Being Able To Reach Out And Touch Someone When In Trouble
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 2 months ago
Hunter Jason Long of Eagle River, Alaska, was attacked and injured by a sow grizzly bear near the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve on Sept. 8, reports the National Park Service. Long was hunting alone when he encountered the sow and her two cubs.
Long was in an unnamed drainage near the Chisana River when he was mauled by the grizzly. He suffered lacerations and puncture wounds, but was able to press the SOS button on his Garmin InReach GPS device. The emergency message triggered an Air National Guard rescue mission, coordinated with the NPS.
A 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk II from the Eielson Air Force Basewas already airborne on a routine mission near Talkeetna, when it was diverted to the hunter’s location. A two-man 212th Rescue Squadron para-rescue team was dropped at the scene to treat and prepare the patient for transport. Meanwhile, the helicopter met a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II for air-to-air refuel before returning to the hunter’s location to hoist the para-rescue team, the injured hunter, and another hunter from the party.
The grizzly-mauled hunter was brought to the town of Northway, Alaska, then flown to the Providence Alaska Medical Center, the largest hospital in Anchorage. Long was treated there, and his last known condition was considered stable.
When you go out in my neck of the woods you don’t have to worry about grizzlies. You do have to be aware of black bear, coyote, and rattlesnakes.
There are ways to minimize the risk. Take what you might need, e.g., a med kit. Travel with a companion. Solo hiking or backpacking or hunting can be dangerous. Carry a large bore handgun for personal protection.
Carry all of the things we’ve discussed, even on a day trip (rubberized poncho, cordage, water, quick food energy, light, knife, clothing and redundant fire starter).
But there is little you can do about the problem of mechanical injury except call for help. If you have no satellite phone or GPS and way to reach someone with your coordinates, you’re in trouble with an injury caused by bad mechanical decisions or incidents, bear attacks or snake bites. If a rattle snake bites, you’re in very deep trouble.
That’s one reason I don’t go into the bush very much in the summer.
On September 13, 2021 at 9:58 pm, Furminator said:
I’m glad this guy survived thanks to Providence, his GPS, and the Guard. And I hope he steps up and foots the entire bill.
On September 14, 2021 at 5:46 am, Mike Austin said:
“Black bear, coyote and rattlesnakes.” Yep. Same trio of unpleasantness here in Oklahoma.
“Solo hiking or backpacking or hunting can be dangerous.” Never hunted, but have backpacked for 35 years in Central and South America. (And a few times in the US.) I was almost always alone, as no sane man could be found who would go with me. As such I was free to make every critical decision, some of which involved matters of life and death. Was solo backpacking more dangerous than going in a group? Certainly. But that is a feature, not a bug.
“Carry a large bore handgun for personal protection.” Impossible to do south of the border, alas. Here in the States when in the backcountry I carry a Smith & Wesson M & P 40, using JHPs. Good enough for black bear and perhaps for Grizzly. I had a .44 Magnum but the thing was too difficult for my 68 year old hands to aim and shoot with confidence. Right now looking at a Taurus .357 Magnum revolver, as I plan on bikepacking in Montana northern Idaho.
“If a rattle snake bites, you’re in very deep trouble…That’s one reason I don’t go into the bush very much in the summer.”
That’s a good reason to stay home in the summer here in Oklahoma. Others are legions of ticks and swarms of mosquitoes. Besides, it is too hot and humid to really enjoy yourself. As for the rattlesnake, folks don’t quite understand how terrible a bite from one of these can be. Besides death, there is a large possibility of losing your arm or leg. Google “rattlesnake bite”. Not pretty.
None of this will keep us from the outdoors, though having knowledge when we go in will help insure that we come out—alive.
On September 14, 2021 at 9:47 am, NOG said:
No bears. Lots of rattlesnakes, yotes and wild pigs. Those we learned to deal with at a young age. Now days back on the old homestead, the biggest problem are illegals. Drug mules and “undocumented visitor” guides are armed to the teeth with just about any mil weapon you can imagine. I carried a Ruger 357 on the hip. I came face to face with a guy carrying a AK. That will make you feel…..a bit disadvantaged. Nothing that will chill your spine as coming face to face with a couple guys with FULL tatted face/head. Coming soon to a town near you. We moved away from the homestead (just north of the southern border). Now we see the start of problems up north a couple hundred miles. Not too many places to run now (and we are just too old to move again). We moved from the remote country side back to a small town. Our demographics have changed in the past couple years. Soon white will the minority.
On September 14, 2021 at 10:30 am, Fred said:
Yeah, add wild boar pigs and every once in a while you hear a rumor of a wild dog pack in some places. So yes, large bore and plenty of rounds. TN has outlawed the killing of snakes. The symbolism of this is funny, not funny haha but funny sad. Shoot shovel and shut up, gets a new target added to the list.
On September 15, 2021 at 11:59 am, Paul B said:
the three S’s are very valuable.
I would not go hiking with out at least a .357 somewhere on my person. If I stumble upon a cub I would stop, assess, and try to extract with out any bad things happening. That being said Sow Grizzlies are know for a short fuse.
Sounds like the guy will live which is about all you can ask for.