Signaling devices

[AK Granola]

Because I grew up camping and hiking without any sort of devices that allowed calling for help (referring to electronics, not mirrors), I never really thought about doing so until recently. Having read so many posts in which people mention these devices, and having gone on two group trips this summer where this equipment was brought along by the trip leader, I wondered again whether this is something I should learn about and carry with me on hikes and backpacks with friends. I know nothing about any of the devices (except cell phones of course, which rarely work wherever I hike so I leave it in the car) and wonder if I really need one? I guess you don’t need one until you need one. I’m hesitant because they’re heavier than nothing, because I’d have to spend the time to learn about and select one, and because I fully accept whatever might happen to me on my journeys. I’d rather be out there than in a hospital when the time comes. But I’m careful in general, well prepared, and don’t go alone any longer. But maybe I should consider it anyway, given that my hiking companions and I aren’t getting any younger! Opinions or suggestions?

[Bob Shuff]

I have a Delorme, now Garmin InReach.  I got it for solo, but have been doing mostly scout trips or just with my son.  Being careful is one thing. Being prepared is another.  I consider the InReach part being prepared.  There’s lots of times that even a serious injury could have been dealt with by the group.  When it’s just two or three of us and not on a  busy trail, that I like having this insurance (and I do have the insurance.)

I also use it to track distance and could use it to navigate if necessary.  I also use it to send the all’s well message when we get to camp or change plans for some reason.  That’s more for my wife.  For me it’s worth the ~7 oz.

[Lester Moore]

Skills and experience are your best safety nets for backcountry travel, much more important to your safety than the equipment you carry. That being said, if you ever run into the unlikely situation that you need to signal somebody in an emergency, it’s nice to be able to do so quickly and clearly.

Hiking with a partner is a great signaling device – they can hike out to reach help if you’re injured. Beyond that, personal locator beacons or satellite text communicators are popular and used by many hikers as an extra safety net. Signalling mirrors and whistles are other common backcountry signaling devices. Each device or method of signaling has significant limitations that you need to be aware of when using them. Different types of trips may call for different signaling devices or methods. Your signaling devices, safety gear and required backcountry skill set will be much different for a day hike in a county park, a backpack trip in a wilderness area and a multi-month expedition to a remote corner of the planet.

[J R]

I’d rather be out there than in a hospital when the time comes.

These devices aren’t about where you’ll be when the time comes, they are about whether an incident turns into your time coming “out there” or you get help to live to see another day.

The most reliable is a true PLB, like the ACR ResQlink. They use the same government satellites used by the military and NOAA. They are cheaper as well because you only buy the device and don’t pay any ongoing subscription fee, just a battery replacement every 5 years or so. Their downside is they can only do one thing, send an SOS with your coordinates, no other communication, so if SAR and your family receive a signal they don’t know if you’re in mortal danger or have run across someone else who needs a rescue or if you sent the signal accidentally.

The InReach and Spot are satellite communicators, not true PLBs but they can serve the function of alerting authorities and add in communication capabilities. The InReach allows 2-way communications, so if you send an SOS you can text with SAR to let them know your situation and be advised by them. You also can communicate with family/friends back home. These devices run off private satellite networks that theoretically are not as reliable as what a PLB uses, though for most people in most situations they are reliable enough (depends on your trip, though — open Sierra an InReach should have no connection issues, in deep canyons it could). After buying the device you need to pay a subscription fee for it to work, though they have plans that allow you to suspend the subscription and re-activate it (in monthly increments) only when you need it for a trip.

I have an ACR and an InReach. I use the InReach for longer trips and honestly my biggest reason for using it is the ability to receive communications from home, not for me to send messages — with elderly parents and a child away at summer camp, I can’t be out of the loop for days on end. For short weekenders in the local mountains I’ll grab the PLB to avoid reactivating the InReach subscription, and on such trips I have a decent chance of getting a cell signal and hiking (or crawling) back to the car.

[Jerry Adams]

I should get one of those InReaches, good idea.  I’ve hiked with people that had one and it worked really good.

I carry a whistle.  Never use it, but if I was in a survival situation and people were looking for me it could be pretty useful

[Bob Shuff]

One big difference between whistles/mirrors/signal fire, vs the satellite communicators.  The former helps you when someone is looking for you in your vicinity, because you are late returning or checking in.  The satellite communicators alert someone that you need help “NOW” and get them to you faster via the GPS.

Also, for me a hiking partner is better than no one, but not great.  In Boy Scouts we teach the buddy system, and if someone had to go out for help, we would prefer that to be at least 2 staying and at least 2 heading out for help.  Left alone with a serious injury could quickly turn into shock and an accelerated downward spiral.  I often hike with just my son, but truth be told they are fairly busy trails.  I even bring the InReach then because I can’t send my 15 year-old out to the car to drive for help.  If I bring it on a larger scouting trip, it’s really for the communications with the family and as a check on the scout-led navigation.

Some have an issue with the subscription service, but you can turn it off and on.  I leave it on the lowest amount, and it’s money well spent for me.

