Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Back to Basics-If emergency help is needed?

Hi,
This may seem to be a very naive question but it suddenly occured to me that although i've done Whitney before there are basics I don't know.
1)If one of my group or another climber I am helping needs medical assistance what is the correct procedure and numbers? How does one contact SAR?
2)I noticed on previous climbs that cell phone reception is in places poor. Any places particularly good if you do need help?

Fortunately on previous climbs my group and I have all been fine.
Whilst I always have first aid kit and, as a track coach, know basic first aid. you can never be too prepared.
Thanks

xxxxxxxxxx

Ken,
Many thanks for the info.
Is same as in the UK but just wanted to double check.
Dave

Ken:

I remember previous discussions about this topic, and seem to recall that such a 9-1-1 call would go straight through to the California Highway Patrol offices and not SAR. I believe the recommendation offered was for those heading up to have the Inyo Co. Search & Rescue number (760-876-5606) pre-programmed into the cellphone to be carried. That's the number I still have. Is this outdated information? Thanks.

BruinDave

Bruin Dave:

That is not the number for Inyo SAR. It's the Inyo County Dispatcher, the communications node for all things Inyo. However, the dispatcher knows how to get things started. So does 911.

Sometimes calling the dispatcher may save a few minutes, but 911 is easy to remember. Besides, the latter's job is emergency, while the former's is many things. (A few years ago, a 911 call from here got you the CHP in Barstow, with the response "Mt. Whitney? Is that in Nevada?" But now they're on top of the situation, and 911 works as it should.) Also, if the problem is between Trail Crest and the summit or the final 400' of the Mountaineer's Route, it's Sequoia National Park's jurisdiction, and a call to Inyo creates an unnecessary delay.

Furthermore, a SAR team is not like a company, with a secretary answering calls 24/7. It's a collection of volunteers, all out doing their regular things like job, family, and leisure. To call, you would need the work or home or cell number of someone on the team. Assuming that you reached a person, they would in all likelihood give you the number to call the sheriff. A SAR team cannot act until the sheriff has heard the story, and decides that a SAR callout is warranted.

There's a lot more that could be said, but the bottom line is that 911 is your best bet.

My experience with cell phones in along the Mt. Whitney Trail is it best not to count on getting a call out in most places. Secondly, having been involved in an mountain accident/rescue, my experience tells me, don't count on anything happening quickly.

Is anyone a Ham radio operator? I'm wondering if there is a frequency someone could use to call for help if needed. Or it may be cool to listen into the SAR frequency. I'm sure they're within the restricted frequency range so people not involved with SAR couldn't transmit.

Yes. Check out my info at
http://www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct/
for information on using ham radio in the backcountry,
then click on "California" for a list of repeaters that MIGHT help.

There's no guarantee someone will be listening, though. Also, in the canyons there are places you can't hit the repeaters.

Oh, if you mean HF ("shortwave"), yes, that's possible, but most don't carry that kind of equipment on the trails. The antennas are a hassle.

You can't talk on SAR frequencies unless you are authorized by SAR, and ham radios legally cannot do so anyway, but most will be able to listen in. Many SAR have ham operators on their team though.

For the Whitney area (hams will know what these numbers mean):

Best bet is:
146.760- (100.0) Mazourka Peak (Independence)
147.210+ Little Lake Linked to Mazourka Peak

Very helpful, harder to reach from Whitney Trail:
146.940- (103.5) Silver Peak (Bishop) Bishop Amateur Radio Club has a net every night at 9 pm which welcomes visitors
147.060+ (103.5) Silver Peak (Bishop) Bishop Amateur Radio Club
Not as active as 146.940 above.

Others in Central Valley if high on west side of crest:
147.240+ (141.3) Corcoran
145.150- Bakersfield
146.910- Bakersfield
146.760- Visalia

Wow, great info. Thanks for the response. I didn't think I'd get anyone who knows too much about it all. I'm surprised there aren't any repeaters on 440.

Do you happen to know the frequency for Search and Rescue to listen in on? Is it: 155.220?

I don't use 440 much, but don't think there's much activity on the east side there. I don't have the SAR freqs with me here, but recall some units use the standard 155.160 and others various others.