Bend father-son snowmobilers lost overnight

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Bend father-son snowmobilers lost overnight

Bend father-son snowmobilers lost overnight
by Kim Toban
February 25, 2013
KTVZ.COM
Happy ending: Lost Bend dad-son snowmobilers found
A Bend man and his 13-year-old son are sharing their story, offering thanks to rescuers --
and sharing possibly life-saving advice after they got lost, their snowmobiles ran out of gas and they spent Sunday night huddled in a snow cave south of Elk Lake.

"Thank you doesn't do it," said Eric Abney, 40. "Tonight was going to be rough. What do you say? Thanks!"

Eric and his son, Hunter, set out Sunday afternoon a day snowmobile ride from Edison Butte Sno-Park.

Abney said the two had originally wanted to park their pickup and trailer at Wanoga Sno-Park. But Wanoga was packed for a weekend event, so the father and son took the recommendation of others and headed to Edison.

Unfamiliar with the area, they grabbed a map and set out.

"First turn out of there, we thought we were going left on the 43 Road to the 4," Abney said. "But apparently we turned left on the 3."

The two figured out their mistake, but harsh weather moved in and their GPS could not get a signal. They traveled until they found a Forest Service road and a sign that said Edison Butte Sno-Park, 14 miles ahead.

"I thought, 'Oh great, we are there," Abney said. "Eleven miles later on the trail we hit a tee and no sno-park, so something happened. We went back to the intersection, tried again, still couldn't find Edison Sno-Park."

As night fell, they decided to head for Elk Lake, but one of their sleds ran out of fuel. As they made it to the Cascade Lakes Highway, the second one ran out as well. That's when they decided it was time to set up camp.

"Then we dug a snow cave, the cold was setting in," Abney said, "and wow -- the cold comes fast."

They built a snow cave, lined the floor with tree boughs, started a fire and began to melt snow for water. Eric Began signaling SOS. with his flashlight in the tallest Ponderosa nearby, hoping someone would see them.

As Monday morning arrived, friends and family became worked and called for help. For hours, nearly 100 people searched for the father and son lost in the woods.

Monday afternoon, Hunter's feet became cold and he was in much pain. His father bundled up his son in the snow cave and set out for help.

Eric Abney said he planned to travel on foot for one hour, then return back to his son if he didn't find help.

But just before 1:30 p.m. Monday, Hunter was found in his snow cave by a passing snowmobiler.

"When he left, I just kind of laid down and listened," Hunter Abney said later. "Snowmobiles came by, and I just had a mini-heart attack and jumped out and yelled, 'Hey! Hey!"

A short time later, his dad was found about a mile away, and the two were taken back to Mt. Bachelor, where searchers had set up their command post.

Eric and Hunter say they will return to the mountains again. But Eric says he's glad he was prepared for the worst.

"Ask yourself that question: 'I'm going to spend the night on the mountain tonight. What do I want with me?' Abney said. "If you don't bring it, you don't have it."
--Copyright 2013 KTVZ. All rights reserved.

Comments published with the above KTVZ.com news report:
Robert Speik:
Eric Abney, 40, and his son Hunter Abney, 13, were Prepared for their backcountry stranding from Sunday afternoon to noon on Monday, February 24 and 25, 2013.

However, a few comments might help others to avoid an overnight stranding that was by no means inevitable.

Eric Abney, according to an interview in the Bend Bulletin, is a 16 year Air Force Veteran who specialized in combat rescue in Afghanistan. Eric and Hunter were Prepared with warm clothing and head covering suitable for withstanding the wind and weather encountered by snowmobiles at speed, carrying on their snow machines, two shovels and a saw, blankets to insulate them from the snow and easily digested high carbohydrate snack foods and some water, although perhaps not enough water.

Eric left his cell phone in the truck because the “batteries were nearly dead”. However, they did not intend to be gone for long, he said.

Does it follow, that if you do not intend to become lost and stranded, you do not need to carry a simple means of emergency Communication?

