That was my first thought too. But then I thought that would be something you'd almost have to go back for. I don't think my wife would ever forgive me if I just blew it off unless we had a previous understanding about when to start worrying.

Fingers crossed.

Just spoke with Magic Paddler's spouse.  She is pretty sure he took his green Bell Magic canoe.  Also, he DID talk to her specifically about doing this year's Bushwhacker's Jamboree.  That would have been a couple days ago, now. 

I'm figuring that, at this very moment (Wednesday the 17th), he is camped on Poohbah Lake, on the small island just below the bigger island campsite marked as H7 on the PaddlePlanner.com map of that lake.  That positions him directly opposite the Memory Lane Portages... which is where I figure he'll head next. 

Maybe the fish will cooperate better for him than they did for me in that location back in May....

Yeah, I'm thinking one of the scenarios previously mentioned is what is going on.  I played those notions to his wife; she really seemed to appreciate it.

I hope that means he has just a little less "hell to pay" when he comes out!!

Thanks, folks.

Jimbo   

I think MP is okay because unless he had some sort of medical emergency, he's savvy enough to get himself out of a tricky situation OR if he hurt but couldn't travel, he would hunker down and find an  old school way to attract help, like make a DIY smudge pot for signaling planes/paddlers.

But this brings up an interesting question at least in my mind?
I understand completely why many feel the need either for themselves or family or both to bring such a device, but electronics fail all the time or you don't know for sure they're working as seems to be the case here?

For all the talk about the SPOT devices or similar items, IS there one item that barring electronic failure a better option for fool proof communication?

Seems like a rented SAT phone and maybe mandatory calls morning/night to a loved one might be the way to go. Biggest problem I see with any device is even if they work as they should, someone could be unable to use it for a variety of reasons.

Your separated from the unit due to injury/dump canoe or your hurt so bad you can't operate it?

I guess I'm asking whether the fear that can be generated in the people your trying to comfort by the device malfunctioning or you thinking your messages are getting thru when there not, is every bit as worrisome than just going in for a set time and letting the park and maybe an outfitter know your route and expected return date and let THEM worry/look IF your late?

Even if you do signal for help, how fast can you expect help to arrive with a SPOT device unless you have some sort of code that would tell others how serious life threatening the situation is?

Seems at least to me, that despite the technology and the good intentions, the actual results can be worse worry wise as just going in the old school way.

Ranger wrote on Jun 17^th, 2015 at 1:17pm:

He does, in fact, wear it attached to the exterior of his PFD.  The principle reason for wearing it in such a manner is that he frequently runs his SPOT in a "continuous track" mode.  I believe Jimbo would be getting that if he had the SPOT with him.  Since it appears that there was no track since his launch, I suspect that the SPOT is not with him.

(At least this is what I'm hoping is the way it plays out.)

dd

If we knew make, model, color description of his vehicle, perhaps a ranger or fellow paddler could check Nym lake lot to see if spot is in vehicle. We know he has Illinois plates.