Watch Straps

[jreyn1944]

Good day,

My name is John Reynolds. My son, Ed Reynolds, disappeared three years ago while tramping in New Zealand’s Nelson Lakes Park on the south island.

Ed thru-hiked the American Appalachian Trail in 2006, a distance of about 3,514 km. His trail handle was Fireman. We think he got this name because, when he started his hike, he was so out of shape that he stopped in the first shelter right after lunch, and always had a fire going when the others arrived later in the day.

In 2008 he hiked the American Pacific Crest Trail, a distance of about 4,285 km.

We attended the inquest into his probable death in Nelson New Zealand on the 4th of April. A strapless watch was found on the St James Walkway in late 2009.

I have been making inquiries of other hikers/trampers to find out if trekkers/trampers typically remove their watch straps, to save weight, or for any other reason.

While in New Zealand the SAR coordinator told me that a lot of you folks go down there to hike. I'm asking for your help on this forum.

Thus I pose the following questions:

1. Have any of you removed the straps from your watch? I so, how did you remove them?

2. Have you ever heard of anyone removing the straps from their watch to save weight, or any other reason? If so can you provide contact information for that person?

Any assistance you can provide will be much appreciated.

Kind regards, Nga mihi

[jreyn1944]

Guter Tag,

Mein Name ist John Reynolds. Vor mein Sohn, Ed Reynolds, verschwunden drei Jahren, beim Trampeln in Neuseeland ’ s Nelson Seen parken auf der Südinsel.

Ed durch-wanderte die amerikanische appalachische Spur 2006, einen Abstand von ungefähr 3.514 Kilometern. Sein Hinterhandgriff war- Feuerwehrmann. Wir denken, dass er diesen Namen erhielt, weil, als er seine Wanderung begann, er so aus Form heraus war, die er im ersten Schutzrecht nach dem Mittagessen stoppte, und immer ein Feuer hatte zu gehen, als die anderen später im Tag ankamen.

2008 wanderte er die amerikanische pazifische Kamm-Spur, einen Abstand von ungefähr 4.285 Kilometern.

Wir sorgten uns die Untersuchung in seinen wahrscheinlichen Tod in Nelson Neuseeland auf April 4. Eine trägerlose Uhr wurde auf dem Gehweg Str.-James spätem 2009 gefunden. Ich habe Anfragen von anderen Wanderern/von Trampers herausfinden gelassen, wenn trekkers/Trampers gewöhnlich ihre Uhrenarmbänder entfernen, um Gewicht zu sparen oder für jeden möglichen anderen Grund.

Während in Neuseeland der SAR-Koordinator mir erklärte, dass viele deutschen trekkers unten dort gehen zu wandern. I' m, das um Ihre Hilfe auf diesem Forum bittet.

So stelle ich die folgenden Fragen:
1. Haben irgendwelche von Ihnen die Bügel von Ihrer Uhr entfernt? I so, wie entfernten Sie sie? 2. Haben Sie überhaupt von jemand gehört, das die Bügel von ihrer Uhr entfernen, um Gewicht zu sparen, oder von irgendeinen anderen Grund? Wenn Sie Kontaktinformationen für diese Person so zur Verfügung stellen können? Jede mögliche Unterstützung, die Sie gewähren können, wird viel geschätzt.

Wenn Sie mehr Informationen wünschen, können Sie mich mailen: jreyn1944 "at" hotmail.com

Entschuldigen Sie bitte mein armes Deutsches.

Freundlicher Respekt, Nga mihi

[Florian Martin]

Zitat von jreyn1944

Thus I pose the following questions:

1. Have any of you removed the straps from your watch? I so, how did you remove them?

2. Have you ever heard of anyone removing the straps from their watch to save weight, or any other reason? If so can you provide contact information for that person?

Dear John!
I am very sorry for your loss. New Zealand is a phantastic country for hiking (or tramping as the kiwis call it) but it has a very tricky weather and can be dangerous at times. I hope you guys can get find out what happened to Ed.

To your questions:
I am not an ultralight tramper even if I try to save unnecessary weight in my equipement. Having said that, I have never considered removing the straps of my watch and I have not mett people who have. In my opinion that does not make any further sense: the weight you could save is minimal and (in my eyes) not relevant. The price for these few grams saved would be to loose a safe and comfortable means of bearing my watch. Without straps it would be prone to get lost which is a safety hazard.
I have removed and put back watch strapes for other reasons, though, namely to change worn-out strapes. These are attached to the watch with a small metall splint, check your own watch and will find one of them on either side. These can be pressed together and shortend with a millimeter or 2 and than you are able to remove the strap. I were able to do that with my finger nails and without any tools.
What material where Ed´s strapes made of? Diving watches often have rubber strapes, these are durable and so are metall strapes, both types should not have been degraded within 3 years. Those made from leather might possibly degrade that fast, may be animals whp eat or pick on them? (Just speculation, I am no expert on the issue!)

Kind regards!
Florian

[jreyn1944]

Zitat von Florian Martin

I have removed and put back watch strapes for other reasons, though, namely to change worn-out strapes . . . . I were able to do that with my finger nails and without any tools.
What material where Ed´s strapes made of? . . .
Kind regards!
Florian

Hello Florian,

Ed's watch was a cheap plastic Casio watch, with plastic straps, with a production run of about 17 million. The metal pins are hidden underneath the plastic so Ed used scissors to cut off the straps. We saw him do this to his watch before he left for New Zealand.

A watch with the straps cut off was found in late 2009. We have identified it as being "the same" as Ed's. Since no unique markings are on the watch, e.g.his name engraved, initials, etc., and since it was found close to the road in an area that was thoroughly searched, the police don't think it is Ed's watch.

So I have been contacting trampers/hikers/trekkers/walkers all over world to find out how many cut off their watch straps. So far, I have been unable to find anyone else who has done this. Thus, maybe we can convince the police that, in the absence of others cutting off their watch straps, the watch must have belonged to Ed.

Thank you for your reply and kind words.

John