Fred Canter
09-11-2011, 07:02 PM
After reading Jason's poster, http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/89026-PLEASE-BE-SAFE-OUT-THERE!!!!! and at John's suggestion I decided to start this thread to see others experience and what they do for safety measures.
To be honest it's not something that entered my mind very often. Growing up on a large mountainous farm and having free access to not only our land but all the neighboring farms I learned from an early age to be comfortable being alone in isolated areas. Later on as an adult I relied more on the buddy system and have been in wilderness areas, but always with at least two other people.
Now, where I live it is the exception when I'm with someone else when afield. Living on an island I never thought of anything being remote here, and my only concern in the past was meeting the wrong people when out in isolated areas. To control those opportunities I do not venture out on weekends when one never knows where they will see people. Since I normally photograph on private land and tend to shy away from parks most of the time I can be isolated even while in areas close to human populations. I carry a bag with a few essentials such as an ace bandage, paracord, small amount of duct tape, emergency insect repellant, knife, compass and a few other items.
A few months ago I decided to look around a different part of an area I'm familiar with and visit often. While cutting my way through jungle habitat I came upon a swamp area that had various shorebirds and waders working the area. I setup the tripod took a few shots, when the shorebird I was working flew to a different spot I decided to walk and have a look around for a better angle. I left the tripod in place and after walking about thirty feet I stepped into an area and sank to my knee. My normal reaction was to pull my leg free by using the free leg, all that did was sink both legs to the knees. A little more struggling and I was up to my crotch and slowly sinking more. Bending at the waist I was able to distribute my weight and stopped my body from sinking. Looking around I found nothing to grab onto for support but did notice a large tree limb laying just out of reach in front of me. Using the small gear bag I carry I was able to throw the bag, catch the limb and after a few attempts drag it to me. Placing the limb parallel to my body I tried to leverage myself out and succeeded in sinking the limb to my wrists. Since I had on slip on boots I decided to try one more time before calling my wife for help. Moving side to side I noticed the sand became more liquid and using the tree limb I was able to leverage myself out by leaving my boots buried. I think that had I been wearing my normal laced hiking boots I would have needed help to get out. At this point I crawled to solid ground to regain my composure and think about the situation for a few minutes. The thought that kept going through my head was the mile walk back to the truck in stocking feet and all the sticky things I had to walk thorough. I then decided to make an attempt to retrieve the boots. I used fallen tree limbs to create a bridge that allowed me to crawl over the area and not sink. By using another tree limb I was able to dig enough to retrieve the boots. It struck me at the time that I was probably in quicksand, but really knew nothing about it. Later research opened my eyes to the hazards of quicksand, the real stuff and not the Hollywood version. The information I've read indicates that the only way to escape from quicksand is by moving side to side to liquify the area around the body. If someone just tries to pull the victim out, the amount of force needed to pull someone stuck in quicksand is enough to remove limbs from the stuck person.
Since this incident I've changed how I approach being out alone. Even though I'm always close to areas of human habitation, the area I was stuck in is so isolated that in all probability no one has ventured into in years, if ever. The chance of locating me there was slim to none without knowing where to look, or at least getting close enough to hear me yell. The areas I visit do have cell phone service and most of the areas even when a call can't be made text messaging works. I added a GPS system to my iPhone that can connect to social networks, I then opened a private Twitter account that only family and trusted close friends have access to. The GPS records my track and Tweets the location periodically. All of the people that receive the tweets have phones that receive the information so some or all of them always know where I am. I'll tweet at the starting location that I'm leaving the vehicle and tweet at the end location to let them know I've finished and am safe. I also have the option to send an SOS to all those on the system or after two hours of no updates from me and if they can't reach me they will start efforts to find me at my last known coordinates. The only bug in the system so far is the battery life, which I've overcome by a small solar charger that stores one complete battery charge in it and re-charges by being strapped outside of the bag. I've been able to get a complete day of use by using the solar system and the phone. I've also added a folding grappling hook and rope that I carry when in the area with quicksand and a walking stick to test the ground prior to stepping on it. I let my location be known to my trusted friends and family, but still cringe at the thought that I'd ever have to use them for this help. But, I've swallowed my pride and will use them if needed.
