HERE SPOT HERE BOY

SPOT

What a cute name, but a fairly good one considering the concept behind the gadget. The worlds first satellite messenger. How Cool is that?

In 1999, while sitting on my sofa with a good book I became aware of a strange sensation within my chest. A stillness that was so unnerving I sat up startled. I could only describe it as a sinking almost draining feeling. I had never felt such a sensation before in my life. So uncomfortable with the feeling was I that I rushed to the hospital fearing the worst. Both my parents had died early due to cardiac maladies so I wasn't taking any chances. The emergency room Dr. had an idea what the problem was but put me into the intensive care unit for observation. Some testing confirmed his suspicions, my heart was slowing down, I would need a pace maker.

Now, let me tell you the truth about this page and it's relevance to SPOT. Like most guys I know I am a gadget junkie. Whenever a gadget junkie and outdoors man turn up to be the same person there's a very good chance that big bucks will be spent and cool stuff will be in ample supply.
I just loved my first GPS. I have been a Map and Compass dude for years but the idea of the GPS was just so damn liberating. Lock in a way point put the thing in your pack until you need it then turn it on and follow it home.............Damn I loved the thing. I'm on my fifth unit and although I still give the Map/Compass combination the highest marks for dependability, its hard to beat a quality GPS unit. After my implant my Wife insisted I did not venture into the out back without friendly support (usually Russ the one man SAR team) but it didn't work out like that. I love to venture alone, I hunt alone, fish alone and just like to walk around the forest with my camera ALONE.

The day I fell on a Catskill ledge and damn near fell off a cliff, I gave SPOT another look.

It had what I was looking for. A way to ask for assistance from a"friendly" cost effective rescue source......Family and Friends. But with the capability to SCREAM for HELP from the big guns if the fertilizer ever really hit the ventilator.

I didn't see the need for the Tracking feature, at least not yet but the standard message features were just what this trekker was looking for. As with nearly everything I spend more then six bucks on, I researched the crap outta this thing and found that those users that didn't like SPOT were not using it correctly or had an unrealistic expectation of what the thing did.

Let me tell you what SPOT is NOT:

Not a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or a EPLIRB (Emergency Position Location Indicating Radio Beacon)

These units use radio frequency 121.5Mhz or 406MhZ to transmit the beacon (signal) to a monitoring station or any radio tuned into these frequencies (these are internationally used) able to be monitored by any commercial craft and SAR forces around the world.

They can be big (not always) and expensive (nearly always) and require a bit of understanding to use.

SPOT on the other hand is idiot proof. If I could believe everything I read about the messenger I would have the Baby sitter I needed to set me free again to travel without entourage.

I sent away for my SPOT unit and received it within a fortnight. It was just as advertised, small and light weight and seemingly rugged. The controls were so simple I forced myself to read the instructions several times thinking I was missing something. The FINDMESPOT home page made everything perfectly clear and I couldn't wait to start sending OK messages. Out came the plastic from my wallet along with a few moths and spider webs and in less then ten minutes I was my own satellite station. Boys and Girls this IS very cool.

I chose my lists of message receivers very carefully. The I'm OK just Checking in list was of course the Family and a few Friends that would actually want to hear from me and get a kick out of seeing via Google Maps where the heck I am. My HELP list was primarily made up of my Hiking-Hunting buddies that knew how to use a Map and GPS and had the highest probability of finding my dumb ass if indeed the Pacer issue ever popped up to ruin my weekend.

The 911 list....well lets just say I have little control over who will be on that list but I'm sure I wont mind seeing whoever shows up should I ever find myself in that deep a puddle of DODO.

I took SPOT with me everywhere. It was easy due to its handy size and shape. I tested it in places (check for these tests elsewhere on the COSS site) that one might think had a poor shot at good reception, it passed with flying colors.

SPOT uses two types of satellites to do its magic, a GPS locator to peg your position and a Globalstar that rats you out to the monitoring station. The station forwards your Text messages to cell phones you pre-program OR to E-Mail accounts with direct links you just click on to display your exact location. You can even zoom down on the map for a precise position of the SPOT transmitter Location. "And it does it anyplace on the planet!" As long as you can see the sky, you have a great chance to send out your message. I've never waited more then five minutes to get a conformation on my cell that the message was sent. As long as SPOT sees the sky, You're golden. In areas where I had no cell reception, I had a E-Mail waiting for me showing where SPOT was when I hit the button. The only soft point I can really see with the unit is the need for a safety cover over the 911 button. I'd hate to have to tell these guys how I rolled over on my messenger and called for the cavalry. I taped an "O" ring over the button that keeps this from being accidental depressed.

