DAN GROEBNER



So where is this White Mountain Sweet Spot? It’s actually not a “where” as much as a “when!” And there doesn’t have to be just one! But it would be hard to argue that the seasonal weather we’ve been enjoying lately here during our warm-up to summer could get much better.

The thick layer of winter snow has percolated through the area’s thin soils creating trails and roads temporarily devoid of puddles and mud slides. Mosquitos, gnats, and those other miniature itch-causers haven’t reached their peaks yet, but other more watchable wildlife is parading around during mid-day, sometimes with their youngsters, well aware that hunting seasons are months off.  

This is also the season to see birds you might not otherwise get a chance to observe, since the area’s lakes and wetlands are a convenient rest stop for those real snowbirds flying back north to their breeding grounds. Pelicans, loons and other rare sightings have been found on lakes like Rainbow and Becker.

Unfortunately for some local residents sensitive to smoke, this is also about the only season to safely conduct prescribed fires that prevent more catastrophic uncontrollable wildfires. With the long winter of at least twice the normal precipitation, the Forest Service had to push back some of their burns because it was still too wet during the normal spring burn season. This shortens the time they have to get their jobs done and forces them to conduct burns when the winds might not be ideal as far as human impacts from smoke is concerned. The Forest Service always considers smoke impacts but sometimes it is difficult to predict shifting wind directions.

Some predictions call for an early and abundant monsoon season, but we definitely have a few weeks to get out before the lightning starts. For a change, there haven’t been any local fears of widespread and early forest closures due to fire danger, so it’s time to lace up the boots and grab the binoculars.

So how can we enjoy our Sweet Spot safely?? What should we do if our outdoor experience suddenly goes from sweet to sour? Fortunately, the White Mountains are home to many dedicated sheriff’s deputies and volunteers working tirelessly to make your outdoor experience more safe, or less of a disaster if you find more sour lemons than sweet apples.

Plan Please   Trust the Trail     Hug a Tree

If people could remember the above principles, even when experiencing adrenaline-activated frontal lobe anarchy after they realize that the rest of the world isn’t in the right spot anymore, most folks can extract themselves from a near disaster or not make it worse, at least.

Plan, Please.  

This obviously includes a back-up plan to tell someone not traveling with you where to start looking in case you are overdue. Think of the “Please” as coming from the folks who would have to come looking for you or your unprepared outdoor partners who were counting on you as their guide.  

Don’t try a new trail with new hikers unless you are ready to turn around if it gets too challenging. Getting blisters on the first hike of vacation can make you recall that adventure for all the wrong reasons!! Larger groups might need a back-up plan if they get separated, like outfitting a couple of people in the front and back with inexpensive two-way radios in case you have no cell phone coverage.

Extra water, proper clothing, including footwear and rain gear, maps, compass, fire starter, first aid kit, extra water and any personal medications need to be the basics in your backpack with other items added depending on the expedition. A headlamp, GPS unit, extra batteries, energy bars, signal mirror, and an emergency satellite communicator are also good ideas when traveling in more remote areas for extended periods of time.

The emergency satellite beacons are becoming more affordable and popular, but they vary greatly in their cost and how they respond to emergencies. Some have the ability to text updated messages without issuing an SOS alarm, while others are designed to be only used in emergencies when you need a rescue from a government agency. They all require a monthly or annual subscription to activate your gateway to the constellation of satellites so the actual model that would work best depends on your usage and budget.  

Trust the Trail.  

The best way to keep the rest of the world where it is supposed to be (according to your brain) is to follow a familiar trail or use a map on a well marked route. Be careful to take the correct branch when roads and trails come to a junction. Trails within the White Mountain Trail System usually have white diamonds up in trees along the path with a letter or two and a number that can be found on the trail maps available on the internet (https://trackswhitemountains.org/trails/). Keep track of your progress on the map when you encounter these signs.

Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts off trail just to make your hike shorter. Unless you are very familiar with the area, or know how to use a GPS with your destination already marked as a waypoint that you can navigate to, it’s best to stay on the trail. You don’t have as much stress navigating if you stay on the trail, and certainly won’t have as much of an impact when you start a wildcat trail, especially with a large group in wet conditions.

Trails can also be a source of help from others. If you need help and your phone battery decides to run out when needed, fellow hikers and 4-wheelers can make a call and maybe provide the assistance you need. It’s tempting to wander off trail uphill to improve your cell phone reception, but always keep the trail in sight if you try to gain some elevation. Texts can sometimes be sent even when the signal is not strong enough for a voice call.

Searchers will follow trails and roads during their initial “hasty” search, since this is where many people who need help are found. So if you want to help rescuers find you more quickly, stay on the trail or road!

Hug a Tree.  

A very successful program that encourages young lost hikers to stay put and not create a constantly “moving target” for rescuers is called “Hug a Tree”. Obviously we don’t want to teach kids to hug the tallest Ponderosa in a White Mountain thunderstorm, but a medium sized tree without much canopy cover can be an ideal “anchor” to make it easier to find them.  

The most important skill to possess when “temporarily misplaced”, is to have a positive attitude, no matter how young you are. Some of us less-young hikers might have to silently sing “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” to calm down, but “adopting” a tree has been shown to make youngsters and adults less fearful and more likely to remain stationary.  

The tree can become their base but they should also be taught to make large, obvious signs indicating they need help. Anything like “SOS” or “HELP” spelled out for aircraft to see should be 5 times larger than you think it should be, as it is not easy to see stick or stone messages on the ground from a moving aircraft hundreds of feet above ground level. The kids might remember “Make a Huge Help in a Mega Meadow” when trying to get the attention of aircraft.

Depending on the current fire conditions and your immediate situation, a signal fire may or may not be an effective way to get attention. If you have to use a fire for communication, you probably didn’t “Plan, Please” with back-up power for the phone or a satellite messenger/navigator.

It can be difficult to decide when to call 911 to initiate a search, but just keep in mind that subjects or their families are not charged for any search efforts and Sheriff’s offices prefer to be contacted sooner than later since they have deputies on patrol in many areas. It also takes time to mobilize a search party so the more lead time the better.  

If you prepare for a “horse-wreck” or getting lost due to a simple translocation by a local alien (it can happen), the area’s best “Sweet Spots” can be easily enjoyed by everybody during this sweet season! Just make sure to pack your common sense along with the extra water.