joys_face t1_itl1766 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 1:02 PM

Reply to comment by kelce in A train passenger saw a woman waving for help. It was a hiker who'd been missing. by guanaco55

> my satellite phone

This is my hang up. I'd love to have one but just don't have that money. I carry 1k calories in nuts and trail mix, a life straw, some water, a knife, 2 emergency blankets, a whistle, and a first aid kit. But none of that would be enough if I actually got lost.

TheSorcerersCat t1_itl58yr wrote on October 24, 2022 at 1:35 PM

The Garmin inreach is about $500CAD.

In my opinion it's worth saving for if you're going out of service area.

joys_face t1_itl8ibo wrote on October 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM

Plus the ongoing fees. It certainly makes me nervous not to have one!

TheSorcerersCat t1_itlaw4g wrote on October 24, 2022 at 2:17 PM

I've never used a personal locator beacon but that would be my next best choice. They don't usually require a subscription.

Pantssassin t1_itl7smb wrote on October 24, 2022 at 1:54 PM

Unless you are going deep into the Backcountry for a few that is pretty decent. As long as you are telling people your plan you should only need to stabilize and hold tight where you are for a few nights at most. I only really use my satellite phone as a locator beacon and only on longer trips in more remote/ foreign places.

joys_face t1_itl8el6 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 1:59 PM

I only do day hikes, but almost never have cell phone service on them!

Pantssassin t1_itl9brk wrote on October 24, 2022 at 2:06 PM

Same here, that's why it's important to share your plans in pretty good detail ahead of time. If anything happens it will only take maybe a day or 2 to be found on a day hike trail. One thing that works well with your phone is downloading maps as a backup. Depending on your phone/ the conditions you can still locate yourself via GPS without service and use an app like maps.me (free) or download on all trails( not free I think) to help with getting turned around. The only thing you wouldn't be able to do at that point is send out an sos but search and rescue would be sent by the person you told your plans to, just with a bit of a delay.

Ocel0tte t1_itlqfrs wrote on October 24, 2022 at 4:04 PM

I use AllTrails and COTrex, you're right AllTrails is not free for maps. It's 29.99/yr. Always check for a local app, I don't even have an account made on COTrex and they still let me download topographic or satellite maps as a guest. Also without reminding me, I was just looking to see if they have paid features and realized I've never logged in and I poke around on it almost daily lol. Before I leave I just open it, find the area I want, find a trail, and do whatever I need. 10/10 on local trail apps at least for CO, I bet other places have something similar.

I send them to my fiance more than I need them myself. Even if he doesn't know exactly where I'm at on the trail, I figure at least if I go missing he'll have a map to show the authorities.