-Bob

[Rex Sanders]

Just on BPL you can find tens of thousands of words about emergency signal devices – I wrote a lot of them!

Everyone makes different choices for different reasons, even choosing to carry or not on a trip-by-trip basis.

Some questions to ask before buying and carrying any emergency signal device:

– Is it reliable?

– Is it affordable?

– Is it light enough?

– Will it work where you are hiking?

– How quickly will it summon help?

– Is it easy enough to use under stress?

– Are you responsible for the safety of other people on the trip, particularly younger or less experienced?

– Will it keep people at home or work happier? (A big factor for many people.)

– Will it interfere with your wilderness experience?

– Do you want to signal someone already looking for you (whistles, mirrors, etc.); send only an “SOS” message with position (PLBs); send a few pre-defined messages with position (SPOT); text back-and-forth with position (Garmin inReach and similar); or make voice calls (satellite phones)?

– Do you want tracking – the device periodically sends your position to a web site?

And one question common to most BPL take-or-not discussions:

– Do you need to carry your fears?

Situations requiring rescue in the wilderness are pretty rare, especially if you have good skills and judgement. PLBs, satellite phones, and similar devices are less than 40 years old. Humans have been walking in the wilderness for more than 300,000 years – and all of your ancestors lived long enough to procreate.

— Rex

Useful:
Two-way Satellite Communications For Backpacking (three-part series)
https://backpackinglight.com/satellite_communications_sotmr_part1/
Rescue Insurance For Backpackers
https://backpackinglight.com/rescue-insurance-backpackers-sanders/

[AK Granola]

Thanks for all the replies, and Rex for the summary of choices and features.  I think those tens of thousands of words on BPL that you mention are why I have ignored the whole issue, too much, too confusing, too much to sift through. I chuckled at your closing paragraph, yes I’m here because my ancestors survived, and I’ve already had my kids, so … and no, no one will worry about me while I’m out there, of that I am certain. I’m the only one with the worry gene!

So it looks like most are carrying something. Anyone out there carrying none of these things? And reasons for not? If I decide to go with something it will be the minimum cost, weight, simplest use. Perhaps a notch above a mirror.

[Rex Sanders]

“If I decide to go with something it will be the minimum cost, weight, simplest use.”

You probably want a PLB. Many people are happy with the ACR ResQLink, available at REI and elsewhere:

https://www.rei.com/product/843146/acr-electronics-resqlink-gps-personal-locator-beacon

[Note: Maybe not from REI, they seem to carry only the heavier, floating ResQLink+.]

— Rex

 

 

[John S.]

My PLB is the Ocean Signal PLB-1. It may still be the smallest and lightest on the market.

[Matthew / BPL]

I was very tempted to pick up a ResQLink but it is not hard to imagine a situation one needs help but not a helicopter (the car battery is dead at a remote trailhead that doesn’t see much traffic) or it would be helpful to send a message (we will be a day late because the creek is running high, please don’t call SAR we are ok!).

I chose an InReach because of these reasons although that decision was easier with the previous generation which costs and weighs less. I don’t know if I would choose to drop $400 on the new larger, heavier model.

YMMV/HYOH/etc.

[Andrew Priest]

Another vote for the Delorme inReach, and InReach SE in my case. I like because my outdoor activities are mostly solo so my partner, family and friends can track me if they wish. Also and a pretty important feature for me is I can send and receive texts with the unit even when I am out of mobile (cell) range which is quite a lot when I am bushwalking or bikepacking. Been able to send a text is a great way to stay in touch and keep Anne in particular reassured all is good.

[Don A.]

As you say Karen, “I guess you don’t need one until you need one.”

I resisted carrying any kind of a emergency locator device for years.  Too heavy, I’m experienced, I have survival skills etc. besides thinking nothing will ever happen to me.  My wife eventually “made” me get a Spot. She later gave me a DeLorme for Christmas.  With both units I sent out nightly “I’m OK, having a great time” messages to my wife and a few others, one being a skilled backpacker friend.

Turns out I used both for “rescue” situations.  In 2014 on a PCT section hike I got sick and decided I would have to bail. I sent out a preset message on the Spot that said in effect I’m OK, pick me up at the nearest trail head. My wife freaked but my hiking friend knew exactly what to do.  My location went out with the message and showed where I was.  I made it to the trail head where my friend picked me up.

This year I was hiking from Donner Summit to Dunsmuir on the PCT.  Everything was going well until I started having a low key pain in my knee. Two days later the knee was so bad I could barely stand. I had already taken my emergency Oxycontin pills and the acetaminophen had no effect.  It was about 40 miles to nearest paved road. I had food for 2 days. After running all the possible scenarios though my head I decided the best option was to call for help.

With 5% battery power left on my DeLorme I was worried about getting through. I sent out the SOS signal. A message came back saying the signal was received. Another message asked about my age and the nature of the emergency. Then a message came through letting me know help was on the way.  Within and hour the CHP helicopter was landing.

It was a humiliating experience but I was grateful for having the Delorme.

