I was busted up badly, and I couldn’t move or do anything to improve my situation. The weather kept changing from rain to sleet to snow and back, and I had no shelter with me…

At NOBO mm 169.5 lies Apache Peak - one of the most dangerous sections of the entire PCT when snow and ice are present. Tucked away into the San Jacinto mountains of southern California, the PCT cuts across Apache Peak which overlooks the Coachella Valley below.

At just 151 miles into my trip (less than two weeks in) I faced a high-alpine environment, freezing temperatures, altitude sickness, snow, ice, and strong winds.

A RECCO detector emits a directional radar signal, much like a radar gun used by law enforcement. Once the radar signal hits the passive reflector, it is echoed back to the detector.

I’m on a busy search and rescue (SAR) team in the mountains of western North Carolina. While most of our operations end well, not everyone lives through their ordeal.

“Many SAR insurance policies that are offered by PLB manufacturers only go into effect if you use their device to call for a rescue.”

“What did I do to deserve this? “God would never take away a parent’s child and leave in its wake an emotional pain so severe that the thought of death would be welcomed…”