Could this emergency situation have been avoided? I believe so. First
of all, the Stolpas didn’t execute the best judgment in traveling against
weather advisories and taking a back route to Idaho. But where they really
went astray was in failing to inform anyone of their plan, a mistake that
cost them their toes (lost to frostbite) and nearly their lives.
So anytime you’re undertaking a backcountry adventure—or any
journey that takes you into remote areas—make sure that at least two dif-
ferent people (including local authorities) know, when appropriate:
the nature of your activity
when you’re starting out
when you’re scheduled to finish
your route
how they can communicate with you
how they can find you if there’s a problemFortunately, technology has come a long way in making wilderness
travel safer. Websites such as SendAnSOS.com will allow you to enter your
own personal travel plan. If you don’t sign in to the site after your return
date, it will automatically send an SOS message to your contacts. Devices
such as the SPOT satellite messenger not only allow others to keep track
of your progress but also send an SOS message to your contacts when you
push the Help button.
If you take advantage of all the planning resources and fail-safes
available to today’s outdoor enthusiasts, you will radically increase your
chances of making it through any survival situation.
(^14) | Survive!