Mounted search and rescue

["Patty Montoya" <riverrider@bak.rr.com>]

This was a great learning exercise!!!  We often learn more by our mistakes. 
A couple of years ago several of us had a similar problem and were WAY off. 
It turned out that we had set our units to the wrong setting, minutes versus 
seconds.  It is a mistake that we have NEVER made again.  I'm sure this 
problem had been covered many times during instruction, but it never really 
made an impact until we tried in vain to search for a destination with the 
wrong settings.

Also, this past weekend we had a search scenario training that included 
GPS/teams/etc.  Our team leader gave us a great tip:
      Since our Rinos are powered by AA batteries, it is wise to try to use 
other tools with AA batteries, such as a flashlight, etc.  He explained that 
if all of your electronics use the same type of battery then you only have 
to carry one type of battery and they are interchangeable.  I thought it was 
a great tip and thought I'd pass it on.  Now I can toss out my C, D, and AAA 
batteries and lighten my load.

Patty/California

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Una Smith" <una.smith@att.net>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] GPS Tip


> Chuck Daniel wrote:
> > in each case the coordinates were off by 30 seconds in both lat and long.
> [...]
> > A 30 second error is over a half mile of error.
>
> Half a mile is a huge error.  Rather than we suggest its source, how
> about you take this as an opportunity to practice debriefing and
> analysis?  Maybe go back into the field with the person who set the
> course.  Please, identify the source(s) of the error and write us a
> followup report!  I for one would be very interested to read it.
>
> Una Smith
> New Mexico
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