A cell phone will not work in the backcountry? The Organizers of the current “Bachelor Butte Dog Derby” have confirmed over several years that Verizon cell phone towers cover the Backcountry west of Bend.

Ordinary cell phones have assisted the timely resolution of almost every stranding in the Three Sisters Wilderness in the past several years.

Deschutes County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Volunteer Coordinator Al Hornish, a 12 year veteran of DCSAR, stated the following in an interview published on January 26, 2012 in the Bend Oregon Source Weekly: "We have grown a lot over the past decade." "The nature of missions has changed as well. There are more Rescues and less Searches, mostly because of the better technology available."

Eric Abney picked up a trail map at Edison snow-park. However, it is best to be Prepared with maps of the snowmobile trails for the pocket of each rider, before you leave home for the trail head. The Central Oregon Snowbusters annual snowmobile topo trail maps are free at shops and at the Deschutes National Forest Headquarter in Bend, and sometimes, at trail heads.

The KTVZ.com interview notes that “harsh weather moved in and their GPS could not get a signal”. It is not widely understood that a hand-held GPS such as their Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx uses radio signals between it and the DOD GPS constellation of satellites and is not affected by tall trees, clouds, rain or snow or dark of night. However, to be useful, a GPS must be set-up, loaded with local topo maps of Oregon, and then have Waypoints selected.

Eric and Hunter dug out a snow drift at the side of Cascades Lakes Highway, with their two snow shovels, cut limbs and small trees with their saw and lay on boughs and blankets dressed in their snowmobile suits and headgear. We note that Hunter’s feet became cold. We suggest this may have been from 13 year old feet outgrowing his boots. Tight boots can constrict blood vessels and lead to serious cold injuries.

It must be noted that family member Leroy Abney was expecting them to be home “by 5:30 pm Sunday. He became worried. He finally called 911 early Monday morning triggering the search by about 70 people including about 30 local Snowmobile Club Members.

An appointed Responsible Person must confirm that they will call 911 at an agreed time, say 6 pm. This planning may avoid a cold overnight stranding. A phone call to 911 is cost free; hypothermia can take the life overnight, of an injured person lying in the snow.

Eric and Hunter say they will return to the mountains again. But Eric says he's glad he was prepared for the worst. "Ask yourself that question: 'I'm going to spend the night on the mountain tonight. What do I want with me?' Abney said. "If you don't bring it, you don't have it."

I think a better question might be “How can I avoid becoming stranded over night in the Backcountry of Central Oregon?”

http://www.ktvz.com/news/Bend-father-son-snowmobilers-recount-survival-test/-/413192/19083984/-/yeuwur/-/index.html

Happy ending: Lost Bend dad-son snowmobilers found
Got turned around, ran out of gas; spent night in snow cave
KTVZ
By Kim Tobin
February 26, 2013

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office
Eric Abney built this snow cave to protect himself and son Chase, 13, Sunday after their snowmobiles ran out of gas south of Elk Lake, officials say:

MT. BACHELOR, Ore. -
A Bend father and his 13-year-old son whose Sunday snowmobile outing turned into an unexpected test of survival after they got turned around, ran out of gas and were found separately in good condition Monday afternoon near Elk Lake, more than 10 miles west of where they began.

It was a happy end to a major and growing search effort involving dozens of volunteers and Deschutes County sheriff's deputies, among others.

"We get worried, just like anybody else," said Deschutes County sheriff's Capt. Shane Nelson. "When we respond to these incidents, we cannot help but relate it to our own personal experiences, and our own families."

Around 1:20 p.m. came word that the boy, Chase Hunter Abney, had been found by a man on snowmobile, about five miles south of Elk Lake Resort (west of Mt. Bachelor) on snowmobile Trail 5, apparently in fair condition, Nelson said.

The teen said he and his father, Eric William Abney, 40, of Bend, had been snowmobiling when they got turned around in the wilderness, took a wrong fork in the road and ran out of gas about five miles south of Elk Lake, on snowmobile Trail 5.

