Advice for Trail Emergencies requiring help ?

[Mx5red]

Here's the best field demo of the SOS function that I've seen.

18:24 for the oopsie.
19:16 for the SOS button press.
23:04 for da choppa.

"Ride Till I Can't" seems like an appropriately named channel.

I wonder what his bill was for getting flown out of there

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[roaniecowpony]

"Ride Till I Can't" seems like an appropriately named channel.

I wonder what his bill was for getting flown out of there

I'm still wondering why he didn''t get back on and ride out. It was a sandy flat road or he could ride in the pucker bushes. Sit back on the rear wheel and stay on the throttle. Certainly it was flat enough to ride with one leg hanging out.

 

[roaniecowpony]

So, any recommendations on which subscription to get? I believe the Freedom plan works for my seasonal use, but not sure which level of service.

 

[jhackathorne]

I'm still wondering why he didn''t get back on and ride out. It was a sandy flat road or he could ride in the pucker bushes. Sit back on the rear wheel and stay on the throttle. Certainly it was flat enough to ride with one leg hanging out.

I'm curious on that as well. Maybe he cut out where he tried, but I for sure would have tried that prior to activating SOS beacon.

 

[AFD]

If you're travelling more remote trails, maybe save the contact numbers for the Offroadportal.org network and a few paid services like Matt's Off-Road Recovery (for whichever region you'll be in). And of course, whatever sat device/service you'll need when outside of cellular coverage (or call once you reach civilization and travel back).

 

[roaniecowpony]

Looks like California, where the youtuber fell on his bike, is free to the victim for a SAR recovery.

 

[davewald]

I live out in the middle of Nevada. Very isolated...if I leave my house and drive south it is 133 miles to the first pavement. Most days I can go out and drive around all day and never see another vehicle. I used to pack around a satellite phone because of course most places there is no cell service, but that got to be so expensive that I now use the Garmin InReach service. That's a subscription service that costs $12 a month for the basic plan and allows you to send and receive texts just as you would with a cell phone. You don't have to subscribe for a full year...you choose which months you want the service to be active. Several different InReach units available, from simple ones that pair with your cell phone to more expensive stand-alone units. All of them also allow you to press a button and summon emergency help from a national SAR center. I finally bought an expensive Garmin GPS unit with the InReach service built in, but that's because I am with a Search and Rescue unit and use this all the time.

Most times I'm out alone, no other vehicles. But all of my vehicles are well equipped with survival supplies. The InReach service is peace of mind...I know I can text any number of people to come rescue me if needed. That orange button on the GPS unit will dispatch Search and Rescue if ever I have a dire emergency. But if I break down and all I need is for one of my buddies to come get me then there is a separate texting function I can use.

This 1000%. Garmin InReach is the absolute best way. We had a breakdown on the Rubicon Trail last year, and if it weren't for the InReach, the experience would have been much, much worse and way more expensive.

 

[Mx5red]

I'm still wondering why he didn''t get back on and ride out. It was a sandy flat road or he could ride in the pucker bushes. Sit back on the rear wheel and stay on the throttle. Certainly it was flat enough to ride with one leg hanging out.

I’d like to not trash the guy too much, but playing devils advocate he also probably knew that all the YouTube hits he was all of a sudden going to get would pay for a new motorcycle.

 

[Jtclayton612]

So, any recommendations on which subscription to get? I believe the Freedom plan works for my seasonal use, but not sure which level of service.

Just depends really how many messages you want to send monthly, and you can have 3 preset messages that are free, I think even on the lowest plan, they’re customizable so I made them, leaving camp, all is fine, and made it to camp.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Looks like California, where the youtuber fell on his bike, is free to the victim for a SAR recovery.

Were you also looking for survival advice, or just emergency coms? I don’t want to clutter up your thread with unneeded advice.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Were you also looking for survival advice, or just emergency coms? I don’t want to clutter up your thread with unneeded advice.

Jeff,
Your advice is always welcome.

 

[Heimkehr]

So, any recommendations on which subscription to get?

That will depend on where you're going, and for how long.

Fundamentally, the subscription tiers are priced according to the number of satellite-transmitted texts that the member anticipates sending, or wanting to have the ability to send, without being charged on a per-text basis. There's also the matter of how frequently the GPS location pings are transmitted when the tracking function is turned on. E.g., the low cost plan transmits them every 10 minutes.

Said differently, the costlier service plans are better if you anticipate being out of range (i.e., weak or no cell signals) for the plurality of your travels. If you don't, and/or you're not very e-chatty, a lower-priced plan might save you a bit of lucre.

The SOS function is embedded in all plans, so you needn't spend more to gain access to that service. The device must have an active plan in force at the time that function is used, though; there's no free ride as there is with 911 calls and cell phones.

Hope this helps.

Long time inReach user here; let me know if you need add'l. intel. ?

 

[Aonar]

Here are 2 reviews of Garmin products. I often use this company for reviews on outdoor/camping gear. Garmin inReach Messenger Review | Tested by GearLab (outdoorgearlab.com)
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Review | Tested by GearLab (outdoorgearlab.com)

 

[Aonar]

Here is the main page: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/revi...personal-locator-beacon/garmin-inreach-mini-2

 

[Wabujitsu]

Jeff,
Your advice is always welcome.

Thank you sir.

”Mission readiness” is multifaceted. If you are going alone into a remote area, do a map recon. Mark along your route water sources/trees and distance to inhabited locations all along your route. Know at any time where you are on your route.

Know your environment. What edible plants and easily acquired animals and insects are in the area (for consumption)? Again, what water sources, and are they safe? Be able to identify edibles. Know how to eat animals raw as safely as possible (only muscle tissue, no organs, etc.), but carry a way to make fire for cooking and to endure colder temps, even in summer. A survival blanket is excellent for this. It’s lightweight and very small when packed. Carry a small water filtration device.

In the desert, travel when the sun is low and at night. Ensure you have batteries and a light source. Carry a compass in case electronics fail you. Carry a map for land navigation/orienteering.

Take PLENTY of water on your trip, and have a way to carry water if you become stranded and have to go on foot. Pre plan your maximum load to carry for an extended hike. Go heavy on the water; one can live weeks without food, but only days without water. Water is the priority in your kit, food secondary.

Commo has already been covered. Mindset is vitally important in survival situations I would research that.

Carry as many batteries as reasonable for your electronics. Include a signal mirror in your kit.

I‘ve only covered the bare basics, my friend.

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