Spent $40 on a GPS beacon after getting lost in the Sierras last month

I was hiking the Rae Lakes Loop and took a wrong fork near Dollar Lake, ended up bushwhacking for 3 hours before I found the trail again. That InReach Mini 2 I bought for $399 sat in my pack for two years unused, but now it feels like cheap insurance. Has anyone else shelled out for a satellite device and actually had to use it in a bad situation?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthew_dixon10d ago

Does @jamiekim make a solid point about that fire extinguisher mindset cause spending $40 to avoid a night in the cold sounds like a bargain to me.

jamiekim10d ago

The whole "buy it and never use it" thing is actually kind of comforting in a weird way. It's like having a fire extinguisher in your kitchen - you don't want to need it, but you sure feel better knowing it's there. That $40 beacon is basically a backup plan for when your brain decides to take a wrong turn (which happens more often than we admit). Funny how we'll spend that much on dinner or a pair of shoes without thinking twice, but when it's something that could literally save our lives we hesitate. I've noticed people treat safety gear like they're being overly paranoid until that one moment when they're not. And honestly, the peace of mind alone is worth whatever you paid.