Many of us have seen the video of park-goers throwing a stick at a buffalo, only to be surprised when it charges the camera. Instances of idiots in the outdoors are only increasing as the use of gadgets in our parks increases.
Unfortunately the idiots with the buffalo aren’t alone. Park rangers recount stories of people calling rangers for such things as hot chocolate. Another group in Grand Canyon National Park pressed the emergency button on their sat phone because their water tasted salty. Stories like this are so common the National Park Service has recently added “darkness” and “inattention to surroundings” to their list of causes for rescue operations.
So, take this as a friendly reminder. The Park Service isn’t there to bring you hot chocolate. Just because your cell phone may work in one of the parks, it doesn’t mean that someone will show up if you didn’t plan properly and it’s getting dark on a day hike.
You should only call the rangers if you are in actual danger. If you do call because you’re out past dark, at best you’ll annoy a ranger. At worst, you may take resources away from an actual emergency.
If you’re bringing a GPS with you, be sure to know how to use it. Don’t forget to bring a backup navigation aid too. According to Kyle Patterson of Rocky Mountain National Park “We have seen people who have solely relied on GPS technology but were not using common sense or maps and compasses, and it leads them astray.’’
via Boston.com
