PLB Mistaken for Avy Beacon

The mysterious personal locator beacon (PLB) that baffled rescue groups and law enforcement this winter had been mistaken for an avalanche beacon by the guy who received it as a gift. The clueless skier (mercifully unnamed) did not read the directions nor register the device, and had been innocently switching it on each time he headed into the backcountry, thus triggering multiple responses from concerned rescuers. Makes you wonder what his skiing partners were thinking—whatever happened to the beacon check? Actually, it makes you wonder a lot of things…

Read today’s Denver Post story here and MoJo’s earlier story about the PLB mystery and interview with Alpine Rescue Team president here.

Rogue PLB Goes Silent

The personal locator beacon that bedeviled search and rescue authorities last month has not been activated since January 5, and it seems likely that the still-unknown person who owns the device has gotten the message on how to use it—and how not to.

From December 14 to January 5, the ACR PLB-300 beacon was activated nine times—eight times near Berthoud Pass, and a ninth north of Crested Butte. Unfortunately, the owner never registered the device, so he or she couldn’t be contacted.

After the fourth or fifth activation from the same device, the Clear Creek County Sheriff decided not to alert SAR teams anymore. Instead, authorities focused on trying to determine who owned the PLB, and on getting the word out to the public that there was a problem.

In a statement posted yesterday at Mountain Project, Paul “Woody” Woodward, president of the Alpine Rescue Team, said, “Through the efforts of ACR, REI, and the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office, it was determined that this PLB was shipped from ACR to REI on July 1, 2009. It was further determined that 12 of these beacons where sold in Colorado between July 1 and December 13. The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office made contact with the 12 owners that purchased the PLBs. Although no one has come forth and admitted that this was their beacon, there has not been an activation since these folks where contacted. … Continue Reading