At what point should you call Search and Rescue?

So, I'm starting to get a bit worried. My roommate and 2 other friends went out yesterday for a long tour. They left early yesterday AM and caught the first patrol tram. That would've given them 12 hoursof daylight...but I just looked at a topo map and it looks like (using the route I would've picked it would have been 10.5 miles with 4500' elevation gain, and then a 3 mile hike out to the nearest open road (where I assume they left a vehicle). They all know what they're doing in the bc, so I'm not overly concerned, but if one of them got hurt it could be a brutal evac. My bet is they underestimated the tour and overestimated their physical condition. My roommate hasnt been doing a lot of hiking lately. The other two are in decent shape, but looking at the topo makes it look like a burly tour. I opted not to go due to the fact that I didnt think it would me wise of me to go on a long ass tour after 4 hours of sleep the night before and coming off a 7 day bender. I hadn't looked at the map at didn't want to get into something that I wasn't prepared for...looks like I may have chosen wisely. So, when should I call S & R if they dont show up? I was thinking I'd give them til this afternoon.

hmmm....wow....do you know if they were prepared to spend the night out there?

I don't understand when you were expecting them back--was this meant to be overnight? If not, I'd call S+R now. If they were to be back this morning then you could sure give them some extra time.

how cold did it get last night?

Sounds like they were to meet up with a patrol for entry right? check with Patrol to establish a timeline, and see if the vehicle is in fact where you think it should be. At least it will establish a timeline and a intended start and end points. Hope everything goes well.

If they've already spent an unplanned night outside, I'd definitely call S&R NOW! Since you know their route, and it sounds like they know what they're doing, it should be pretty easy to find them if something has gone wrong.

If they are overdue by a significant amount of time I'd call S&R. Tell them what you know. They will ask you a ton of questions and make a decision with you. If they decide not to go looking immediately they will atleast have a heads up and be quicker off the mark when it is time to go.

They weren't supposed to stay overnight. I'm not sure if they took sleeping bags and emergency blankets just in case. It didn't get very cold last night. I doubt it even froze. I'm hesitant to call S&R because thye most likely just ran out of energy and daylight, in which case I think they would have been fine to stick it out through the night. But, if someone did get hurt, it's a whole 'nother story.

I'd call 'em.

I'd go to where they stashed a vehicle...if it's still there and they're nowhere to be found, call 'em.

Else, I'd call and go looking for them.

I say at least contact S&R so that they are aware and will be in a position to mobilize quickly.

The BadRats had a sort of policy whereby if one of us went missing, the rest of us would go looking.

Best.

Call S & R. The decision is simple for this reason: your regret for having called them if they are not needed will be short lived. Your regret for having not called them if they were needed could last a lifetime.

No doubt if they were due back I would get S & R on the line so they can have heads up! It will take them a time to get organized.
Check the car asap then you will @ least have some idea of whats going on.
Good Luck hope everyone is safe!

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Originally posted by Twoplanker
Call S & R. The decision is simple for this reason: your regret for having called them if they are not needed will be short lived. Your regret for having not called them if they were needed could last a lifetime.

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ditto.

You gotta make s & r aware of what is going on.

I realize it depends entirely on terrain, but the stats you gave for that hike shouldn't be more than 12 hours.

It's tough to say without knowing about the weather, temperature, what they brought, etc....

But I'd at least call SAR to get the ball rolling. Even if they don't send a crew out right away, you'll start a useful conversation with them that you can continue later if you need to.

Have you gone to the road where you expected them to come out and checked for tracks/cars/notes?

No worries. I got a call from my roommate as I was looking up the # for S&R. Apparently they got in at 8PM. He ended up staying at his gf's. I yelled at him for not calling me. Of course she was the first person I called this morning, but it still took them 1 1/2 hrs to get back to me. Oh well, glad they're safe. Now I can go for a bike ride:D

Shit Sherpa, i was starting to worry.
Its been so damn warm lots of stuff could head south in the afternoons. And we've had a quiet winter, SAR speaking.
Wher'd they go? what were the conditions?
Glad there safe.

I saw you at the VC Sun, just prior to bailing. I waved a few times but was to drunk and lazy to stumble through the mud one more time.

Have a nice spring, im outta here!

Jiffy- They went to Death Canyon (2 canyons north of granite). He said it was REALLY slushy, so I'm guessing slide potential was definately there.

Yeh, Sunday was pretty crazy! There were so many people there. Depression is starting to set in. I cant believe the season's over:( Have a good time in La Grave!

I say call SAR now!

Don't wait until they venture out again.

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Originally posted by SherpaStyle
[B]Jiffy- They went to Death Canyon (2 canyons north of granite). He said it was REALLY slushy, so I'm guessing slide potential was definately there.
]

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The went to "Death Canyon" and you hesitated?;)

Glad to hear it's on the upside.

and then I reread the thread

glad things turned out well

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Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO AT LEAST SPEAK WITH SAR AT THIS POINT!

BLAHBLAHBLAH

I hope everything turns out alright... keep us posted.

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Ah, reread the thread, THEN post.

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Originally posted by CaddyDaddy77
The went to "Death Canyon" and you hesitated?;)

Glad to hear it's on the upside.

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Yeh, when they started talking about this tour, I thought about some of my bc experiences this season. Every time I went into granite I hit granite. (I ended up with a lot of core shots and a few bruises from that place). In 4 Pines I hit a tree... not too hard, but my shoulder was a little sore. On broken neck, a couple people came in above me without knowing we were there and knocked a bunch of sluff on us, which definately could've resulted in a broken neck if I hadnt been able to bail into safety under a cliff band. (A fall on Broken Neck means a fall over 3 cliff bands ranging from 50 to 100 ft each). So, the thought of what I might encounter in Death Canyon had me a bit sketched out. Maybe next year I'll be less superstitious:)