blog.thomaspan.com

The tragedy of San Francisco online editor James Kim grimly depicts what nature can do to us in the worst case. What’s happened is done. Other than feeling sorry for Kim family, we need to learn from the tragedy to prevent furture life loss. It is us who are responsible for our own lives.

1. Get detailed driving directions from either Yahoo Map or Google Map. It would be even better by carrying along a GPS device.
2. Do research beforehand and understand the road condition and the local weather. Google Earth could be a good source. A lot of roads are closed during winter due to heavy snow. Depending on the location, winter could be very long. That’s what I learned when visiting Glacier National Park in late May, 2004.
3. Carry enough food and water in the snow country. Energy bar is a good source of food and easy to carry. During winter, a snow storm could hit you at any time. When that happens, depending on where you are, you could be completely on your own for quite a long time.
4. Leave your itinerary with a trusted person and notify the person from time to time. For example, before leaving Merlin, James could call his father, which could reduce the search area for the rescue team.
5. Carry a compass. Unless you are pro backpacker, compass is useful when you have to walk long distance for help. It prevents you from walking in circles or getting lost. It is better if you have a watch like Casio Sea Pathfinder Atomic Solar Watch, which is solar powered and contains a digital compass, and a barometer.
6. Carry a PLB (personal location beacons). A PLB is a pocket-sized emergency beacon, a scaled down version of the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) that boaters and pilots, respectively, have had available to them for years. When activated, a PLB sends a distress call and location data via two separate satellite systems to the U.S. Air Force Rescue Center Coordination Center in Langley, VA. From there, your exact location goes to local rescues. It is more reliable than satellite phone, not to mention cell phones, and it only costs $500-$700, which is much cheaper compared to your precious life and the rescue cost.
7. Carry a singal mirror or learn how to use the mirror in your car. That’s how Kim family finally got rescued. The mirror flashes can and may be seen even when you can not see the airplane, just sweep the horizon as there may be someone out there who will see your signal. Further, strong reflections can be achieved even on hazy or overcast days. Most importantly, it is free to use a mirror as far as there is light.

Any more tips for survival?