Lost Hiker on Mt Holy Cross

[silverlafs]

That's what my thought on it was also, but it just seems like if you went far enough in the system it could be tracked. I mean, it uses satellite signal, correct? It would most likely be very costly and time consuming to attempt to make that type of search, and who knows how much clearance one has to have in order to get that type of information.....it would make sense that land searching would be the better place to start and that that's where SAR would focus its resources, that's why I still considered the idea. But like I said, I know nothing of GPS, it was just a thought. :D

[caverdude]

A typical GPS unit is a receive only unit. It doesn't transmit a signal so there's nothing to track. If it did transmit, your battery life would decrease rapidly depending on what frequency it was transmitting and how much power it transmitted.
Your cell phone is constantly looking for signals so it's transmitting periodically. You can track when the cell phone transmits, but since he doesn't have a cell phone, there's nothing to track.

[silverlafs]

thanks caverdude, that helps me understand it better! :D

[rockchalker]

I was curious as to what landcruiserbob meant when he stated that "there is something very odd about the photo at fall creek". This is a very captivation story and one that hope ends up with a positive outcome for James and all of his family and friends.

[djkest]

Thinking about climbing over fancy pass and then trying to hook up with a trail to head west for 3 or 4 more miles before I turn around. I don't have a lot of resources to get this trail info. Anyone have some good ideas / links / whatever?

I'm guessing since he isn't on his planned route that his GPS has malfunctioned in some way. Or perhaps he purposefully deviated from his course.
I wonder if he was having a hard time, if there was a possible shortcut he may have tried to take to get back sooner? I've been checking 9news and no updates on this story.

ETA: I am no satellite expert, although I do know a little bit. Basically, these are geo-synchronus satellites, meaning they are in a low earth orbit that stays over the same point on the earth at all times. These GPS satellites have an ID code for tracking purposes- your GPS device recieves signals from every satellite it can track. It knows the direction of each of these satellites very precisely. It then "triangulates" your position based on this information. You need at least 2 satellites to get a rough idea of where you are, but the more you can acquire the better. I think 5 or 6 is preferred. SPOT or a PLB (personal locator beacon) is able to transmit very simple messages to a satellite, which then relays that information to someone on the ground.

I've been thinking about getting a SPOT. They are not cheap, but the new one is about 4 oz and relatively small. It is great for people who go solo, go in the wilderness, and/or have people that worry about them when they are gone.

[confederate_korean]

Garmin has a site for law enforcement inquiries but it is for police to contact them with a serial number to find out who it is registered to (if it is registered).
http://www8.garmin.com/law-enforcement/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Some GPS units can transmit their location (Garmin Rhino) to another. It displays where they are in relations to each other on the screen like a dog tracker. I dont think his transmitted and not sure how they would triangulate his signal if it did. And then there are specific devices like the SPOT. Last time I thought about getting one, I think they had a monthly subscription service fee.

-Was James fit enough for this type of activity?
Yes, knowing his own abilities and what he would encounter, it is why he would have planned such a conservative speed. He is slow and steady.

-Given his pace he would not have tried hiking Holy Cross.
I dont think climbing Holy Cross was in his plan. I think he may have thought about it and is why he said he was considering it.

-Nobody has seen him since October 3rd; this is odd since many people were on that trail until the weather closed in on the 9th.
My question is were all the people who obtained a permit contacted? I would think that it is one of the first things the SAR would do and did.
http://www.coloradowilderness.com/permits.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The other sighting I read said he continued on Falls Creek trail and did not go up Half Moon. That looks very close to the campground where Falls Creek and Half Moon split. How far on the trail did he see/pass him?

-All of the creeks in the area lead out to a road after a days walk max.
The roads would also show on his GPS. If he was able, broke GPS, lost his map and trail. I think he would have planned to hike south towards the roads near Ivanhoe and Turquoise lake.

-There is something very odd about the photo at fall creek.
Not sure what is odd about the photo or what you are implying. It looks like James excited to go hiking.

If he had a cell phone he would have to have towers/service to triangulate, but then again big brother doesn't tell us everything.

[TdotW]

I've been thinking about getting a SPOT. They are not cheap, but the new one is about 4 oz and relatively small. It is great for people who go solo, go in the wilderness, and/or have people that worry about them when they are gone.

Which is better for these mountainous locations: SPOT or a SAR-Linked PLB (relatively new) ?

[tmathews]

Which is better for these mountainous locations: SPOT or a SAR-Linked PLB (relatively new) ?

There has been a lot of debate about this. If you search the forum for SPOT and PLB, you'll probably find a number of discussion threads.

[climbing_rob]

ETA: I am no satellite expert, although I do know a little bit. Basically, these are geo-synchronus satellites, meaning they are in a low earth orbit that stays over the same point on the earth at all times. These GPS satellites have an ID code for tracking purposes- your GPS device recieves signals from every satellite it can track. It knows the direction of each of these satellites very precisely. It then "triangulates" your position based on this information. You need at least 2 satellites to get a rough idea of where you are, but the more you can acquire the better. I think 5 or 6 is preferred. SPOT or a PLB (personal locator beacon) is able to transmit very simple messages to a satellite, which then relays that information to someone on the ground.

Not to be picky, but Geo-sync is not a low-earth orbit, but a very high one, 22,000 miles. At that altitude a satellite's complete orbit takes exactly 24 hours, hence why it stays nearly overhead in one place on earth (It actually oscillates up/down because it is probably not equatorial).

Who knows, maybe he simply ran out of battery power and is simply lost, relatively healthy and waiting to be found. If its an older GPS unit, the coverage degrade significantly in the trees, at least my old Garmin ETREX did. The new units seem to do much, much better in the woods.

Interesting story, and sure hope the guy is simply holed up somewhere and will soon be found.

[tenpins]

Im not advocating anyone go off on their own private search, but it seems some folk in this thread are planning on doing that. Consider trying to contact Vail Mountain Rescue and speaking to them. They may or may not be able to say anything. Just be careful whatever you end up doing.

Checking CC history is a standard thing, and Im sure it was done on the first day.

[confederate_korean]

Im not advocating anyone go off on their own private search, but it seems some folk in this thread are planning on doing that. Consider trying to contact Vail Mountain Rescue and speaking to them. They may or may not be able to say anything. Just be careful whatever you end up doing.

Ditto - be careful and be safe!

Checking CC history is a standard thing, and Im sure it was done on the first day.

That is what I thought.

[Mel McKinney]

Article from a Vail-area paper today giving theories & guesses.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/201010 ... ofile=1062