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PCT summer section hikers assisted by SAR

Searchers aid PCT hikers who ran out of water
One became ill; 2 others couldn't find water
By KTVZ.COM news sources
August 13, 2012
Deschutes County rescuers spent several hours assisting three people who ran out of water and became dehydrated Sunday afternoon while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail south of Mt. Washington.

County 911 dispatchers got a call around 5:40 p.m. from the group that had run out of water while hiking near Belknap Crater, said sheriff’s Special Services Deputy Liam Klatt.

Thomas Gradt, 26, of Eugene; Jenna Curtis, 23, also of Eugene, and Brandon Durgan, 24, of Salem, had been dropped off at the PCT near Hoodoo Ski Area earlier Sunday, Klatt said. The three were hiking south toward Highway 242 (the McKenzie Pass Highway).

The hikers reported they were very concerned about Gradt, who had lagged behind after the water ran out, Klatt said. They told dispatchers he was displaying signs of a heat-related illness, and he was left behind in hopes of finding some water fast and bringing some back to him.

However, after more than three hours of hiking, Curtis and Durgan had not found any water – and they said they now were too exhausted to hike back to Gradt’s last known location, Klatt said.

Gradt last was seen hiking very slowly along the trail southwest of Mt. Washington. Klatt said all attempts to reach him by cell phone failed, and they left messages for him to call 911 if he retained cell phone reception.

County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers responded to the junction of the PCT and Highway 242. Meanwhile, Curtis and Durgan made it out to family members waiting at that location, Klatt said.

Since SAR teams were almost to the trailhead on Highway 242, the pair was advised not to go back out to get Gradt. Klatt noted that the trail north of the highway “crosses over several miles of lava flow before reaching Belknap Crater and more pleasant terrain.”

As SAR members arrived at the trailhead, Gradt called 911, and GPS coordinates were obtained for his current location, still on the trail north of Belknap Crater, Klatt said. Gradt was advised to stay put, and SAR members headed up the trail to help him.

The SAR volunteers reached Gradt around 10:30 pm ad began rendering aid, Klatt said. After being given fluids and observed for a while, he was walked back out to the trailhead on Highway 242, where he was united with friends and family around 2:15 am Monday.
--Copyright 2012 KTVZ. All rights reserved.

http://www.ktvz.com/news/Searchers-aid-PCT-hikers-who-ran-out-of-water/-/413192/16092538/-/65hc28/-/index.html

Here are some Basic suggestions for all backcountry travelers

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

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!  Ten Essential Systems

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 to provide protection from a drop in temperature and possible rain or snow storm or an unexpected cold wet night out. Each person should carry high carbohydrate snacks, two quarts of water or Gatorade, a topo map and declination adjusted base plate compass and an optional inexpensive GPS (and the skills to use them together). Each person who has a cell phone should carry their ordinary charged cell phone (from a service provider that has the best local backcountry coverage). An inexpensive SPOT-2 GPS Satellite Communicator is a good additional option for some. Each person should carry their selected items from the new 'Ten Essentials Systems' in a day pack sized for the individual, the trip, 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. Call 911 as soon as you become lost or stranded. You will not be charged. Do not try to find your way until you are benighted, exhausted, or worse yet - wet. Your ordinary cell phone call to 911 can take the 'Search' out of Search and Rescue."

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."

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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.

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Mountain climbing has inherent dangers that can, only in part, be mitigated