A note about the people involved in the operation. Of course I profusely thanked everyone for the help.  Their response was “it’s our job, it’s what we get paid to do.”  A class act from everyone involved.

 

 

 

[Geoff Caplan]

Something that hasn’t been mentioned so far, and that’s the folks in SAR.

If you disappear on the trail, it can involve thousands of hours of volunteer time till you are located. If Geraldine Largay had carried a PLB when she got lost on the AT the rescuers could have gone straight to her location. Because she didn’t carry an effective signaling device her disappearance triggered an extensive and protracted search that failed to find her alive. Even worse, in poor conditions the SAR teams can be risking their lives.

Clearly, you owe it to yourself and your family to be as safe as possible, but you also owe it to the people who will have to find you.

If rescue is your top priority, nothing beats a dedicated PLB – it’s much the most reliable option. The InReach is more expensive, more complex and less reliable, but significantly more flexible. In most situations, the best choice will be between these options. The low tech alternatives, such as mirrors, whistles, flares etc are of much more limited utility and generally only work in good weather and at short range.

It’s easy to think it can’t happen to you. I climbed and walked in the mountains for 50 years without a scratch. Then this Xmas I had a freak accident that immobilised me. You think you’ll self-extract, but believe me it not always going to be possible – at the very least it would have been harrowing in the extreme. As it happened there was cell-phone reception, but the experience has made me even more convinced of my decision to carry a PLB.

I discussed PLBs with the SAR leader, and he was very strongly in favour. He said it would save his team countless hours of searching, and would prevent an number of tragedies each year.

Watch for offers and you can pick up a good PLB for around $200, and it will weight around 4.5 oz/ 150 grams. It should last for 6 years between services, so costs around 10c per day. Not a high price to pay for such an effective device. It could save your life. It could help avoid anguish for your family. And it could save the SAR team from inconvenience and danger. For me, it’s a no-brainer.

 

[John Rowan]

I’ve been a SPOT user for about 4 years, and I think it definitely has a place in my kit. While I’d probably buy an InReach if I was doing it all over again (after a few seasons with the SPOT), I’ve found it to be a very useful tool for signaling to friends/family where I am and that I’m okay. (I’ve had a fair amount of help and support from my family on my longer hikes over the years, so I’m glad to give the peace of mind where I can).

I also use my custom message as a “bailout” message (I think the actual text of the message is “I am fine but am no longer following my stated itinerary”), which I think has been very helpful from a safety perspective- if I’m bailing out of somewhere via a side trail and something happens to me, it could take a LONG time for someone to find me once I’m overdue. It’s been useful for me a few times in the past, and my family is usually able to put two and two together when that signal goes out next to a road crossing.

All in all, probably the last thing I carry it for is the SOS feature. While I’d certainly not hesitate to press the button in a real emergency, it’s not Plan A for helping myself. It’s also worth noting that this is definitely the area where the InReach really beats the SPOT. As was discussed above, there’s a pretty big range of things that can require rescue or assistance, and the SPOT doesn’t really give the opportunity to differentiate between the person with a sprained ankle and the person trapped under a boulder while surrounded by hungry bears and mountain lions.

[AK Granola]

Good points about saving SAR time and considering their safety as well. I’m not sure that was even a “thing” when I was young; a limited search would have been about it, and no helicopters! If there were such rescue attempts I sure don’t remember them. But now they do go to great lengths and risks to find and help people. I hadn’t really thought about it from that angle, so thank you.

Also good point about not needing the full SOS but a way to summon assistance without the urgency of a cardiac crisis or bear attack. A bailout for a lesser injury is obviously a risk at any age.

I wil have to spend some time this winter looking at the options again.

[Andrew Priest]

Also good point about not needing the full SOS but a way to summon assistance without the urgency of a cardiac crisis or bear attack.

This is one of the reason I like my Delmorne inReach SE. By allowing me to send texts I can clarify the “emergency” whereas a PLB is very black or white.

[Worth Donaldson]

I realize it is not light but it is cheap and comes without a monthly communication subscription and I am only asking this from a wilderness canoeist’s perspective, has anyone thought about using a vhf/uhf radio to clarify your needs with rescue once in range after activating a PLB? My travels are extremely remote in the arctic, off commercial flight paths and with the initial contact most likely coming from fixed wing aircraft. I have never used an electronic communication device but am now questioning the wisdom of this after having to recently line up a flooded river to civilization, a feat we barely pulled off. I am more concern about losing the canoe or running out of food long before the trip ends vs. a true life threatening medical emergency on a 2-4 week long trip.

[Bob Shuff]

I have an amateur radio license, which allows me to transmit at a much higher power level, and in some areas would work where cell phones wouldn’t.  This has a real place in emergency comms, but I would suggest the InReach is better.  With the InReach connected via Bluetooth to my smartphone I can send any message, not just the SOS from a PLB or the canned ones from a SPOT.  I can also receive a response and participate in the rescue if necessary to coordinate

 

The radio would do that if you had someone on the other end.  I would want to know there was repeater coverage where I would be hiking to rely I that.  My radio is heavier than my InReach, so it often stays home.

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