Here's a
link to a form that gives SAR some vital info should you need their assistance.
That form was developed as a result of the unfortunate Larry Conn situation. He had the habit of hiking out on his own, and even posted that he often changed course mid-trip on a whim. So his leaving a detailed itinerary would not help many times. His remains were recovered after weeks of searching in vain, and then an entire winter.
This past month, I was talking to someone whose adult child was leaving on a big trip through the Sierra. They had a number of iPhone map shots of planned campsites along the trip. The hiker vehemently refused to carry a SPOT.
It turns out that the late May snows caused the hiker to change course mid-trip; completely switching over to a different pass and other trails. Hiker reported being really happy for the ice axe, using it many times, and attributing it to life-saving level on several occasions.
I cannot understand how people can take off on solo trips like that, yet refuse to carry or use a SPOT or similar tracking device.
