For those that don't carry a spot,inreach or sat phone why not?

takethebounce said:

I would gather that the main reason guys get into trouble in drainages is because it eventually is easier to go down than up when they don’t have the ability to go up. I have experienced it before, guys try and find a spot that is easier to go up again and work their way along a ridge or drop a little or get into a drainage with no way out and again drop down because they can’t go up. Eventually they are too far down, no energy, it’s dark and well it’s too late.

It takes a little skill to navigate some of that terrain and knowing your limits and riding to your weakest group members abilities before you get into that situation is key.

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Yes that is exactly why for most.
Good post

Plus i have KB to keep me in line....i'll alway's remember the Dootalk ride when she chewed everyone...OMG

Personally we have had 5 people we know perish on the mountain. Its not about texting with my wife its more piece of mind for her knowing we are safe by lunch and safe at the end of the day. With the Inreach when you send a text whoever receives it has a link of the location you sent it from. Also my 2 sons ride with me so again its a nice piece of mind for her knowing her family is safe. Its more of a courtesy to her. Bet if you asked your wife she wouldn't mind getting a text mid day.

1200 said:

Well i guess its time to get a spot . I just dont think i will use it but be a good tool . Been ridin long time just started to bring my cell phone ridin lol . Can u get a plan with limited texts? I wont be texting the wife daily like some guys haha . I get home when im done sledin wife is sleeping evey time.

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Vipertonytro said:

Personally we have had 5 people we know perish on the mountain. Its not about texting with my wife its more piece of mind for her knowing we are safe by lunch and safe at the end of the day. With the Inreach when you send a text whoever receives it has a link of the location you sent it from. Also my 2 sons ride with me so again its a nice piece of mind for her knowing her family is safe. Its more of a courtesy to her. Bet if you asked your wife she wouldn't mind getting a text mid day.

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I cannot imagine texting my wife mid-day and end-of-day all the time.
Jesus.

Each to their own. Takes like 2 seconds as your eating a sandwich. Like I said its a courtesy thing. You don't like it don't do it.
Like I said I know many that perished on the hill and know my wife worries at home. So why not give her some piece of mind at home.
So you say you don't tell her your safe at the end of the day either? If thats the case your just an ass
I'll bet the family of the three guys missing in Owlshead right now wish they had a text saying were ok just lost/stuck right now.

dgiles said:

I cannot imagine texting my wife mid-day and end-of-day all the time.
Jesus.

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Vipertonytro said:

Each to their own. Takes like 2 seconds as your eating a sandwich. Like I said its a courtesy thing. You don't like it don't do it.
Like I said I know many that perished on the hill and know my wife worries at home. So why not give her some piece of mind at home.
So you say you don't tell her your safe at the end of the day either? If thats the case your just an ass
I'll bet the family of the three guys missing in Owlshead right now wish they had a text saying were ok just lost/stuck right now.

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Same I send a message when we head out,.. when we stop for lunch, and when back at the truck. 10min out of my time to let someone know I am okay beats having them worry for 12hrs not knowing whats going on.

Ya, until the one time you forget or the battery dies and now she is worried for no reason.

dgiles said:

Ya, until the one time you forget or the battery dies and now she is worried for no reason.

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As opposed to the hundreds upon hundreds of times when it works fine and everyone is happy? I’ll take those odds to keep the phone from being loud when I do get back into cell service.

dgiles said:

Ya, until the one time you forget or the battery dies and now she is worried for no reason.

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Negativity and you are already defeated,.. be gone.

dgiles said:

I cannot imagine texting my wife mid-day and end-of-day all the time.
Jesus.

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What does it matter what one guy does to keep his wife happy so he can be out enjoying the mountains?

Does it ruin your day? Maybe stay on Facebook with all the other snowflakes

I don't want to start a facebook like rant with the positives and negatives but do you forget your beacon too? Its all about being prepared. Get your chit together the night before or the morning of, instead of crushing pops all night.

dgiles said:

Ya, until the one time you forget or the battery dies and now she is worried for no reason.

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Thanks Dad.

For those worried about dead batteries install a usb port on your sled

RGM said:

For those worried about dead batteries install a usb port on your sled

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I pack a Bluetooth speaker. Tunes for when needed, and USB charging for whatever device needs charging. Not like its hard to plug everything in the night before anyways.

My InReach Use:
- Leaving truck
- Lunch
- End of ride

We did end up in a situation where we couldn’t get off mountain until 11pm one night. My wife is not a worrier but in this case she wanted info because we had a group of kids with us.

I agree, each to their own.

I Carry a small battery bank and cables Incase I spend a night. I have a regular way of doing things each night and the following morning to ensure no items are missed.

InReach is just another tool like a radio or Avy bag. It’s an option is a situation arises.