Nelson said the father dug a snow cave for shelter, lined it with tree boughs and started a fire for warmth on a night when temperatures plunged well below freezing, with new snow falling in the area.

The father had left the snow cave shortly before 1 p.m. Monday to hike out and get help. He was located around 2:20 p.m., apparently in good condition, Nelson said.

A SAR member radioed to the command post at Mt. Bachelor ski resort that the father was "in his own words, ambulatory and in good condition -- a little hungry, a little thirsty, but in great shape."

Searchers had said the family reported they were experienced, well-equipped snowmobilers -- and the happy ending to the search appeared to bear that out. Nelson said the father and son were checked at the scene by SAR medics and did not require medical attention.

Sheriff Larry Blanton told NewsChannel 21 that he and the rest of the searchers were "very grateful" for the successful outcome in the cold, snowy backcountry.

"They don't all end that way," Blanton added.

Searchers fanned out to look for the pair after their pickup and empty snowmobile trailer were found around 7:30 a.m. at Edison Butte Sno-Park, east of Mt. Bachelor and about 20 miles southwest of Bend.

Family members called Deschutes County 911 dispatchers shortly before 7 a.m. Monday to report the pair had left Sunday to go snowmobiling near Mt. Bachelor but failed to return, said sheriff's Capt. Shane Nelson.

Family members said the father and son were prepared for the weather, adequately dressed, with food and water and possibly survival-type gear, Nelson said.

The family didn't know which sno-park they were planning to depart from, so a search got under way, which led to the pickup and trailer at Edison Butte Sno-Park.

Several teams of searchers were headed out, including Sheriff's Search and Rescue volunteers on snowmobiles, amid blowing snow and reports of zero visibility at times in some areas.

By the time it ended, about 70 searchers were involved in the operation, including about 30 volunteer riders with two local snowmobile clubs, the Central Oregon Snowbusters and La Pine Lodgepole Dodges. Also, Oregon State Snowmobile Association groomers were reassigned to the area to help in the search, Nelson said.

"When we know we're out there looking for other people's family members, that has a heavy emotional impact on us," Nelson said. "So I can't tell you the huge relief that we have. I am absolutely pleased that we have located the father and son."

Sgt. Bryan Husband said the searchers had been looking for a pair of 2005 Skidoo snowmobiles in the area. Shortly after the pair were found, Nelson outlined the resources as follows:
•Six experienced snowmobile teams of two were searching the trails accessible from Edison Snow Park.

•Snowshoers were also hiking into shelters not accessible via snowmobile trails.

•Trailheads were being covered, asking the public for any information about possible sightings in the high country.

•Medical personnel were staged at the command post for deployment if needed.

•Air resources were lined up when weather permitted to fly.

•Snow cats were deployed focusing on the shelters in the high country.

•Approximately 28 volunteers from two area snowmobile clubs were being deployed with DSCO SAR volunteers.

•A command structure of Sheriff’s Office personnel and SAR volunteers were planning the next steps in the operation and will be located at Mt. Bachelor. "Once again Mt. Bachelor is opening their facilities to SAR for this operation – which is greatly appreciated," the news release said.

The incident command post was set up at Mt. Bachelor's West Village Lodge. Resort personnel cordoned off areas for SAR use, also providing food and hot drinks to searchers, Nelson said.
Copyright 2013 KTVZ. All rights reserved.

http://www.ktvz.com/news/Happy-ending-Lost-Bend-dad-son-snowmbilers-found/-/413192/19075180/-/2gk0rr/-/index.html

What can be learned from this interesting incident?

We have been unable to talk to the stranded snowmobilers. Federal HIPPA privacy laws prevent medical personnel, including SAR Volunteer Units, from providing contact information for patients. If Eric Abney of Oregon will contact us, we will correct any inaccuracies in our analysis. This analysis is not a 'could-a, would-a, should-a exercise', but a traditional effort to help folks learn valuable lessons from the experiences of others.

