SOTA Safety TIP #6 - Be Able To Communicate Your Location

What

In an emergency, you need to be able to tell people where you are located.  The best way to do that is to communicate your latitude and longitude (lat/long).

Ham2K PoLo A Rock'n Logging For Portable Opps

I found a new Logging tool for SOTA & POTA, and it ROCKS!

I started using a phone to log contacts for SOTA not long after I started because I can’t read my own writing.  I used a very rudimentary app for the first two years but when I started doing multiple summits per day, I needed something different.  Outd was an excellent replacement and had some new features that were awesome,  I’ve been a bit (a lot) resistant to change when support started to wane and some features quit working and it was removed from the App Store.  I tried switching to another popular logging app a while back but it that alternative just wasn’t up to the SOTA task and not approved for my kit.  Que the new solution, Ham2K PoLo (PoLo).  I was sold after using it on the very first summit.  

SOTA Safety TIP #5 - Have Backup EmComs

What

All of us depend on our cell phones for.... well EVERYTHING, especially for emergencies which requires cell service and a working phone. Don’t depend on cell service in the back country! 

SOTA Safety Tip #4 - Check the Weather

What

Before you leave, check the weather forecast for your area of operation.

SOTA Safety TIP #3 - Have a First Aid Kit and The Training To Go With

What

Make sure your pack has a first aid kit and that you’ve had the training to use it.  Because most SOTA adventures are pretty short, I recommend just enough gear to stop the bleeding.  Anything more than that and you are probably going to need to press the SOS button anyway.

 

SOTA Safety TIP #2 - Know Your Limits

What

Knowing your limits means knowing what the limits of your skills, capabilities and gear are.  When you plan, or are on the trail, be prepared to push the ABORT Button.  Your assessment includes training, mountaineering skills, assessing your fitness, how much water you have,  layers of clothing, weather, and mission appropriate gear like micro spikes, crampons, ice axe, etc.  Don’t forget to assess the skills of your group.  Many times, SOTA operators are the ones leading the pack, so look out for your team, and don’t let them exceed their limits.

SOTA Safety Tips Index

 All The Ham Ninja’s SOTA Safety Tips Index

SOTA Safety Tips is a weekly series of quick tips to remember to improve safety of the hobby.  This was inspired by the SoCal SOTA group’s meetings on this topic and will be sourced from my own and others' experience.  Don’t forget, you also need to support your group and others with this knowledge.  I’ll keep these as short as possible.  Send feedback to safetytips@HamNinja.com.

I am not an expert mountaineer, nor a medical expert, but I've had training.  The most important thing I can say right here is to stay within your capabilities and appetite for risk (mine is not that high).  Take advice from the experts in mountaineering and wilderness first aid. Remember, you may have to help someone else on the trail, why not enable yourself to do that. 

Nothing you do is completely "safe", but you can lower the risk.
Below is an Index of Tips Published to date.