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Searchers Find Lost Mountain Biker West of Bend

Searchers Find Lost Mountain Biker West of Bend
By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM
August 16, 2011
Nearly two dozen searchers fanned out in the darkness west of Bend and found a lost mountain biker near the city’s Bridge Creek watershed early Tuesday morning, officials said.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Sheriff’s Search and Rescue were dispatched around 9 p.m. Monday to a report of a lost mountain biker near the Flagline Trail and the city watershed, said sheriff’s Deputy
Rhett Hemphill.

Ted Andrew Werner, 34, of Bend, told rescuers he had begun his mountain bike trip earlier Monday from the Tumalo Falls trailhead, with plans of doing a loop on the Flagline trail and ending up back where he started.

But as he was heading east on the trail, north of Tumalo Mountain, Werner said he lost the trail and ended up going downhill, into the Bridge Creek drainage of Tumalo Creek, Hemphill said.

Once Werner realized he was lost, he called 911, at which time his GPS location was transmitted to the county dispatchers, the deputy said.

A total of 23 SAR members responded and began searching for Werner, on foot and by ATV.

He was found around 2 a.m. by a ground team, north of the Flagline Trail, Hemphill said. he was cold and hungry, but otherwise unhurt.

Werner was taken back to a nearby trailhead, then back to Bend, where he was reunited with his family, Hemphill said.

Comments on the KTVZ website
neumantheneuman
I don't think I understand cell phone GPS technology and S/R, please enlighten.
1- If your GPS coordinates are transmitted and a searcher knows what they are, cant they just put that into a gps and walk right to you if you stay put?
2-Why would they mobilize almost two dozen S/R folks when they have coordinates, it is summer and it is a single person on a bicycle? Wouldn't 3 or 4 just go to the location, fan out a bit and call the name of the
person they are looking for? Asking because I don't know.

Barney Lerten reply to neumantheneuman
Pinging off cell towers does not give the precision of location that a GPS unit does (Bob Speik here to answer better? He has before.)

Robert_Speik
Hello Barney-
Sorry, I missed the beginning of this thread.

Simply, there are two methods now, for finding your GPS Location (actually, geographic coordinates in lat-lon or UTM).

Knowing your exact location can take the 'search' out of search and rescue and yes, "save tax money"! (Actually, in North America, there is no charge for rescues.)

One method is to obtain your GPS Coordinates from a common hand-held GPS, that receives radio signals from our Department of Defense satellites that form the US Global Positioning System. Recent
GPS models from Garmin, under normal conditions, can report GPS Coordinates with an average 4.1 meter accuracy on the ground. Millions and millions of cleverly hidden Geocaches are found regularly by regular
folks with ordinary GPS receivers, world wide. The GPS has become ubiquitous and foolproof. Yes, I know, but just carry a couple of extra AA batteries in your pocket.

Now, you must contact 911. A rescue does not begin untill it is reliabley reported to 911.

With your ordinary cell phone, call 911, ask for SAR assistance, then explain to the SAR deputy on duty what problem you have: "I have broken my leg, but it is not serious. I broke through the snow and fell. I just
started a three day backpacking hike. I have set up my tent and cooked some hot chicken soup. You do not need to come get me tonight, I am all tired out! But I will watch for you in the morning and blow my whistle
every few minutes. I am camped on the trail right at the trail junction. My GPS coordinants are displayed on my Garmin Venture hc GPS. My GPS datum is set to match my USGS Quad topo map in NAD 27. Got a
pencil? Here is my exact location".

The second method is for 911 to find your geographic location by the triangulation of your cell phone signals (pings) received by the cell phone towers that your phone can 'see'. (Only phones provided by Verizon
using CDMA code can see Verizon's proprietary towers which cover the Three Sisters Wilderness. Other providers may have some coverage, overlaping from their urban GMA service.)

FDIC E911 government regulations governing cell phone Service Providers require that they respond within 10 minutes to a request from 911 for the "GPS Coordinates" of the caller (or from just a listening cell
phone).

This geographic triangulation from cell tower pings is the only source for smart-phone "navigation programs" that can lead you to a new restaurant. This method is accurate enough to bring you to the restaurant, but it may not bring you exactly to a lost hiker or biker. (That is why each person needs to carry a loud 'referee style' whistle.) However, Deschutes SAR often reports the "GPS Coordinates" provided by 911, were spot on.

