Rescue Balloon

[Don]

I put this in the canyoneering section 'cause it seems like SPOT is a better solution for hiking but given that GPS often fails in slot canyons I could see a possible canyoneering scenario. I'm not advocating it's use I just thought it was interesting.

From: http://dvice.com/archives/2010/04/lost-rescue-bal.php]dvice.com[/url]


Do you enjoy taking long, meditative strolls in remote, forested areas alone? If you answered yes, you might be a candidate for the Rescue Balloon.

Designer Jaeseok Han wasn't fooling around when he created this compact kit — intended for hikers who get lost or injured in the wilderness and need to signal aerial search teams. It comes complete with a small, lightweight helium gas cylinder and a long, inflatable red balloon that can peer out from the tree canopy and flag down appreciative rescue workers.

Since it doesn't bet your life on flare guns, cellphones and fancy GPS devices that can run out of ammo or batteries, we love the simplicity of this concept. For the sake of seasoned adventurers and the navigationally challenged among us, we hope the Rescue Balloon makes it to production someday.


They reference this site for their information:
http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/04/06/youre-not-mowgli/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaig n=Feed%3A+yankodesign+%28Yanko+Design+-+Form+Beyond+Function%29&utm_content=Google+Reader










After reading about the first balloon I also found this lightweight jungle marker, intended for military use at Allsopp Helikites.com.

[Iceaxe]

I did some mae west canyons with a guy named Joe Wrona.... he used to carry a flare gun.

This was back in the days before SPOT and when cell coverage was non-existance in most places.

[Ryebrye]

One of those helium things might not be a bad idea to have along with a SPOT if it could carry a SPOT up above the canyon walls so it could actually send out the distress signal.

[uintahiker]

One small problem about the instruction diagram. It doesn't say anything about securing the line to something to prevent it from floating away...

[ststephen]

You're supposed to buy a lot of them and secure them to a lawn chair!

Actually, it is an interesting idea...