On outdoors,
in reverse order.

We assisted in a recent search and met a BORSTAR HRD pup. This girl was a machine! 7.5 h in the field and she was still wanting more.

There is some confusion on PLB and SOS devices. PLBs are a one time cost. Registers with NOAA and in an emergent scenario the PLB will transmit an “oh sh*t we need help now”. This a fail safe. Not a replacement for SOS. SOS like Inreach or phone satellite should be your primary means of avoiding an emergent scenario. Information is key. These satellite communicators allow you to keep people appraised of where you are, allow you talk to responders, etc. Don’t think a PLB replaces satellite communications.

Mays Rock Ranch. What a gem.

Yesterday spent the day rappelling. Rapping on a 7.5mm is spicey, mostly because my ogre hands can’t get a firm grip on the brake strand. Added friction and a third hand VT was nice. VT prusiks can bind on a twin 11mm rope. The rope needs to be tended and the number of wraps matter. The VT under heavy load will want to spiral the twins so you have to keep the strands parallel. Luckily unlike a normal prusik it can easily be redone but transferring the load needs to be puzzled out. Also setting the VT higher will help when passing the knot on descent. I had set it too close so the space between the VT and the knot once it’s passed wasn’t sufficient. Would I ever rap a twin 11? Probably not but the goal was to experiment and learn

Even in the concrete jungle that is LA, a 7mi jog to Elysian from DTLA was awesome. What a gem. Traffic is not the only thing that surprises me about the City of Angels.

SAR is 100% volunteer, self funded. Some say we should get paid and I’m a strong advocate of “no”. We serve because it’s the right thing to do and the purity of that service to sacrifice to bring others home will be tainted by the pursuit of compensation.

We had two recent call-outs, both fatalities due to heat stroke. Remember, heat stroke is not the same as dehydration. Heat exhaustion to heat stroke may be stoppable by extreme rapid cooling. This is the bodies inability to thermal regulate. It doesn't matter your hydration if your body cannot cool itself. If you find yourself in heat exhaustion, stop, find shade, cool off. If you vomit or experience a change in mental status, SOS immediately. This is emergent and life threatening.