I've read other reviews of SPOT claiming it should have some sort of built in conformation signal so you know your message got out.....yeah that would be cool but the price would need to go up. At about $150 plus a $99 yearly monitoring fee (for basic service) this thing gives alot for the money.

It's one of my favorite colors..international Orange for good reason and floats if dropped in water. It can take a bit of rough handling and I even dropped it once with a grimace on my face only to find the unit unhurt and working like a champ.
I use SPOT along with my other navigation tools, GPS, COMPASS and TOPO MAP and it has been given a spot of earned high importance on my equipment list.

I'm free to hike that extra ridge or change my mind about my planned route without feeling my loved ones would not know where I went.

My SPOT messenger is my second favorite gadget, next to my Pace Maker.

DON"T STOP

THINKING ABOUT CAMPING!

Moving Vertically

Moving Down A Rock Face

is not your average style of travel. Yet when an outdoor traveler needs to get to point B but point A is on a shear rock cliff you have but two real options. No! jumping is NOT one of them, you can go around if that's possible or you can climb down.

Rappelling or as my European cousins call it Abseiling is the technique of moving down a fixed rope in a kind of walking or at times jumping action. The tools and methods for rappelling are many and varied but for the most part allow you to do the same thing, slide down the rope.

Rappelling is considered one of the most dangerous aspects of mountaineering. The reason is simple, it is one of the few times you as a climber are solely reliant on your equipment for movement and safety. Never the less, it is fun and a damn handy skill set to own even if you seldom use it.

You never know when you will need to escape a burning high rise or a jealous husband.

To this end, a freakishly warm spring afternoon spawned the strangest of ideas, we'd take a walk to the near by cliff and step off.

Three of us gathered for the trip, my good friend Pat would join me and as a weird form of birthday celebration so would Russ. HAPPY BIRTH DAY BROTHER!

Russ had done some scouting and found a semi friendly out cropping over looking the west side of town. Not only did he find the jump off point, he found the anchor and even cleaned the pitch for us.......damn he's handy to have around.

We dropped two ropes and assorted clanking junk into our packs and converged on the cliff.

While I do love the thrill of danger, I'm not stupid. Here you see I'm waring my official Magnum P.I. safety shirt. While waring this I'm safe from falls and volcanoes.
With loose rock still a threat to safety, we wore rock helmets for the first trip down....just in case! The surface of the rock had very sharp edges that could ruin a new rope and turn a controlled enjoyable trip into a screaming life flashing before your eyes kind of thing, luckily Russ had a jacket we could use to saddle the rope into and keep us safe. With couching from the Birthday Boy, Pats turn was smooth safe and enjoyable.

Russ donned his safety Straw Cowboy hat and hit the wall.

The spring breeze whipped up and soon became a full on wind.

As the designated belayer (safety man) I monitored the speed of descents and prepared to arrest any fall, I also lost my seat gear, it slipped off after Pats jump. All I could do was photograph it for posterity.

Silly isn't he?

A view of The River Bridge as seen from the hillside, the border of New York and Pennsylvania.

A nice day in the sun with friends, what more could you ask for? A cool drink maybe.
Practise Practise Practise.............rappelling isn't like falling off a log you know. it's a bit higher.

The April Fool

TROUT!
The time of year has rolled around again for me to think of Trout and of the places they live. After my scout into the Neversink Gorge unique Area with Russ, I just knew my first casts of the year would settle on these pools and pockets in this part of my beloved Neversink. So on a rainy and cool April first, I set out after my first Trout of the year.

I carried no waders and wore only my hiking boots. I chose a five weight St Crox four piece rod that was a gift from my late friend Frank. He and I took many Trout years ago, before his God called him to cast a line with him. He "left" me the rod to as he put it "take care of for him".

With pride Bro!

As before the hike to the water was two miles from my trusty rusty, but this time I had the GPS to short cut me right to my plotted spot. The RED trail was so easy to follow that Stevie and Ray could have found it, it took a bit of nerve for me to step off into the forest. The trails are so well defined that the carpeted forest floor looked even more foreboding.

And still more trails I decided not to follow.

The rain held off for most of my trip down into the gorge but the sky was a constant grey that told of wet times ahead. The soft moist leaves made little sound under my weight and I liked moving like a local instead of just a visitor in this wild wood.

