Plus, there are three different subscription plans – The Safety Plan, The Recreation Plan, or the Expedition Plan – depending on how often you want to text, check the weather, or track your specific route. Essentially, the cost is often part of their budget just like responding to other major accidents in the frontcountry. This blizzard and high altitude was just as big of an obstacle for my rescuers trying to make their way into the backcountry as it was for me in getting out. I can appreciate your perspective regarding the Duplex and Zpacks, although I do find it quite disappointing that they didn’t reply. I wanted to hit some trails that wouldn’t require me to resupply in small communities or risk contracting/spreading the virus.

Then I needed to continuously press the button while the timer counted down backwards from from 30 on the screen. The local fire departments didn’t have helicopters designed to fly at high altitude or pilots who felt skilled enough to make the rescue. After reading everything I could get my hands on, and watching a bunch of YouTube videos, I learned there are two aspects to making this GPS satellite communicator work.I’m sure I’ll be hitting the trail again soon – and I know the one gear item that definitely be coming along for the next adventure! Over the next nine hours of my ordeal, the State of Utah would make three rescue attempts to get me off that mountain. Being able to send my family a preset message each evening to let them know I was alive was reassuring for all of us. I came here wondering how much it costs to hit the SOS button but after reading this I realize that the cost doesn’t matter.

Honestly though, I didn’t put too much effort into following up because I wasn’t really interested in continuing to use a product that was quite so fragile in adverse conditions. I love my InReach Mini but have never needed to press that SOS button and was wondering what would happen if I ever do. In the end, I’m eternally grateful I had the forethought to bring a GPS locator along to help signal for help. Although you get some extra privacy if desired, we actually find if its windy then the windbreak itself becomes vulnerable to the wind.As he flew directly over me then turned to head back toward the direction he’d come from, my heart sank. Knowing I had a way to communicate, no matter how far I was from a cell tower, was like having the benefits of a hiking partner, while still allowing me to hike solo. His co-pilot jumped out and started wading through the knee- and thigh-deep drifts of snow toward my position in the rocks. This wind break stood up to 61kph gusts and probably saved our tent when we got caught out in a yellow weather warning for wind. It can shelter your dining area from the wind, give your tent or caravan entrance extra privacy, or form a partition between your tents.