The 121.5 signal is worthless unless a search has been initiated and your general location is known.

If you are carrying a radio to be rescued by, you better have a well thought out plan. If you are in the mountains, the ONLY people that will reliably hear you is the ones you know.

CAN you get to a repeater to make a call?
CAN you get to your friend when he is listening?
CAN you transmit on a gov't frequency if needed (ie. IDAHO STATE COM)

In the back country canyons of Idaho, none of these work - cell, ham, satellite phone, cb, mirrors, smoke signals or crying.

Unless you are a serious HAM with local knowledge, transmit on 27.185 around the clock. You may be heard on skip.

IF you want to be home for dinner tomorrow -

Turn on an ACR MicrOFix PLB
Register the PLB on - http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/
Under the section - ADDITIONAL DATA - place the URL to a one page web site with an updated itinery of each of your trips.