With all the discussion about the effects of the shutdown on hiking plans, there is one question I haven't seen addressed: What if someone becomes injured, ill, lost, or worse?
Last weekend, for example, there were three brown shirts in the Whitney area. It didn't happen, but several times in the past I've been at Trail Camp when a hiker came over to report someone ill or injured near Trail Crest. Grabbing my radio, I've hiked up to the scene. If it's minor, a little first aid and assistance may do the trick, but often larger guns are needed. With the radio, other rangers in the area can be informed, helicopters can be readied, volunteer mountain rescue teams from Inyo and China Lake can start getting ready for the drive up and hike in. Most problems are resolved by the next day.
Fast forward to the coming weekend. Assuming the shutdown persists, there will be no brown shirts or radios in the wilderness. In case of a problem you will have to rely on someone hiking out. Maybe you will be lucky with early cell phone coverage, but help cannot come quickly. And until someone arrives on scene who can accurately assess the situation and report it appropriately, SAR resources will not be launched.
The point is, you can count on at least a 24-hour delay in getting help. In some cases (e.g., serious injury or HACE/HAPE or getting lost) it won't be the hospital they'll be taking you to.
Bottom line: For the time being, you're pretty much on your own, like in the old days. Please be careful out there.
Last edited by Bob R; 10/02/13 03:39 PM.
