CBC News Story

They were hunting polar bears (!) on snow and they are dressed in forest camouflage gear?
I think they were lucky to get rescued before the bears got them!

But a professional guide company that takes people that close to the arctic circle and doesn't carry PLBs? They were very lucky that one of the customers had a SPOT and that SPOT got a message out!

Doesn't matter - the bear couldn't care less what you're wearing. The polar bear is KING in his domain and not afraid of anything. Just use whatever you have that is appropriate for the conditions - camo or no camo.

But the lack of PLB's or SPOT does seem a bit odd for professionals.

Dinner wearing camouflage is every bit as tasty as dinner wearing fuzzy white outerwear.

Sue

There were a couple of comments about limited coverage with SPOT and the Globalstar satellite network system they use.
One person said they don't work north of 74Lat.

I doubt if it matters to most of us, but are there any other coverage issues with them?

SPOT coverage map

I have had at least two messages in NW Alberta that did not go through over the last six months with my SPOT1 Beacon. Although this may have been caused by old batteries it is always diconcerting that I di not really check in on those days.

I know someone who had it fail three nights in a row while out ice climbing in Jaster National Park. This initiated an unneeded rescue because his rescue plan had been setup to have call someone call into Parks Canada if they failed to check in for three days straight.

I now leave my SPOT1 Beacon on for 10 minutes after turning it on in open ground and then turn the OK button on and leave it for at least another 15 minutes when I want to check in. If I had to be rescued I would leave it on until rescued.

Bruce, I appreciate your posting a "field check" on these units. I'm intrigued, but not entirely convinced. Regards, Doug.

Slightly less optimistic coverage map from globalstar
http://common.globalstar.com/images/coverage/coveragemap_nolegend_corp.jpg

There are a couple of issues compared to PLBs, the globalstar sats are simple relays you and a ground station have to be simultaneously in view of a single satelite. The cospar sats (for PLBs) can store and forward messages when they are over a base station.