How do you handle safety, especially when alone?
To be honest it's not something that entered my mind very often. Growing up on a large mountainous farm and having free access to not only our land but all the neighboring farms I learned from an early age to be comfortable being alone in isolated areas. Later on as an adult I relied more on the buddy system and have been in wilderness areas, but always with at least two other people.
Now, where I live it is the exception when I'm with someone else when afield. Living on an island I never thought of anything being remote here, and my only concern in the past was meeting the wrong people when out in isolated areas. To control those opportunities I do not venture out on weekends when one never knows where they will see people. Since I normally photograph on private land and tend to shy away from parks most of the time I can be isolated even while in areas close to human populations. I carry a bag with a few essentials such as an ace bandage, paracord, small amount of duct tape, emergency insect repellant, knife, compass and a few other items.
A few months ago I decided to look around a different part of an area I'm familiar with and visit often. While cutting my way through jungle habitat I came upon a swamp area that had various shorebirds and waders working the area. I setup the tripod took a few shots, when the shorebird I was working flew to a different spot I decided to walk and have a look around for a better angle. I left the tripod in place and after walking about thirty feet I stepped into an area and sank to my knee. My normal reaction was to pull my leg free by using the free leg, all that did was sink both legs to the knees. A little more struggling and I was up to my crotch and slowly sinking more. Bending at the waist I was able to distribute my weight and stopped my body from sinking. Looking around I found nothing to grab onto for support but did notice a large tree limb laying just out of reach in front of me. Using the small gear bag I carry I was able to throw the bag, catch the limb and after a few attempts drag it to me. Placing the limb parallel to my body I tried to leverage myself out and succeeded in sinking the limb to my wrists. Since I had on slip on boots I decided to try one more time before calling my wife for help. Moving side to side I noticed the sand became more liquid and using the tree limb I was able to leverage myself out by leaving my boots buried. I think that had I been wearing my normal laced hiking boots I would have needed help to get out. At this point I crawled to solid ground to regain my composure and think about the situation for a few minutes. The thought that kept going through my head was the mile walk back to the truck in stocking feet and all the sticky things I had to walk thorough. I then decided to make an attempt to retrieve the boots. I used fallen tree limbs to create a bridge that allowed me to crawl over the area and not sink. By using another tree limb I was able to dig enough to retrieve the boots. It struck me at the time that I was probably in quicksand, but really knew nothing about it. Later research opened my eyes to the hazards of quicksand, the real stuff and not the Hollywood version. The information I've read indicates that the only way to escape from quicksand is by moving side to side to liquify the area around the body. If someone just tries to pull the victim out, the amount of force needed to pull someone stuck in quicksand is enough to remove limbs from the stuck person.
Since this incident I've changed how I approach being out alone. Even though I'm always close to areas of human habitation, the area I was stuck in is so isolated that in all probability no one has ventured into in years, if ever. The chance of locating me there was slim to none without knowing where to look, or at least getting close enough to hear me yell. The areas I visit do have cell phone service and most of the areas even when a call can't be made text messaging works. I added a GPS system to my iPhone that can connect to social networks, I then opened a private Twitter account that only family and trusted close friends have access to. The GPS records my track and Tweets the location periodically. All of the people that receive the tweets have phones that receive the information so some or all of them always know where I am. I'll tweet at the starting location that I'm leaving the vehicle and tweet at the end location to let them know I've finished and am safe. I also have the option to send an SOS to all those on the system or after two hours of no updates from me and if they can't reach me they will start efforts to find me at my last known coordinates. The only bug in the system so far is the battery life, which I've overcome by a small solar charger that stores one complete battery charge in it and re-charges by being strapped outside of the bag. I've been able to get a complete day of use by using the solar system and the phone. I've also added a folding grappling hook and rope that I carry when in the area with quicksand and a walking stick to test the ground prior to stepping on it. I let my location be known to my trusted friends and family, but still cringe at the thought that I'd ever have to use them for this help. But, I've swallowed my pride and will use them if needed.
How do you handle safety, especially when alone?