new Garmin mini-InReach

Tiny PLB pairs with your phone

Wow, that looks pretty useful! Bookmarked for further study.

Color me skeptical...i don't go into the wild to transmit my position back home at ten minute intervals and i want relief from checking my email, etc.

But it is a really useful item in an emergency...

You don't need to use those features if you don't want to. You can turn the thing off and stash it in your pack. Only when and if you get into trouble then turn it on.

The advantage over a PLB is that besides transmitting an SOS with your GPS location, one can communicated details of ones predicament to rescue teams. The disadvantage over a PLB is that InReach requires paying a monthly subscription fee.

As I understand it, a good many of today's emergencies are handled and announced by cell phone, which provides far more info than we had back in the old days. My data is incomplete, fo some one more informed is welcome to correct.

Of course, cell phones do not reach everywhere and that is where the new gadgetry comes into play. Knowing details of the emergency could run the risk of making SAR work entirely too easy and routine - where is the challenge?? (sarcasm alert...)

Still, in the old days (60 years ago), when we went out on a trip, we went with the realization that SAR was non-existent and we would have to deal with problems ourselves.

I remember one trip where one of our party took a wrong turn, heading down the wrong side of the range. he was strong, reasonably well equipped for a day hike, and resourceful, so we thought 'If he is not back by Wednesday, maybe we should call the sheriff or something.." he was back by late Tuesday. Our response might have been diferent had he been a winsome blonde....

You have a different mindset if you are planning for a situation where rescue is not possible or will be long and intricate (say, for instance, if you have a problem deep within a cave). My attitude still has traces of my old mindset, and i just haven't gotten around to purchasing a PLB or similar device, preferring to upgrade my current gear. Talk about a dinosaur.....

I try to maintain that mindset, even with the new gadgetry. It is always good to self rescue if possible.

The newer devices such as InReach do have some applications besides calling for rescue. For example, on remote fly in trips in Alaska it is now possible to alert your air taxi that you will be late for a scheduled pick up. In some cases this will prevent launching an unneccessary SAR.

We have also used these devices on SAR missions, to communicate with field teams in areas which can't be reached by radio or cell phone.

Two way communications is never a bad thing, it depends on how you use it.

Pre cell phone and PLBs, a SAR operation usually began with a phone call stating that "johnny is overdue from his hike," along with more or less precise information about his route and plans. So many operations began as searches which might become rescues, with wildly varying outcomes ranging from benign to tragic.

Today, operations more often begin with a call from the scene, along with information about the situation. That definitely enables a more effective response.

Has anyone tried either the regular or the mini yet?

It also pairs with the new Garmin 66 series of handheld GPS receivers (announced last week) to transmit coordinates but I think you need a Iridium subscription too.

All InReach devices require a device-specific subscription on Iridium. The least expensive level is $11.95/mo (https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/). No affiliation.

I had heard that you can suspend your subscription during the months you aren't doing it. (And I'm ok with $150 a year; its cheap insurance.)