Understand that SAR does not look for people who are not reliably reported lost. The hiker or her Reliable Person must call 911. It is better to have the ability (an ordinary cell phone) to call for help when the leg is
broken on Friday, than to have to wait until Sunday at 4 pm for the RP to call 911.

What if there is no cell phone coverage where you like to play or hunt. You need a SPOT-2. You family will love you for having it. (A good buy for dad at $99.00 on sale?)

Why are so may rescuers out on the trail? There are lots of reasons: Training, adventure, covering all the bases, statistics? There is little additional cost for having additional SAR volunteers out on the trail.

More information here (and on related pages): http://traditionalmountaineering.org/FAQ_CellPhones.htm

Yuppie 911 devices can take the "search" out of Search and Rescue: http://traditionalmountaineering.org/News_OpEd_Yuppie911.htm

Robert_Speik
Hey Barney-
Actually, there is a third way to obtain a "GPS Coordinate"!

A person with minimum instruction and practice, can get very close to a working GPS Coordinate by the study of her common USGS Quad topo map using the UTM coordinate grid imprinted there on. One can then
relay this GPS Coordinate to SAR by cell phone, thereby taking the "search" out of Search and Rescue!

The UTM Grid (the military grid reference system is based on this mathematical formula) divides the land into 1,000 meter squares. It is not hard to find by study of the topo map that you are about 500 meters east
and 100 meters north of a the map grid lines labeled 4,901,000 meters north of the equator and 595,000 meters east of the west edge of UTM Zone 10. (This fictitious point is near the PCT and Highway 242, west of
Sisters, OR.)

(That is why each person needs to carry a loud whistle in their shirt pocket.)

Watch for a free class in basic land navigation (how to get back to your car) to be offered to the public at the Deschutes Public Library in Bend, in the Fall.

Kevin Donnelly
It is pretty hard to get lost in there. how could he get onto flagline from NF/Happy Valley, metolious windigo is still under 100 ft of snow. Something is fishy here. He should have just back tracked. Bad decision making.

Barney Lerten reply to Kevin Donnelly
The first lesson they say when lost is stay put. If he knew where to 'backtrack,' well....

alteredego
We should make money off of these common sense challenged people. Why be so benevolent? In the long run it would either benefit our economy, or benefit the the economy.

CPickett
I hope they present him with a bill for the rescue as I sure as heck don't want to pay for it.

Barney Lerten reply to CPickett
Primarily volunteers who enjoy the duty and the mission of assistance. We've been over the "bill them and they'll only call for help in more dire straits and put everyone's lives at risk" countless times now.

ted.werner reply to CPickett
$5000 for the the rescue is my estimate. $5000/157,733 (number of residents in DC). I thank you very much CPickett for your 3 cent donation to my rescue. My wife and 2 year old child and child on the way cannot drop you enough credit to your huge contribution to our lives.

Robert_Speik reply to ted.werner
Hello Ted-
Glad you are OK!

Actually, your estimate of $5,000.00 for the actual cost of your rescue may be 5 to 10 times too high. Lets see: Volunteers -$0.00; Sheriff's staff overtime -likely $0.00; use of two Government vehicles, per mile basis
-$100.00; cost of Deschutes County Sherriff's SAR unit divided among all search and rescues of citizens in Deschutes County, evidence searches, etc. per year- $?.00 (information not available).

But did you carry a map, compass and GPS? Did you have a small day pack with extra clothing to help you through a possible cold night out? Water, high carbo snacks, etc? Would your wife called 911 at an agreed time if you had not returned?

Here is a simple check list:
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 protection from a drop in temperature and possible rain or snow storm or an unexpected cold wet night out, insulation from the wet ground or snow, high carbohydrate snacks, two quarts of water or Gatorade, a map and compass and optional inexpensive GPS and the skills to use them, and a charged cell phone from a Provider that has the best coverage of the area and possibly, a SPOT-2 GPS Satellite Communicator. Each person should carry the traditional personal "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. If you become lost or stranded, mark your location and stay still or move around your marked location to stay warm. Do not try to find your way until you are
exhausted, or worse yet - wet. Wait for rescuers.

