InReach

[Stephen]

Maybe it’s just my pre-digital, analog mind kicking in, but I find it pretty amazing that something this size and 100 grams can send a signal 780 km to a satellite in space requesting that someone come save my ass if I’m seriously injured.

I may never activate it, but the sale price was so good, I couldn’t pass it up.

I debated buying one based on philosophical considerations, but think those would evaporate pretty quickly in a real life situation.
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[SnickBreck]

Where did you find yours on sale? I've had the old larger DeLorme (before Gramin acquired them) and the Bivy Blue (not a fan) but have had my eye on this mini. Thanks

[jyw5]

Maybe it’s just my pre-digital, analog mind kicking in, but I find it pretty amazing that something this size and 100 grams can send a signal 780 km to a satellite in space requesting that someone come save my ass if I’m seriously injured.

I may never activate it, but the sale price was so good, I couldn’t pass it up.

I debated buying one based on philosophical considerations, but think those would evaporate pretty quickly in a real life situation.
.
843D875D-E4CA-4463-B3CC-0F31F2002C48.jpeg

they are great for multiday trips. also, long single day trips in remote areas. even if you have cellphone coverage...its good to have. I have the larger one which provides basic map/navigation ...i like setting waypoints if doing an unfamiliar route or multiday route. also, if there are groups of people, you can send msgs to other person/party if u get separated.

the best part is you can pair with your phone, using the app, and then set the Inreach outside while u use the phone in your tent, the hut, lodge, etc. or if its inside your pack...but the pairing does run down batteries on both devices so only do it when you need to route find or send msgs.

[grizz_bait]

I was very resistant to the InReach at first because I wanted to own my decisions and never put a SAR crew or my friends at risk when they came to find my ass. I also thought I might stick my neck out a little further if able to send a text at any time for help. Ultimately I realized that InReach or no, SAR would get involved in case of an incident. Best to give SAR exact coordinates to make their job easier. I’ve had an InReach for going on 6 years now and it comes with me all the time. I use it quite a bit if I’m running behind schedule and need to update my wife, or just to give updates to family and friends on multi-day higher risk activities.

[spopepro]

Agreed to all of the above. 2 way comms make it so that SAR can send the right people the first time and saves some resources. Being able to send a message that says "I'm encountering difficulty, I'm late, but OK" saves SAR being called by people expecting you. Even sending a message to SAR saying "I'm injured, able to self-rescue, leaving by xxxxx trailhead" can coordinate someone there to help and you're still self-sufficient. Think something like rescue sledding someone out or a leg injury you could self-evac but would struggle to drive yourself. If anything, having the tool can *save* a lot of SAR calls, not increase them.

It's also worth noting that the whole "if a rescue is easy, i'll take more risks" (known generally as risk compensation) is probably not true. This general audience article summarizes the research well.

[Stephen]

Insightful comments above.
It’s easy to make decisions based on false logic.
Above comments strip away some arguments against using resources such as InReach.

Certainly not saying everyone should have one, just that, when making the choice, might as well use logic and facts rather than subjective opinion.

[fgd135]

When patrolling in the backcountry, I've used both SPOT units and InReach, although have not had to deploy one for an accident or incident. Yet. It is nice to be able to have real time tracking available and to be able to call up the data later on for record keeping and etc.
The InReach is much easier to use. And lighter, I think. Expensive.

[lowangle al]

Do you guys load maps onto your Inreach. I haven't because I only have mine for emergency situations, but it seems like it really would add to what you can do with it and how you use it. I already use strava to record my trips, but would the Inreach serve that function too.

[randoskier]

I had the large Delorme also, it worked well but weighed a ton, about three years ago Garmin sent out a software update for the InReach units- it said for all versions. I downloaded it and my Delorme InReach instantly turned into a brick, nada, zip, rien; would not even boot. After some back in forth with Garmin tech support they finally agreed to give me an InReach Mini.

It is a great little unit. I only use it for SOS capability as there is normally no cell service at all where I ski and when I am skiing alone I send a text to my wife every couple of days to check in, I did not realize these text messages also had a topo map with my exact location on it, fortunately I was not in Vegas. I guess it is my back-up GPS though I have never used this feature on it. I have a latex cover that form fits this unit for better insulation and shock-proofing.

For navigation I use the Samsung Xcover Pro phone- It works without any issues at -25C, it is waterproof, shock proof to a crazy military standard which I looked up- No damage after being dropped from 1.7 meters onto a wooden surface (deck of a clipper ship?? General George Washington's cabin floor?).

It has changeable batteries!! The battery is also very large and long lasting. I have three batteries total. I download maps and operate a GPS program and run the phone on Airplane mode in the backcountry. I only use the GPS for fixing exact location- after that I use magnetic compass and paper topo map sheets. The only thing I do not like on this phone is the camera- it is just OK, does not meter light so well. This phone should not be confused with the Xcover Field Pro which ATT flogs, that one costs about 2x as much- nice but a lot of dough.


I don't do any social media while on tour or ear buds or any of that crap.

[randoskier]

Agreed to all of the above. 2 way comms make it so that SAR can send the right people the first time and saves some resources. Being able to send a message that says "I'm encountering difficulty, I'm late, but OK" saves SAR being called by people expecting you. Even sending a message to SAR saying "I'm injured, able to self-rescue, leaving by xxxxx trailhead" can coordinate someone there to help and you're still self-sufficient. Think something like rescue sledding someone out or a leg injury you could self-evac but would struggle to drive yourself. If anything, having the tool can *save* a lot of SAR calls, not increase them.

It's also worth noting that the whole "if a rescue is easy, i'll take more risks" (known generally as risk compensation) is probably not true. This general audience article summarizes the research well.

You are right- Normally with the Inreach if you wanted to tell someone expecting you that you are late, you would not activate the SOS then tell the SAR because the SOS goes to a call-center in Texas that contacts the local SAR wherever you are in the world. You would just pair your phone via bluetooth with the inreach Mini and text the person expecting you directly., no need to involve a SAR.

In other situations- say someone in your party has a heart attack or a serious injury requiring special medical equipment (or a doctor on the chopper) then the two-way communication via the SOS process is priceless. Also if you have a difficult LZ it is important to let the chopper know, or if you see dangerous avalanche terrain that will impede the rescuers progress you can inform them of it in advance.