone man-
"Cell phone tracking services" is not the subject of this thread. We are discussing the inherent ability of the ordinary digital cell phone to provide 911 Call Centers and Law Enforcement with the Latitude and Longitude Geographic Coordinants of the cell phone, under certain circumstances.

(By FCC Regulations, land line phone companies must provide the street address of the calling phone to 911 Call Centers. Since 1996, cell phone providers have been required by the FCC E911 Regulations, do the same).

These Geographic Coordinants are used by SAR to locate the cell phone position on topo maps and, when input into their SAR hand held GPS (radio) receivers, to lead them to the the lost or stranded individual(s). This legally required process "can take the search out of search and rescue".

Cell phone Providers such as US Cellular, Verizon, etc, have co-opted the terms "GPS" and "GPS location" from automobile street by street GPS Navigation devices sold by Garmin and others, which actually do get their Geographic Locations in Latitude and Longitude from a true GPS (radio) receiver inside the device. These onboard automobile GPS Navigation devices are in contact with the constellation of 12 Global Positioning System satellites maintained by the Department of Defense. Cell phone Providers may use the term "GPS Navigation", but their competitively marketed navigation programs use cell tower triangulation, not GPS radio waves, to get you to the restaurant.

Again, Bob, who cares?
Misinformation is never good. Reporting that finding an individual was easier because he had "a GPS in his cell phone" probably is not true 99 percent of the time.

Instead, it should be clearly Reported that the lost or stranded individual carried an ordinary cell phone with E911 service enabled. The cell phone Coordinants were located by Cell Providers from triangulating pings from two or more cell towers.

(FCC Regulations required that 95% of cell phones must be E911 compliant by December 31, 2005. Geographic Coordinants must be available to SAR within five minutes of an official request.)

To be located by SAR, you do not need to pay hundreds of dollars more for a fancy phone that actually does contain a true GPS radio receiver, or pay monthly for a faux "GPS Street Navigation" program that actually uses cell phone triangulation and not Geographic Coordinants from the DOD Global Positioning System. This free Government E911 cell phone emergency program almost "takes the search out of Search and Rescue".

"Latitude and Longitude"? Note that literally hundreds of thousands of ordinary folks around the world find Geocaches every day, using Geographic Coordinants, with their inexpensive GPS receivers, and hopefully using a map and a compass, too.

What can be learned from these several incidents?

1. Practice the Four Basic Responsibilities of the Backcountry Traveler. They work! Basic

2. Carry the new Ten Essential Systems, sized for the forecast weather and the adventure in a light day pack. This includes a map, compass and GPS and the skills to use them. In the winter, this includes enough extra insulation and waterproof clothing to keep you dry and warm if you become stranded. In snow, you must have a shovel and insulating pad and the skills to make a shelter in the snow to avoid hypothermia and frost bite damage. It works! Essentials

3. Carry a fully charged digital cell phone and periodically check where it can communicate with any cell towers to assist authorities to triangulate your position from cell tower pings. (Most cell providers do not use cell phone GPS signals to locate customers under FCC E911 regulations - they use triangulation). Cold disables batteries. If the weather is cold, carry the cell phone in a pants pocket near the femoral artery. Report your UTM NAD27 coordinates, your condition, the conditions where you are and discuss your plans with SAR. Cell Phones If you may be out of cell tower range, carry a SPOT. SPOT Satellite Messenger

4. Always stay found on your map and by being aware of major land features such as Mt. Bachelor. If visibility starts to wane, reconfirm your bearings with your map, compass and GPS and quickly return to a known location (Cascade Lakes Highway, Mt. Bachelor, a Nordic Shelter, etc.) A GPS is the only practical way for a trained individual to navigate in a whiteout or blowing snow. Lost Mt Hood Climbers

A suggested minimum standard news advisory for all backcountry travelers!

"We would like to take this opportunity to ask our visitors to the backcountry of Oregon to plan for the unexpected. Each person should dress for the forecast weather and take minimum extra clothing protection from a drop in temperature and possible rain or snow storm or an unexpected cold wet night out, insulation from the wet ground or snow, high carbohydrate snacks, two quarts of water or Gatorade, a map and compass and optional inexpensive GPS and the skills to use them, and a charged cell phone from a Provider that has the best coverage of the area, and possibly, a SPOT-2 GPS Satellite Communicator. Each person should carry the traditional personal "Ten Essentials Systems" in a day pack sized for the individual, the trip, the season and the forecast weather. Carry the traditional personal "Ten Essentials Systems" in a day pack sized for the season and the forecast weather.

Visitors are reminded to tell a Responsible Person where they are going, where they plan to park, when they will be back and to make sure that person understands that they are relied upon to call 911 at a certain time if the backcountry traveler has not returned. If you become lost or stranded, mark your location and stay still or move around your marked location to stay warm. Do not try to find your way until you are exhausted, or worse yet - wet. Wait for rescuers.

THE MISSION of TraditionalMountaineering.org

"To provide information and instruction about world-wide basic to advanced alpine mountain climbing safety skills and gear, on and off trail hiking, scrambling and light and fast Leave No Trace backpacking techniques based on the foundation of an appreciation for the Stewardship of the Land, all illustrated through photographs and accounts of actual shared mountaineering adventures."

TraditionalMountaineering is founded on the premise that "He who knows naught, knows not that he knows naught", that exploring the hills and summitting peaks have dangers that are hidden to the un-informed and that these inherent risks can be in part, identified and mitigated by mentoring: information, training, wonderful gear, and knowledge gained through the experiences of others.

