This week in BC, Canada another CG search for a "reported missing" paddler was launched on the basis of no "OK" email being received from his SPOT for two days. A kayaker making a solo trip from Seattle to Skagway is carrying a SPOT and being supported by a trainer and a group of experienced sea kayakers. His website is www.underhumanpower.com and his goal is to travel by human power from the Mexican border with the USA to the Arctic Ocean. On Wednesday of this week there had been no "OK" email from his SPOT to his trainer and an alert went out to one of the BC paddling forums for information. The Canadian CG was also told that he was "missing" on the basis of these missed emails. On Wednesday, July 30th, an "OK" email from this paddler was received saying that he was safe in port. The CG also had managed to contact him. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jerry, the Rogue Otter who visited me the other day had a similar experience. While landing through some giant surf, his SPOT was ripped off its lanyard and lost on the only beach for miles. Each morning he attempted a launch only to be hammered back to shore. He finally got out on the fourth day. Brett monitoring his SPOT transmissions back at home was just about to call the Coast Guard when he got a call from a backpacker Jerry ran into who took his info to report he was safe. Mark -----Original Message----- This week in BC, Canada another CG search for a "reported missing" paddler was launched on the basis of no "OK" email being received from his SPOT for two days. A kayaker making a solo trip from Seattle to Skagway is carrying a SPOT and being supported by a trainer and a group of experienced sea kayakers. His website is www.underhumanpower.com and his goal is to travel by human power from the Mexican border with the USA to the Arctic Ocean. On Wednesday of this week there had been no "OK" email from his SPOT to his trainer and an alert went out to one of the BC paddling forums for information. The Canadian CG was also told that he was "missing" on the basis of these missed emails. On Wednesday, July 30th, an "OK" email from this paddler was received saying that he was safe in port. The CG also had managed to contact him. Craig Jungers *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The fact that it was a SPOT unit is immaterial. The paddler could have also set up to call home via a cell phone or a SAT phone and the people waiting for his calls would still have called the CG if he missed his call in schedule. Steve __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3311 (20080730) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 9:04 AM, Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net> wrote: > The fact that it was a SPOT unit is immaterial. The paddler could have also > set up to call home via a cell phone or a SAT phone and the people waiting > for his calls would still have called the CG if he missed his call in > schedule. We'll see. I think there is a pattern here, though. There are more and more incidents involving SPOT. Doug Lloyd reported that SAR units in Canada are discussing this issue. Craig Jungers Moses Lake,WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I'm not sure it's totally immaterial. The ease and affordability of the SPOT is making it quite common on the water. We seem to be placing too much faith in the infallibility of our newest electronic gizmo. If I was out on a long trip pre-SPOT, it wouldn't be unusual not to be heard from for 4 days, but when it's so easy to send an OK message, it becomes a concern when it doesn't get received. I imagine it will just be a case of growing pains. Mark -----Original Message----- On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 9:04 AM, Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net> wrote: > The fact that it was a SPOT unit is immaterial. The paddler could have also > set up to call home via a cell phone or a SAT phone and the people waiting > for his calls would still have called the CG if he missed his call in > schedule. We'll see. I think there is a pattern here, though. There are more and more incidents involving SPOT. Doug Lloyd reported that SAR units in Canada are discussing this issue. Craig Jungers Moses Lake,WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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