(Editor’s Note: This is a second in the two-part series about lifesaving hiking and desert driving/exploring preparedness presented by Butch Meriwether, a Mohave County resident and photojournalist.)
Ninety year-old “snowbird” Jack Bower, from Auburn, Calif., who has a winter home in Golden Valley, knows the need to be prepared. Bower has been exploring and treasure hunting in various areas of the western United States and throughout the world since he was about 17 years old. He recently ventured to Alaska in search for gold. “Besides food and emergency equipment, I always have a couple bottles of water and granola bars with me in addition to my GPS. If the area has mosquitoes or bees, I bring mosquito netting with me to protect my face from getting bit,” Bower said.
When Bower first started exploring the great outdoors, GPS devices had not been invented. He had to rely on the “old school” method – maps and a compass. According to Bower, the GPS devices are great because if you find a location you want to return to at a later date, all you have to do is mark a waypoint on your device. He says when you decide to revisit the area; your GPS will give the exact direction to travel and distance when you want to get back to the same spot.
Bower, who is an avid hiker, treasure hunter and prospector, always tries to limit the weight of his equipment he takes with him. He said that if your equipment weighs too much, you will get tired more easily and you’ll have to take a lot of rest breaks. His walking sticks he uses is actually a garden tool with a wooden handle that has a small hoe and two-pronged rake on it. “Not only can I use it to steady myself on an uneven trail, I can use it to dig rocks up and to turn things over,” he said. Bower has always stressed he doesn’t like turning something over by hand and finding a rattle snake under it. He says it is much safer not turning something over by hand and possibly getting bit.
One of the biggest suggestions and recommendations Bower stresses are preparedness. “Always take all of the necessary equipment and supplies, including a compass and GPS with you when heading out on an adventurer or hiking,” he said. “You never know if a short hike might turn into a 24-hour or more outing especially if an emergency occurs. I never have been lost, but even though I ended up at my destination, I may have traveled a few extra miles to get there because I got misdirected prior to purchasing a GPS.”
There is nothing better than spending time in the desert, mountains and great outdoors that is beckoning to be explored. People must ensure their adventure plans and outings include all of the essential items and supplies needed for a safe and a fun time. And last but not least, they need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario in case of an emergency.
-Butch Meriwether
(Editor’s Note: Butch Meriwether is a member of the Mohave County Sheriff Office’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Kingman Unit and has seen firsthand that some people head out into the desert and mountains who did not prepare for the worst-case scenario. Members of the MCSO Search and Rescue Unit have on, more than one occasion, had to search for missing hikers and motorists. For information about the MCSO SAR Unit and the eligibility requirements to become a member, visit http://www.mohavecounty.us/ContentPage.aspx?id=131&cid=364)
