# Duct Tape saves lost hiker in mountains. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261 "2016-05-20T22:29:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/1 "2016-05-20T22:29:48Z")
Yet another use for duct tape. šŸ†’ Must of been a big roll to spell out such big letters. He kept his composure and didnā€™t panic. That can make all the difference in survival. Very glad it ended well with no injuries. [http://fox40.com/2016/05/19/hiker-missing-in-sierra-found-fine-and-dandy/](http://fox40.com/2016/05/19/hiker-missing-in-sierra-found-fine-and-dandy/) > [@](#): > > ā€œEvery morning I got up and just thought I would figure a way and I didnā€™t. And he couldnā€™t really go anymore. Thatā€™s when I just set up camp and figured theyā€™re going to come get me or Iā€™m not going to make it.ā€ > > A photo posted by the Placer County Sheriffā€™s Office shows the word ā€œHELPā€ written in duct tape on a rock about a mile north of where the American River and Big Granite Creek connect. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/2 "2016-05-20T23:01:23Z")
From the photo, it looks like he was running out of tape when he got to the last letter of HELP. Lucky he wasnā€™t spotted by [this guy](http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk239/avmusician/Humor/scan0036-1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/3 "2016-05-20T23:27:33Z")
[Always plan ahead](http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/9b/29/69/9b2969161447e557e202895389e233a0.jpg) šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/4 "2016-05-20T23:53:04Z")
Itā€™s all over the news here. I live about 5 miles from the rescue site. Thatā€™s some pretty rough terrain, but our Sheriffā€™s Dept. is pretty active with Search and Rescue, along with some other state emergency agencies and CalFire. Glad they were rescued! ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/5 "2016-05-21T00:11:19Z")
ā€œThe Handymanā€™s best friendā€ ā€“ Red Green When going overseas, I travel very light, just carryon. But there is duct-tape in there, I keep a nearly used-up roll squashed down flat, just for international travel. I once cut my finger in a ceiling fan (donā€™t ask) and made a bandage out of toilet paper and duct tape, after sterilizing the wound in pepsi-cola. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/6 "2016-05-21T00:28:12Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I once cut my finger in a ceiling fan (donā€™t ask) and made a bandage out of toilet paper and duct tape, after sterilizing the wound in pepsi-cola. Gaff tape + TP/napkin = stagehand bandage. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/7 "2016-05-21T03:26:25Z")
If it moves and shouldnā€™t, duct tape it. If it doesnā€™t move and should, spray it with WD 40. Words to live by at any altitude. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/8 "2016-05-21T06:45:45Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > ā€œThe Handymanā€™s best friendā€ ā€“ Red Green > ā€¦snippedā€¦ > I once cut my finger in a ceiling fan **(donā€™t ask)** and made a bandage out of toilet paper and duct tape, after sterilizing the wound in pepsi-cola. Sorry, but I just have to ask anyway. Not that I havenā€™t ā€¦ err ā€¦ run into a brick wail or two or that time in London. Or Memphis. Or Chicago. Orā€¦well one might get the point. If you share your tale about duct tape and Pepsi I have several gold star stickies to give to you. And a stuffed bear named Scruffy. Please share. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Esturionette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9d8465/32.png) [@Esturionette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esturionette)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/9 "2016-05-21T10:13:10Z")
The people who spotted the ā€œHELPā€ from the air are badasses. I looked at the photo in the article for a good five minutes and still canā€™t see any writing at all. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/10 "2016-05-21T11:01:16Z")
Itā€™s not easy to see. You have to zoom in on the right area. [Hereā€™s the location](http://v83i.imgup.net/helplocati3a4a.jpg) [Hereā€™s the message](http://u42i.imgup.net/helpzoomd28f.jpg) If thatā€™s really what it looked like from the air, Iā€™m amazed it was spotted. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/11 "2016-05-21T13:56:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Itā€™s not easy to see. You have to zoom in on the right area. > > [Hereā€™s the location](http://v83i.imgup.net/helplocati3a4a.jpg) > > [Hereā€™s the message](http://u42i.imgup.net/helpzoomd28f.jpg) > > If thatā€™s really what it looked like from the air, Iā€™m amazed it was spotted. Seeing that, I wonder if a giant X would be more visible. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/12 "2016-05-21T13:59:33Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Itā€™s not easy to see. You have to zoom in on the right area. > > [Hereā€™s the location](http://v83i.imgup.net/helplocati3a4a.jpg) > > [Hereā€™s the message](http://u42i.imgup.net/helpzoomd28f.jpg) > > If thatā€™s really what it looked like from the air, Iā€™m amazed it was spotted. Maybe the pilot caught a reflection of sunlight. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/13 "2016-05-21T14:14:17Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Seeing that, I wonder if a giant X would be more visible. Thatā€™s the internationally-recognised symbol for buried treasure. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/14 "2016-05-21T14:42:19Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Itā€™s not easy to see. You have to zoom in on the right area. > > [Hereā€™s the location](http://v83i.imgup.net/helplocati3a4a.jpg) > > [Hereā€™s the message](http://u42i.imgup.net/helpzoomd28f.jpg) > > If thatā€™s really what it looked like from the air, Iā€™m amazed it was spotted. No kidding. I used to do this with Civil Air Patrol. FYI. Combinations of three indicate distress. Iā€™m surprised (or maybe not) that this fellow didnā€™t send up smoke. He had duct tape, but not a lighter? Make a fire. Bic lighters are your friend. [Gary Larson has addressed this](https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=gary+larson+helf+image&fr=yfp-t&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhelf.us%2Fhelf.png#id=0&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhelf.us%2Fhelf.png&action=click) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/15 "2016-05-21T14:44:06Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > [Gary Larson has addressed this](https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=gary+larson+helf+image&fr=yfp-t&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhelf.us%2Fhelf.png#id=0&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhelf.us%2Fhelf.png&action=click) Post # 2. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/16 "2016-05-22T21:19:12Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Seeing that, I wonder if a giant X would be more visible. I would have spelled out **SOS**. Fewer letters and then could have made them larger. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/17 "2016-05-22T21:39:01Z")
> [@bb49](#): > > I would have spelled out **SOS**. Fewer letters and then could have made them larger. I would guestimate that the straight letters in HELP are easier to create than the curves in SOS. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/18 "2016-05-22T21:42:56Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > I would guestimate that the straight letters in HELP are easier to create than the curves in SOS. You can make S and O with straight lines. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/19 "2016-05-23T00:15:57Z")
Duct Tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261/20 "2016-05-23T00:28:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Digital is the new Analog View Post > Seeing that, I wonder if a giant X would be more visible. > > Thatā€™s the internationally-recognised symbol for buried treasure. Iā€™m guessing more people would show up if they thought there was buried treasure. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duct-tape-saves-lost-hiker-in-mountains/755261.md?page=2)