ted.werner reply to Robert_Speik
The problem here Robert was that my iphone was my compass, gps, and communications device. I got a long distance out and was in no man's land of I should turn back or I should keep going. What made my ride time long was the snow and stopping for trail queues constantly. I had used my iphone to record the trail gps ride so I could double back if I had to. The problem is that gps on an iphone tries to use 3g constantly...this sucks battery big time. I was also playing my tunes heavily. So what happened was I got to point where I realized battery was my issue. I shut off the tunes and I shut off the track recorder (Motion GPS) around 8:30 pm. I had no signal where I was because At&T gets ZERO reception out in that area. My gut instinct said find a signal and call for help. I rode directly due EAST towards bend for 15 minutes. I came to Tam Lake where the snow mobiler's father died and found a ridge that I could stick the phone up and get 2 bars. I could see a tower off in the distance which gave me reception. I called 911 and had them get my position with 2 minutes of battery left. I then called my wife and she used www.mobileme.com to verify my position to the dispatcher. I got one text message from SAR and sent one back...that was it. I had one shot to get help and I took it. My judgment broke down when I pressed on up by MDW...  I should have turned around, but I saw some tracks in the snow.

I did carry plenty of food and water as well as 64 ounces of Gatorade. I had only a tank top on and no battery left for GPS and Compass. I had no light, but the moon was bright that night. I knew I was in trouble and I stuck with my instinct of getting help especially with a tank top on. I know better as a former eagle scout, but I also know as a scout that if you need help there is nothing "un-manly" about asking for it. I could have survived that night and gotten up the next morning and rode out ...no doubt in my mind, but that is not common sense. I learned some things because of this...
1. I will carry a compass that is not my iphone.
2. I will get an mp3 player that is not my iphone.
3. I will always carry a long sleeve shirt.
4. I will always be mindful of my ride and the obstacles that prevent from finishing before daylight.
I usually carry a map as well, but it was so tattered that I left it at home.. time for a new one.

I apologize to the taxpayers of Deschutes County, but my instincts told me I needed help and I can't feel bad about that.

Kevin Donnelly
It is pretty hard to get lost in there. How could he get onto Flag-line trail from NF/Happy Valley? Metolious-Windigo is still under 100 ft of snow. Something is fishy here. He should have just back tracked. Bad decision making.

Barney Lerten reply to Kevin Donnelly
The first lesson they say when lost is stay put. If he knew where to 'backtrack', well....
Copyright 2011 KTVZ. All rights reserved.

http://www.ktvz.com/news/28881281/detail.html

Recent Rescue in the Woods Offers Lessons To All
Wilderness Expert Says Cell Phone, Extra Layers Key
By Alicia Inns, KTVZ.COM
April 6, 2011
Police say 41-year old Clayton Lichtenhahn is lucky to be alive. After crashing his ATV becoming disoriented, the La Pine man was forced to spend a cold night in the woods.

Joie Frazee, one of the owners of Twin Lakes Resort, found Lichtenhahn wandering in the snow, wearing only his underwear, a windbreaker, riding gloves and black boots that had cut into the skin on his shins from
walking 12 miles from where he crashed into a fallen tree.

An outfit too bare for frigid temperatures.

"Considering the temperatures Monday night and the way he was dressed, he wasn't prepared to be outside for a long period of time," said Deschutes County sheriff's Det. Tim Hernandez.

Bob Speik is a wilderness expert in Central Oregon who runs a Website, www.traditionalmountaineering.org. He said Wednesday the most efficient way to take the "search" out of search and rescue is to always carry a cellphone -- a tool police say Lichtenhahn left at home.

"Aside from telling someone where you are going, bringing a cellphone is the most crucial thing," Speik said Wednesday. "Now you can call 911 on a cellphone and by federal mandate, they can locate you by
triangulation from cell towers."

If you do get stranded, hurt or lost, Speik says to stay in one place, tell someone where you are headed before leaving and always carry extra clothing.

He suggests buying maps, a compass and/or a GPS receiver and packing them with the rest of your belongings.

Speik says Lichtenhahn's situation was unexpected but it can teach us all a lesson; Leave Prepared.

"Mr. Lichtenhahn should have stayed with his ATV, because it's easier to see that, but it's hard to see a person," Speik said. "Without a map or compass, he walked 12 miles in the wrong
direction. He was cold, wet and without the proper clothing, and he was lucky to be found by that man."

Lichtenhahn was upgraded to fair condition at St. Charles Tuesday night.

For a full list of the essential outdoor systems visit www.traditionalmountaineering.org.

http://www.ktvz.com/news/27459098/detail.html

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!  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."

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