Comments:
1. Eric Abney, 40, and his son Hunter Abney, 13, tried to be Prepared for their backcountry stranding from Sunday afternoon to noon on Monday, February 24 and 25, 2013.

However, a few comments might help others to avoid a similar overnight stranding, one that was by no means inevitable.

2. Eric Abney, according to an interview in the Bend Bulletin, is a 16 year Air Force Veteran who specialized in combat rescue in Afghanistan. Eric and Hunter were Prepared with warm wind and rain proof clothing and head covering suitable for withstanding the wind and weather encountered by sitting on snowmobiles at speed and carrying on their snow machines 'two shovels and a saw, 'blankets' to insulate them from the snow and easily digested high carbohydrate snack foods and some water', although perhaps not enough water.

Snowmobiles do not have the normal storage space of a nordic skiers day pack. Riders need to consider 'wearing a day pack' with selected elements of the Ten Essential Systems.

3. Eric left his cell phone in the truck because the “batteries were nearly dead”. However, they did not intend to be gone for long, he said.

Does it follow, that if you do not intend to become lost and stranded, you do not need to carry a simple means of emergency Communication?

Some say "A cell phone will not work in the backcountry" The Organizers of the current “Bachelor Butte Dog Derby” , sled dog races that cover over a hundred miles of snowmobile trails and Nordic trails adjoining the Three Sisters Wilderness, have confirmed over several years that Verizon cell phone towers cover the Backcountry west of Bend. Verizon engineers confirmed this is a letter to me three years ago.

Ordinary cell phones have assisted the timely resolution of almost every stranding in the Three Sisters Wilderness in the past several years.

Deschutes County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Volunteer Coordinator Al Hornish, a 12 year veteran of DCSAR, stated the following in an interview published on January 26, 2012 in the Bend Oregon Source Weekly: "We have grown a lot over the past decade." "The nature of missions has changed as well. There are more Rescues and less Searches, mostly because of the better technology available."

4. Eric Abney picked up a trail map at Edison snow-park.

However, it is best to "Be Prepared" with maps of the snowmobile trails for the pocket of each rider, before you leave home for the trail head. The Central Oregon Snowbusters annual snowmobile topo trail maps are free at shops and at the Deschutes National Forest Headquarter in Bend, and sometimes, at trail heads. Apparently, he did not have an inexpensive declination-adjustable base-plate magnetic compass. See below and read: Map, Compass and GPS Together, to find your way.

5. The KTVZ.com interview notes that “harsh weather moved in and their GPS could not get a signal”.

It is not widely understood that a hand-held GPS such as the Abney's Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx (an older model, sold new at Amazon for 579.95), uses radio signals between the GPS and the DOD GPS constellation of satellites and is not affected by tall trees, clouds or snow or dark of night. Judging from the photograph of their "snow shelter" little to no snow fell, at least over night.

However, to be most useful, a GPS must be set-up, loaded with local topo maps of Oregon, and then have critical Waypoints selected. Is it possible that Abney's Garmin Maps 60 CSx GPS was inadvertently switched to "Use with GPS off"? All functions work as noted but "navigation is switched off". I have been unable to Google information for a GPS (solid state) "antenna failure". For what it is worth, Garmin's Technical Support reported to me that an "antenna failure" would be a very "rare failure" and would warrant a free factory repair.

6. According to reports and a SAR photograph, Eric and Hunter dug a "snow cave" in snow drifted at the side of Cascades Lakes Highway with their two snow shovels, cut limbs and small trees with their saw and lay on boughs and "blankets" dressed in their snowmobile suits and headgear.

Snowmobile driving is not known as an aerobic sport. The typical rider wears heavier clothing while riding at some speed (subject to wind chill), than a Nordic skier who must put on more clothing insulation, carried in a day pack, when not exercising. The Abney men did not carry extra clothing insulation layers.

