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Just spent $300 on a satellite messenger for the Wind River Range and it was worth every penny.
Did a solo trip there last month. Weather turned fast. Whiteout conditions on Texas Pass. Couldn't see the trail. Hit the SOS button on my Garmin inReach Mini 2. Got a response in under 5 minutes. Rangers guided me to a safe descent route. Without it, I would have been stuck overnight in a storm. Anyone have other routes where you'd never go without one?
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williamo271mo ago
Consider the High Sierra off-trail. That terrain eats GPS signals and spits out confusion. My PLB felt like a required piece of gear, not an accessory.
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leo_lopez1mo ago
Seriously? I just use a paper map and common sense. People have been hiking those passes for decades without calling for a helicopter. Isn't it better to learn real navigation skills instead of relying on a panic button? That thing just lets people take bigger risks they aren't ready for. You got lucky this time, but maybe you shouldn't have been up there alone if the forecast was that bad.
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