Preparation and good decisions are the key IMO.

Had my first ride of the season a few weeks back, thought I went through all my gear. had a mechanical long way back in the bush and had to send buddies 50miles round trip to grab a spare this or that...thats when I remembered I left my in reach in my summer passion pack. Was also first trip with new baby sitting at home so all I could think about was how worries my wife was.

Wont be forgetting that courtesy machine ever again. Look at it as a bargaining chip to get even more trips away.

i have the inreach and it has always sent messages and tracking flawless. its another tool for emergency or just to let people your off the mountain safe and all good for peice of mind, imo i feel it is a good tool and will always be with me in the backcountry. only thing i have been thinking while reading this post is a person should let riding partners know where you keep it along with having them know how to use it,yes i know its simple but instead of having them fumble thru it a quick lesson should possible be showen, hopefully never needs to be used for emergency but the years i have used it the piece of mind is worth it letting others know your good.. imo snowmobile clubs could have one to monitor and communicate if people need assistance over having a radio due to distance of 2way radio maynot be sufficient. alot of times i think locals could be part of rescue faster than sar and maybe be able to get people out. this year already a few people have spent the night and loved ones didnt have communication so think of what is going thru their minds.

+1 for inreach SE.

Plotted some cabin GPS coordinates from online and double checked em on site. Bang on.

Love the Bluetooth with topo maps. Used it this past week in Blue Lake to keep track of where the cabin was while we played in the trees.

Very accurate. It can detect elevation change from lifting it off my kitchen table.

Interesting RCMP request. Speaks to what many are saying about backcountry preparation:

https://revelstokecurrent.com/revel...pared-to-avoid-overwhelming-rescue-resources/

I’ve always used these few steps to keep safe or feel safer while riding in the mountains. I’ll be purchasing an In-Reach explorer + so the wife can text me and track me for this season.

1. I tell my dad and my wife where I am riding, and who I am riding with that day. We have a set time that if I do not respond by that It’s now become an emergency and to call the proper people for the area. And send help.

2. I carry an overnight setup in my Avy bag and proper supplies to hopefully survive based on lots of ideas I found on here

3. I always ride with 3-5 people, strength in numbers for emergencies

4. I have watched multiple videos, and read lots on surviving a night and the do’s and dont’s for the mountains just to give me an idea because I have not had to stay out on the hill

5. I ride with like minded people who I know and trust no **** shows in our group

I’ll be adding the In-Reach as a peace of mind for the wife because no contact all day worries her especially if it gets close to the set time we have which has happened.

i have been using a spot connect since it came out in 2010. Has worked every single day, every single trip. This year i switched to an In reach. Older Delorme model. What an amazing tool this is. Having 2 way communication is priceless and your family and friends will sure appreciate it. The spot is better than nothing however knowing that your message was sent and received by having a reply back is just phenomenal. Im sure the Spot X would be just as good. The in reach is so quick and easy to use that i find myself carying it everywhere. there is a 1 hour dead zone between jasper and valemount and you just never know! fishing trips down the lake etc i can really see how this will be a tool that stays with me at all times.

we have all had a late day because the snow is so damn good, BSing in the cabin or maybe helping someone off the hill. Sure nice to send that message so your significant others know not to alert the troops. Spending so much time in the mountains and having so many friends related to the sport its almost every damn day i get a message "have you heard from so and so?" no i havent, but when he gets home give him a smack on the head from me.

there really is no excuse not to have one of these devices. Sure they are expensive, the monthly plans arent cheap and we all hate payments and dont need anymore. i get that. But figure it out. Maybe you ride with the same crew. Split one. As much as i hate MEC you can rent all of these devices from them aswell.

i am not a SAR member but i have been involved in many rescue/recovery's. half of them we had exact coordinates and we knew exactly what tree they were sleeping beside and how they were doing. Being so familiar with the areas that allowed us to make a plan, figure out what gear we needed and within 30 minutes of unloading we had the persons located.

for the other half its a crapshoot. Needle in a haystack...in the dark. Without a coordinate communication device you are fully relying on local/sar knowledge of the area. Typically there are certain areas that people get trapped in and those are always the first spots to check. if they arent there? good luck.

Spots and Inreach are great devices. Wont head into the back country without one. But i have seen on more than one occurrence where a happily ever after rescue mission wouldn't have been successful without a Satalite Phone. Take that for what its worth, but try and have one in your group.

like anything, sledding is good until its bad. If you have never had an issue then i can understand why you may not think you need one of these devices. I didnt think i needed one for the first 5 years i was mountain riding either. Until you experience the bad side of the back country you may never understand the need for one. Try telling a SAR member you dont need one as hes leaving his wife and kids at 1 in the morning to head up the mountain with no details what so ever. Been there seen that and its BS.

thanks!