I crossed the most beautiful mountain stream as I descended. Hidden in the trees and flowing out of cracks in the rocks, the springs emptied into one as they rushed toward the Neversink below. It seemed like a post card, almost too perfect. I sat for a moment to drink it in with my eyes and ears.

The Neversink was just below me and I could smell the air freshening. The breeze that always seems to follow water was cooling things down and making my spirits rise, lets hope the Trout would as well.

River side history, an old hunters treestand still hangs as a skeleton on a tree. The stand is gone and maybe the hunter as well but the hunting still looks good. Time for a SPOT check, I tested my satellite messenger three times in the gorge. Three times it sent strong OKAY massages. Its a nice feeling to have a babby sitter.

At last I made the river, its stones causing the water to crash around making a thunderous hiss. Some of these rocks weighed tons.

I turned my camera skyward to view the other side of the canyon, its walls high and formidable, home to Eagles and Hawks.

I moved up stream into an area where the water calmed and the foam line was evident and inviting. I love pocket water and this trip produced a seven inch Brook Trout from one of these pockets, but I wanted to wonder and the quiet deeper water just seemed to beckon me.

The river was narrower here but the walls on the other side of the gorge seemed to go straight up. Ice hung from the rocks where the Sun's rays had a hard time filtering through. Just under the waters surface I could discern the undercut ledge rock behind the foam line...Trout ville!

Only one Trout this trip and not even a photo for the Blog thanks to a long distance release, but wow what a trip. I had my lunch on a boulder in the rain before starting the long climb out. Old trusty rusty was waiting to coddle my weary rear end in the parking lot. As always the measure of the trip's value is in the quality not quantity.

I'll be back, next time with Sam.....watch out Trout!

THE FOAM IS HOME

Trout Fishermen and indeed Fly Fishers in my region have many options as to where their quarry should be pursued. Many of our local lakes and streams produce wonderful Trout and great opportunity for sport.

I had heard of one particular area not very far from my home that Internet Fly Fishers were whispering about. The Neversink Gorge Unique Area is a six mile stretch (5000 acre) of my home water that snakes through what was until recently, not only wild and lonesome country but Private Property. New York State's acquisition of lands accessing this unspoiled region was only arranged and finalized within the last ten years so the area is by my standards at least, relatively untouched.
The topography of the area is what one would reasonably expect when you think of a "gorge", steep-rocky and unfriendly to the ankles not to mention parking access is two plus miles from this coveted river frontage.

Rumours abound of pocket water and deep pools where big Browns just wait for your nymph to bump by. Some have reported on Eastern Fly Fishing sites that a healthy population of Brook Trout inhabit these waters as well as some of the tributaries that feed it. With mild weather forecast for the next few days and an incurable curiosity, I did what I always do..........I took a walk.

Russell was as usual, accommodating when I asked if he'd like to "take a walk". The idea of marching on new ground is always enticing. With just a few items for safety and little else we set out for the gorge.

The trail in started as a delightful walk of various widths and winds.

Trails..............


All leading down.......

and down some more.........


The lands here are apparently full of Woodpeckers and Coyote and Bears........Oh my.

Sign and scat abound.

Just when the landscape started looking common and predictable we found an uncommon structure. A Wikiup frame sat off the trail in the side of a hill. The frame needed covering and additional support but when finished would have provided shelter to four people. Over sized for my needs but an ambitious project worthy of our time to explore.

Evidently I was not the only one getting tired. This old boy was just nodding off when I walked by.

We had a good idea where the river ways, we just had different good ideas.

At last the distant sound of hissing thunder told us we were close. As we slugged over a soft watery bench in the topography, we could see the Neversink below. The foam lines shining in contrast to the dimly lit shadows of the gorge. If pocket water is the prise I was after, I got the brass ring. This place was just run after run of pockets and holes, the white water and bubbles pumping life into the oxygen rich water. The place smelled of Trout and the promise of fine fishing, great photo ops and many lost flies.

Giving scale to the depth of this gorge, Russell's orange hat can just be made out on the far right bank in the shadows. Steep sided and boulder strewn, this is no place to be after dark or if injured. It's one hell of a climb out. I tested SPOT's reception out of the gorge and was pleased to find it could get out.

The Neversink Gorge turned out to be a trip I'd look forward to doing again and again, if not for Trout then for the beauty of the area. Wild and little touched by outsiders, this "unique" area holds promise for adventure and inspiration.

We booked out before sundown and looked over my maps and GPS way points, discussed the walk and alternative approaches.
A full day, exploring/charting and

hiking on new terrain. Good friends....

What else can you ask for?

Sam just has to see this.