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This Third Time Was Anything But Charming – SPOT Misuse At Grand Canyon National Park

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Grand Canyon

NPS photo.

Frivolous calls to 911 centers are a growing problem all across the country, but when the call comes from a remote location in Grand Canyon National Park, both the expense and risks of an emergency response increase dramatically. A group of hikers recently activated their SPOT device not once, not twice, but three times on the same trip.

We’ve previously explored the "good, the bad and the silly uses" of SPOT and similar emergency communication devices, and mentioned a program in Australia that loans personal locator beacons to backcountry uses at a national park. The latter story asked, "Are people more inclined to take unnecessary risks if they think help can be requested instantly with the push of a button?"

The recent case at Grand Canyon National Park confirms the answer to that question is sometimes "yes," and suggests the question wasn't quite broad enough. In some cases, availability of such devices can encourage people to attempt an outdoor trip that's beyond their abilities.

According to information from the park.

On the evening of September 23rd, rangers began a search for hikers who repeatedly activated their rented SPOT satellite tracking device. The GEOS Emergency Response Center in Houston reported that someone in the group of four hikers – two men and their two teenaged sons – had pressed the “help” button on their SPOT unit. The coordinates for the signal placed the group in a remote section of the park, most likely on the challenging Royal Arch loop.

Due to darkness and the remoteness of the location, rangers were unable to reach them via helicopter until the following morning. When found, they’d moved about a mile and a half to a water source. They declined rescue, as they’d activated the device due to their lack of water.

That last sentence is a key as the situation unfolded: the group "declined rescue." Unfortunately, this saga was just beginning.

Later that same evening, the same SPOT device was again activated, this time using the “911” button. Coordinates placed them less than a quarter mile from the spot where searchers had found them that morning. Once again, nightfall prevented a response by park helicopter, so an Arizona DPS helicopter whose crew utilized night vision goggles was brought in.

Most of tend to take the use of helicopters for rescues and other emergency services for granted. We see and read about such activity on a regular basis, and forget—or perhaps don't realize—that such flying, especially in mountain and canyon terrain, can be very hazardous. That's especially true of flying at night in rugged terrain. So, what was the group's problem this second time around? The state helicopter crew

found that the members of the group were concerned about possible dehydration because the water they’d found tasted salty, but no actual emergency existed. The helicopter crew declined their request for a night evacuation, but provided them with water before departing.

The saga wasn't over.

On the following morning, another SPOT “help” activation came in from the group. This time they were flown out by park helicopter. All four refused medical assessment or treatment.

Here's a key to the problem. Keep in mind this situation occurred in a remote, backcountry location in the canyon, not on one of the more heavily travelled trails.

The group’s leader had reportedly hiked once at the Grand Canyon; the other adult had no Grand Canyon and very little backpacking experience. When asked what they would have done without the SPOT device, the leader stated, “We would have never attempted this hike.”

Can devices such as SPOT save lives, time and money? If used properly, the answer is "yes," but abuse of the technology will likely be a growing challenge for search and rescue agencies.

The group leader was issued a citation for creating a hazardous condition, one of the few legal options available under current regulations.

Comments

As a volunteer S&R responder, the pluses and minuses of this technology are obvious. When used correctly, it is a godsend . . . when misused, it unduly taps limited volunteer resources who should remain "in the barn" ready and rested for the "real" rescue. S&R is not in business because of the well trained and experienced outdoors enthusiast, we consistently go looking for and rescuing the ill prepared, inexperienced, or unhealthy. Regrettably, there is no shortage of these individuals, and this technology will only increase their number. (The standing joke in S&R is "We return the dumb ones to the gene pool.")
For companies like the makers of Spot to promise the buyers of their product that people such as myself and my team will come and rescue them in the event of an emergency that they caused . . . it would seem only fitting that such a marketing promise would not come without a cost to either the guarantor or the customer. In my state, the County Sheriff is mandated with the responsibility of providing search and rescue services . . . it is well within the purview of his authority to charge an incompetent or reckless individual for recovery of costs of an operation. That is rare in our county, it is generally only done in the event a law was broken in the course of the emergency (or leading up to it). However, should the inappropriate use of such devices continue to rise, I would expect to see the "cost of recovery" option be more frequently pursued. The old axiom, "the few ruin it for the rest of us" will likely come into play at some point, particularly as department and agency budgets are further cut.


Send a medivac chopper at $10.000 plus, per call, to help them out. Evac once the button is pushed, should not be oprional. If they refuse to evac they must surender all PLB's and still pay the $10,000.


Or, jail them on the suspicion of stupidity. No, seriously, I am glad that there are such wonderful and lifesaving devices but people should be charged for the call. Period. You call, you pay.

It costs money to maintain a helicopter. A trained professional has to be paid to fly it. A bill (excuse me, three bills) should have been generated in this case.


Hey, Calif S&R has a good point - the makers of the SPOT devices make such a guarantee of safety and reap the profits but assume none of the risks of misuse. I don't think it's a simple question of caveat emptor, either. Too bad they don't sell it with a "misuse indemnity insurance" kind of thing, or have some kind of service like On-Star does, to ask "what's the nature of your emergency"? Seems to me it would minimize costs not to mention risks for rescuers. If it can be done for the folks who've "fallen and can't get up", why couldn't it be done for a SPOT device?


We have, and are grateful for, a SPOT device and it's services. Several times every year we are high in the Sierra's with NO cell phone service within miles. We have used our SPOT to notify our designated contacts we have safely arrived and send them our co-ordinates should we not arrive home as scheduled. We have never needed, and hope never to need, to use the device for any emergency call. We ALWAYS go out well prepared for any weather and any unforeseen difficulties, situations, and/or delays, and have much back-country experience. As we are getting older, we are careful not to exceed our abilities. That said, I must say that the SPOT has allowed us to feel not just safer, but ABLE to go up in the dead of winter, in many feet of snow. Smart thinking? Probably not, but we have safely made many such trips, and are looking forward to many wonderful more. From what I've read, I am certain we are not the only ones unable to resist pushing the boundaries just a bit, but we try to do it responsibly.
I do believe that devices like SPOT are very good things in the hands of responsible people. I do NOT believe they can or should replace experience and good judgment. I also believe people should be heavily fined for non-emergency calls, not just with SPOT, but any emergency signaling device! AND people should be educated well enough to know that an emergency is something seriously life-threatening, not something making you frightened or uncomfortable!


This didn't happen to be a church leader from Stow, OH., did it? A certain preacher took a group of parishoners to Alaska for a wilderness backpack trip,not once but twice. Had to be rescued both times. Amongst this knuckleheads' fantastic leadership skills were; He was the only one with reasonable gear. Many people in his group had cotton clothing. many wore tennis shoes. He refused to turn back when other adult chaperones voiced their concerns. Upon rescue (the 2nd trip),it was noted by the SAR teams, that there were puddles of orange urine, a sign of extreme dehydration. The rescue came because the adults (who had no mountaineering experience) mutineed and used a cell phone.

Kind of sounds like his handy-work.


SPOT-2 is a very useful one way communication tool, in the hands of backcountry experience. Can't add much more to this thread other than the only way to curve the "infantile" and utter "miss use" of the 911 button is VERY strict fines....like the cost of the search + $2,000 for being simply dumb. As a commercial outfitter for 25 years I see "dumb" all the time even with out SPOT.


"tourons (a combination of tourist and morons)"

Thanks for a new word! :)

Don't throw them in jail-- they don't deserve the free* food, water, and shelter.
Do fine them for Abuse of Emergency Services.


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