Missing hunter - WA State

[Venom One]

We have a Deputy Fire Chief who's been missing for 8 days after he went out hunting on Nov 2nd. Prayers for him and his family - but it doesn't sound good.

For everyone who doesn't carry a tracking/location device, this is a reminder of why it's a really valuable item to have. No matter how badass you think you are, things beyond your control can happen. Besides possibly saving your life, it can also save thousands of search hours, require less searchers and lessen the possibility of other's getting injured or lost looking for you, or bring closure to your family. It seems like a no-brainer to me....

Search for missing Seattle fire deputy chief enters second week in rugged Washington terrain

Search and rescue efforts for a high-ranking Seattle fire official continued Monday, nearly a week since the deputy chief and avid outdoorsman went missing in eastern Washington’s rugged terrain while on a hunting trip.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Rob5589]

 

[brianrossman1]

This is just north of the unit my brother and a buddy have hunted the last two seasons. Pretty steep terrain in parts but do not think he would be far from his truck. Real worry is there have been a lot of undesirables breaking into rigs in WA this season just north of there. Hope he’s found safe but that window is shrinking by the day with the weather that’s been coming in.

Reminder to all that an InReach and sidearm are relatively inexpensive insurance if things go Western.


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[Venom One]

This is just north of the unit my brother and a buddy have hunted the last two seasons. Pretty steep terrain in parts but do not think he would be far from his truck. Real worry is there have been a lot of undesirables breaking into rigs in WA this season just north of there. Hope he’s found safe but that window is shrinking by the day with the weather that’s been coming in.

Reminder to all that an InReach and sidearm are relatively inexpensive insurance if things go Western.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great to hear from someone who knows the area, but your report isn't promising. I did hear the Sheriff was looking for a Jeep seen in the area, but they were quite vague as if they knew something shady had taken place but didn't want to tip their hand. WTF is going on up there? We've heard quite a few reports like this of break-ins and vandalism. Do you know if it's tweekers ?

Funny you mention a sidearm - I've never had an issue, thankfully, but I still feel more threatened from two-legged mammals that I do from the four-legged kind.

 

[Centralcoastca]

The last couple years I have been going on a lot more solo hunts and the thought of an inreach crossed my mind but I figured that I usually knew the area well and what are the odds, cost etc until a few months ago I had a close encounter with a mt. Lion about 5 miles into the backcountry. We surprised each other in the thick fog. it was sitting on a hill and I was making my way down the draw below it and saw it when I was basically below it. fog was so thick I had to put the scope on it to figure out exactly what it was. We stared at each other for a couple minutes until it decided I wasn’t worth it and stood up and went over the hill. Made for a tense hike back and I decided that it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to have a way to communicate outside of cell service. I tried it out on a solo elk hunt in utah in October and I was able to text my wife easily with it through the app on my phone. I got the lowest level of service that is about $10 or $12 a month and gets you 10 texts and the extra texts are $.50 the sos button is always there too if things get real bad. It’s nice to have that kind of safety net and nice to be able to let
My wife know I’m back in camp or going to be late etc. I’ve spent more money on way less and who knows what could happen out there. I hope this guy is found safe.

 

[Rich M]

If you fall and hit yer nugget, not much you can do. InReach or whatever isn't a cure all, it is a tool.

I carry something similar - ResQLink - good for offshore fishing and hunting in the boonies. Just hope I'm awake if I ever need it.

For some reason folks feel more brazen back where no-one can see. Figure open carry would make it even easier for folks to be nice.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I hunt solo alot, mainly backpacking and finally got an inreach last year. I really like the security of having it......well worth the price.

Randy

 

[landman650]

If you fall and hit yer nugget, not much you can do. InReach or whatever isn't a cure all, it is a tool.

I carry something similar - ResQLink - good for offshore fishing and hunting in the boonies. Just hope I'm awake if I ever need it.

For some reason folks feel more brazen back where no-one can see. Figure open carry would make it even easier for folks to be nice.

You can set the inreach to track you. Leaving breadcrumbs of sorts and my wife can observe this from her computer or phone on the website. Just because you can’t use it doesn’t mean it can’t be a tool for someone else to use to find you, or at least the last spot your gps pinged.

 

[.204smokechaser]

Grew up in the area and shot two cats within a 3 mile radius and smaller in the winter months from where they found his truck. Cannot believe they haven’t found him and feel that by now, searchers have had to walk right by him or overlook the cliff areas where he went missing. Roads all over the darn place. I just hope if he had a medical emergency that he didn’t have to suffer too long in hope of someone finding him. Not trying to be negative, but there is no way a man could survive the weather that area has received since he went missing without shelter and fire.

 

[KID]

Prayers for the man missing. The inreach gps is the best purchase I've made for Hunting gear. So much more confident knowing I can get help.

 

[Venom One]

You can set the inreach to track you. Leaving breadcrumbs of sorts and my wife can observe this from her computer or phone on the website. Just because you can’t use it doesn’t mean it can’t be a tool for someone else to use to find you, or at least the last spot your gps pinged.

This ^^^^

 

[Salmonchaser]

This ^^^^

Yep,

 

[Doc Holliday]

Prayers for this man and his family

For anyone factoring in the couple hundred dollar cost as to whether or not to have a beacon/communication device: what good is that extra money in your bank account gonna do for you when you are lying there helpless, and wondering if your family will ever know what happened to you?

 

[Rich M]

You can set the inreach to track you. Leaving breadcrumbs of sorts and my wife can observe this from her computer or phone on the website. Just because you can’t use it doesn’t mean it can’t be a tool for someone else to use to find you, or at least the last spot your gps pinged.

Very nice! That's an excellent feature.

My gadget doesn't have that but contacts military satellites if I turn it on.

 

[landman650]

Fwiw, I’m specifically referring to the inreach mini as I’m not familiar with the other inreach products.

 

[landman650]

Very nice! That's an excellent feature.

My gadget doesn't have that but contacts military satellites if I turn it on.

It’s certainly something to consider adding to your kit. I used mine mostly when I was doing a lot of dual sport riding off-road. There’s a high chance that if I was in a serious dirt bike accident that I would be incapacitated and wouldn’t actually be able to use the inreach myself. However it could still be of use. Especially if said family saw that my location hadn’t moved unexpectedly for several hours or more.

 

[Bear Wrestler]

I'm a solo (mostly) backpack hunter and got an inreach mini at the request of my wife. It was worth it for the piece of mind it gives her alone. I text her every night to let her know I made it back to camp for the night and the SOS is there in case of an emergency. It could save your life even though I only bought it so my wife wouldn't stress when I'm in the backcountry. I feel for this man's family.

 

[IdahoN8v]

I have been trying to get an inreach for a few months now, but they don't stay on the shelves very long.

 

[Turdle]

And, not only peace of mind for family, and saving your own life. But could also save others. Lots of areas without cell service, even highway accidents can happen.

 

[fwafwow]

Good PSA. I decided the other day to take my inReach Mini with me even to just deer hunt on a friend's property, and even though he was going to be on another part of the property. Not a material risk of getting lost, and I can almost certainly call him, but better safe than sorry.