Note that to be a 'snow cave', the snow hole was not constructed correctly: The resting area in a "snow cave" by definition, must be above the top of the entrance, thereby trapping air warmed by the occupants: To constantly refer to the safety of a "snow cave" does a grave disservice to the public. Why are 'snow caves' dangerous?.

7. "Monday afternoon, Hunter's feet became cold and he was in much pain. His father bundled up his son in the snow cave and set out for help."

We note that Hunter’s feet became cold. We suggest this may have been from his13 year old feet outgrowing his boots. Tight boots can constrict blood vessels and lead to serious cold injuries. However, the Wilderness First Aid action for cold, painful feet is to remove shoes and sox and warm the feet with gentle direct contact to the belly of a rescuer or two. (This method saved the feet of Dr Tom Hornbein on the first American Expedition to the summit of Everest, while his companion did not warm his own feet on Dr. Tom Hornbein's bare belly and all of Willie Unsoeld's toes were lost.) (Learn too, that if the feet cannot be re-warmed in the field, it is best to leave them frozen if walking may be critical to survival.)

If Hunter's feet could have been warmed correctly by his father, then a short walk toward Elk Lake Resort along major groomed and marked snowmobile Trail 5, (Cascades Lakes Highway), would have warmed him up, not lying, without real insulation from the ice, in a cold hole in the snow for four more hours.

We note that there was nothing in the 'hasty shelter snow hole' with which which to 'bundle up' Hunter.

8. It must be noted that family member Leroy Abney was expecting them to be home “by 5:30 pm Sunday". He became more worried as twelve hours passed! He finally called 911 early Monday morning triggering the search by about 70 people including about 30 local Snowmobile Club Members. Oregon Rescue Statutes.

An appointed Responsible Person must confirm with the backcountry traveler, that he/she will call 911 at an agreed time, perhaps 6 pm in this case. This planning may avoid a cold overnight stranding. A phone call to 911 is cost free; hypothermia can take the life overnight, of an injured person lying in the snow.

9. Eric and Hunter say they will return to the mountains again. But Eric says he's glad he was prepared for the worst. "Ask yourself that question: 'I'm going to spend the night on the mountain tonight. What do I want with me?' Abney said. "If you don't bring it, you don't have it."

Note that Eric Abney was not as Prepared as he, and others, assumed: The Four Basic Responsibilities and The Ten Essential Systems.

I think a better question might be “How can I avoid becoming stranded over-night in the Backcountry of Central Oregon?
--Copyright 2013 by Robert Speik. All Rights Reserved.

Times have changed: each backcountry traveler should carry their ordinary cell phone!

Ordinary cell phone coverage has improved, year by year, to the time of this writing in 2012 - see below for "The Rest of the Story". Check and learn your own cell coverage in your favorite backcountry areas. Much of the High Desert, the Three Sisters Wilderness and Mt. Hood now is covered by Verizon using CDMA code. The cell phones from other (urban) providers are not able to "see" CDMA towers and will not connect.

With contact with two or more towers, a geographic location can be triangulated for 911 use and an accurate geographic location can be fixed.The one personal cell phone left in their truck by the father was reportedly low on battery power. Although not covered in the SAR report, we assume that this phone might have been able to ping at least two towers to enable the required triangulation from two or more towers to provide the FCC required geographic Coordinants to find them on a topo map.

Each person in a group should carry their own simple regular personal cell phone. We understand Eric Abney made a conscious decision to leave his cell phones at their car. (Solo hikers can carry a very inexpensive second cell phone battery.)

Some "smart phones" are sold with a second back up battery. Most of the cell phone batteries exhausted in search and rescues, are in so called Smart Phones. It seems that showing a map of the major trails, names and locations of prominent points, photos of views from points on the trail, keeping an electronic compass going, taking your photos and playing your tunes, while searching for better tower signals is more a phone battery can bear, no matter how smart the phone is.