The value of TraditionalMountaineering to our Friends and Subscribers is the selectivity of the information we provide, and its relevance to introducing folks to informed hiking on the trail, exploring off the trail, mountain travel and Leave-no-Trace light-weight bivy and backpacking, technical travel over steep snow, rock and ice, technical glacier travel and a little technical rock climbing on the way to the summit. Whatever your capabilities and interests, there is a place for everyone in traditional alpine mountaineering.

WARNING - *DISCLAIMER!*
Mountain climbing has inherent dangers that can, only in part, be mitigated

Lost and Found
Several hikers lost near Sisters, rescued by SAR
Snowshoer, "lost" near Wanoga snowpark, rescued by SAR
"Be Prepared" to be stranded on winter forest roads in Oregon
Several drivers become stranded on Oregon winter forest roads, led their new GPS' "fastest way" setting
Gear grist, an article written for The Mountaineer, the monthly newsletter of The Mountaineers
Robert Speik writes: "Use your digital cell in the backcountry" for The Mountaineer
Teen girls become lost overnight returning from hike to Moraine Lake
Snowboarder lost overnight near Mount Bachelor, rescued by SAR
Woman leaves car stuck in snow near Klamath Falls, dies from exposure
Man rescued from crevasse just off South Sister climber's trail
Climbing South Sister: A Prospectus and a Labor Day near disaster
Trail runner survives fall on ice with cell phone call
Once again, hypothermia kills stranded Oregon driver
Lessons learned from the latest lost Mt. Hood climbers
Lessons learned from the latest lost Christmas tree hunters
New rescue services for all American Alpine Club Members
OpEd: Oregon requires electronic communications in the backcountry
Rescue charges in traditional alpine mountaineering
Governor establishes a Search and Rescue Task Force
Oregon Search and Rescue Statutes
Lost hiker in Oregon backcountry found with heat-sensing device in airplane
HB2509 mandates electronic locator beacons on Mt. Hood - climbers' views
Oregon HB 2509 as approved on March 28, 2007
Three hikers and a dog rescued on Mt. Hood
Motorist stuck in snow on backcountry Road 18, phones 911 for rescue
Snow stranded Utah couple leave car and die from hypothermia
Death on Mt. Hood - What happened to the three North Face climbers?
Two climbers become lost descending Mt. Hood
Missing California family found, dad dies from exposure and hypothermia
Missing man survives two weeks trapped in snow-covered car
Missing snowmobile riders found, Roger Rouse dies from hypothermia
Lost snowmobile riders found, one deceased from hypothermia
Lost climber hikes 6.5 miles from South Sister Trail to Elk Lake
Hiking couple lost three nights in San Jacinto Wilderness find abandoned gear
Expert skier lost five days in North Cascades without Essentials, map and compass
Climber disappears on the steep snow slopes of Mount McLaughlin
Hiker lost five days in freezing weather on Mount Hood
Professor and son elude search and rescue volunteers
Found person becomes lost and eludes rescuers for five days
Teens, lost on South Sister, use cell phone with Search and Rescue
Lost man walks 27 miles to the highway from Elk Lake Oregon
Snowboarder Found After Week in Wilderness
Searchers rescue hiker at Smith Rock, find lost climbers on North Sister
Girl found in Lane County after becoming lost on hiking trip
Search and rescue finds young girls lost from family group
Portland athlete lost on Mt. Hood
Rescues after the recent snows
Novice couple lost in the woods
Search called off for missing climber Corwin Osborn
Broken Top remains confirmed as missing climber
Ollalie Trail - OSU Trip - Lost, No Map, Inadequate Clothing

Your Essential Light Day Pack
What are the new Ten Essential Systems?
What does experience tell us about Light and Fast climbing?
What is the best traditional alpine mountaineering summit pack?
What is Light and Fast alpine climbing?
What do you carry in your day pack?    Photos?
What do you carry in your winter day pack?     Photos?
What should I know about "space blankets"?
Where can I get a personal and a group first aid kit?    Photos?

Carboration and Hydration
Is running the Western States 100 part of "traditional mountaineering"?
What's wrong with GORP? Answers to the quiz!
Why do I need to count carbohydrate calories?
What should I know about having a big freeze-dried dinner?
What about carbo-ration and fluid replacement during traditional alpine climbing? 4 pages in pdf
What should I eat before a day of alpine climbing?

About Alpine Mountaineering:
The Sport of Alpine Mountaineering
Climbing Together
Following the Leader
The Mountaineers' Rope
Basic Responsibilities Cuatro Responsabiliades Basicas de Quienes Salen al Campo
The Ten Essentials Los Diez Sistemas Esenciales

Our Leader's Guidelines:
Our Volunteer Leader Guidelines
Sign-in Agreements, Waivers and Prospectus     This pdf form will need to be signed by you at the trail head
Sample Prospectus    Make sure every leader tells you what the group is going to do; print a copy for your "responsible person"
Participant Information Form    This pdf form can be printed and mailed or handed to the Leader if requested or required
Emergency and Incident Report Form    Copy and print this form. Carry two copies with your Essentials
Participant and Group First Aid Kit    Print this form. Make up your own first aid essentials (kits)

About our World Wide Website:
Information
Mission

Map, Compass and GPS
Map, compass and GPS navigation training Noodle in The Badlands
BLM guidelines for Geocaching on public lands
Geocaching on Federal Forest Lands
OpEd - Geocaching should not be banned in the Badlands
Winter hiking in The Badlands WSA just east of Bend
Searching for the perfect gift
Geocaching: What's the cache?
Geocaching into the Canyon of the Deschutes
Can you catch the geocache?
Z21 covers Geocaching
Tour The Badlands with ONDA
The art of not getting lost
Geocaching: the thrill of the hunt!
GPS in the news
A GPS and other outdoor gadgets make prized gifts
Wanna play? Maps show you the way
Cooking the "navigation noodle"