So . . . . an iPhone app saves a lost hiker and his dog.

[Stinky The Clown]

The essence of the story is that a guy was out hiking on a trail new to him. The trail was well marked, but somehow he got lost. As night was approaching and temps were headed down to the 20s, he called 911. They sent a helicopter to look for him in the woods.

Using his iPhone and a flashlight app, he was able to signal the helicopter. Two rescuers were lowered to the woods and walked him and his dog to safety.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/01/02/md-hiker-uses-iphone-app-for-new-years-day-rescue/

[hlthe2b]

1. I remember stories of 911 survivors using cell phones to navigate dark stairways and smoke-filled

Last edited Tue Jan 3, 2012, 11:20 AM - Edit history (1)

buildings. Though I'm a pretty recent convert to iphone, a flashlight app was one of my first. Just got a workout too when I had to try to feel my way through my darkened post office to my box--after they had lost electricity following a major snowstorm and broken pipe flood. Funny how many flashlights I've bought (and misplaced)... but that iphone is always with me.

[FLSurfer]

7. Iphones and 9/11? Nope.

Jan 2007 debut.

[MattBaggins]

12. shhhhhhh

Steve Jobs led Jesus out of his tomb with an iPhone

[trotsky]

14. LMAO

[hlthe2b]

15. Sorry... I meant cell phones...

Thank you for not mocking, however.

[LanternWaste]

17. No benign mistake ever goes unpunished by petulance.

No benign mistake ever goes unpunished by petulance... in third grade anyways.

[petronius]

2. I'm glad this guy is OK, but I hate the way this article is written

Makes it sound like packing a cell phone is synonymous with "being prepared"...

[Motown_Johnny]

3. maybe next time try the compass app, and a map web site

or maybe just a compass and a map





Sorry, but the boy scout in me is somewhat appalled at this story.

[i_sometimes]

6. If you read about the park...

It gets worse...

"All trails begin at the Trailhead Parking Lot on Gambrill Park Road, between the Rock Run area and the High Knob area."

16 total miles of trails if you count the mountain bike and horse trails.
The guy was not a Boy Scout and honestly, shouldn't stray far from pavement.

[madokie]

8. Trouble is most people wouldn't know what to do with a map or compass

Orientation we called it in SERE training

[MattBaggins]

13. This was an iPhone user

cut him some slack

[getdown]

4. flashlight APP?

[DesMoinesDem]

5. Every phone can dial 911 and all smart phones have a flashlight.

I hate how writers always specify when a phone is an iPhone, as if this is something only the iphone can do. All phones can dial 911, even the free ones. And all smart phone OSes have free flashlight apps. Yet if their phone were an Android, Windows Phone 7, Blackberry, or webOS phone the type of phone wouldn't be mentioned. I think a lot of iPhone users actually believe only the iPhone has apps.

[HappyMe]

9. My Tracfone dials 911

and has flashlight capabilities.


How the hell do you get lost on a well marked trail.

[Blue_Tires]

10. What a waste of aviation fuel...

please get that guy to invest in a GPS/compass/map/whatever...

[piratefish08]

11. dumb, ill-prepared hiker makes phone call.

[hunter]

16. I'll bet more people are killed by iPhones than saved...

http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/2009/07/21/july-22-cartoon