Map, compass and GPS together

Back country travelers should carry a simple Suunto M3D base-plate declination-adjustable compass costing $25.00, an $8.00 topo map annotated with the UTM Geographic Coordinant Grid and a simple current model Garmin GPS eTrex Venture HC, costing as little as $150.00.. Map, Compass and GPS Together, to find your way. A stranded person can take the search out of Search and Rescue (by simply reading the UTM Geographic Coordinants to the Incident Commander over the cell phone). Consider a $100.00 SPOT-2 Satellite Messenger if cell phone towers may not cover the area you plan to explore.

It should have been a simple class-room test of finding a position on a base line by inspection of the map he had - compared to the terrain on the highway, confirmed by compass bearings to any terrain features, for Mr. Abney to find his location a short walk down Cascades Lakes Highway on a groomed snowmobile track to Elk Lake Resort.

Read below for some basic suggestions about how to Be Prepared in 2013. Basic Responsibilities and the Ten Essential Systems.

Google each one of these three search phrases: Best Compass for backcountry Best topo maps for backcountry Best GPS for backcountry use Best cell phone for backcountry use

Millions of ordinary people world wide, use a common $150.00 hand held Garmin eTrex GPS with a topomap and color screen, for geocaching, hiking, hunting, cross country skiing, etc. Most GPS receivers have at least 14 hours of continuous life on two new batteries. Two extra AA batteries can be carried in a warm pants pocket to change out batteries weakened by cold. Lithium batteries withstand the cold much better than "regular" AA batteries and have an advertised 8x longer lasting service. Note that it is not necessary to keep the ordinary GPS receiver on all the time, extending it's use potentially to many days.

The rest of the story

Deschutes County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Volunteer Coordinator Al Hornish, a 12 year veteran of DCSAR, stated the following in an interview published on January 26, 2012 in the Bend Oregon Source Weekly: "We have grown a lot over the past decade." "The nature of missions has changed as well. There are more Rescues and less Searches, mostly because of the better technology available."
Read More.
--Robert Speik, January 26, 2012

FIFTEEN WEEKS
Wednesday, July 7, 2010, or nearly four months since my fall off Mount Temple. After so much time, there is much to dwell on. The negatives: the pain of so many fractures, the sleeplessness, the drugs and the messed up things they do to you. It’s easy to get stuck in the negative; yet some part of me is drawn there by some morbid fascination. How big am I then? Not very. I made a mistake, a pretty small mistake. Or more honestly, I made a series of pretty small mistakes. I almost died for these transgressions. I would have died if it had not been for a cell phone and the chain of events it was able to put into motion. (I’ve owned a cell phone for barely six years.) I might not have died that very day, March 25, 2010, but from where we were, we were a long, long way from the medical care my injuries demanded: a trained trauma surgeon in an Emergency Room. Perhaps I would have lasted one night. Maybe not. It changes my perspective about what a day means. Carpe diem no longer seems some frat-boy cry to party. Today, means everything.
The Steve House Training Blog

Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Deputy Jim Whitcomb, assistant SAR coordinator reports on a recent 911 "false alarm". He notes that the inadvertent activation happened in a pack with an older SPOT-1 device. Whitcomb said it was a first-generation version that’s easier to accidentally set off while in a pack. “It is important to remember that technology can be a great asset, but can just as easily be a liability,” the deputy said in a news release, urging users of such devices to regularly monitor such gear. SAR will respond to all SPOT activations, treating them as an emergency, unless contact can be made with whoever is carrying the device, to confirm otherwise, Whitcomb said. Read More.
--Robert Speik, July 22, 2012

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

3. Carry your 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 internal cell phone GPS radio 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. Ordinary Cell Phones If you are adventurous and often may be out of cell tower range, carry a $100.00 SPOT. SPOT-2 Satellite Messenger

4. Always stay found on your topo map and be aware of major land features. If visibility starts to wane, reconfirm your bearings with your map, compass and GPS and quickly return to a known location. 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 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, becoming benighted, exhausted, or worse yet - wet. Your ordinary cell phone call to 911 and conversation with SAR, 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."

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

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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"