Out of cell service but with an open unobstructed sky, within satellite range.
Out of service, but not out of luck: trying to use our emergency communication tools effectively in the backcountry becomes a bit easier, but maybe more complicated, too, with the iPhone’s sat comms capabilities.
Undoubtedly, I’ve been lucky. My luck relates to both avalanche avoidance and lightning strikes. This is to say that the slate of deeply saddening avalanche accidents of late has me thinking of my luck over the years and the truth that, in some instances, “this could have been me” applies. The dark and fickle thing about luck is that we mistakenly think the positive outcome (good luck) was based on our good decision-making.
As much as I want to think my decisions are sound, I’ve been reminded lately that that isn’t necessarily so. Although imperfect, I try to prepare for the unlucky events that may befall me or my partners. To communicate with emergency services in an unlucky event, I carry an inReach Mini. I do, however, haul along my iPhone as a camera. Until I read a recent Teton Search and Rescue (TSAR) post about a tragic January 4 incident on Togwotee Pass, I had ignored my phone’s capacity to send a text message and/or SOS via satellite when there is no cell coverage or wifi.
The following statement from TSAR was an eye-opener prompting me to learn more about my phone’s satellite capabilities:
“Just before noon on Saturday, Teton County Search & Rescue was called to respond to a known avalanche burial on Togwotee Pass. The emergency alert came in via iPhone satellite text-to-911, but it was unclear whether the avalanche involved snowmobilers or skiers. For anyone using this relatively new function, please include the nature of your emergency, mechanism of injury, and number of people in your party. Including that info can help first responders efficiently develop solutions to the problems.”
The first takeaway, which we will briefly touch upon here, is that TSAR reminds us to essentially provide a SOAP note when communicating with emergency services. That means when initiating contact with emergency services via a typed message, provide as much detail as possible to streamline the ensuing search and rescue mission.
The second takeaway relates to redundancy, and is the focus of what follows. A close friend volunteers for Lander Search and Rescue. We began a back-and-forth about something many of us have pondered. Have our satellite communication devices (inReach, Zoleo, etc., that provide two-way text communication and an SOS button) become obsolete as cell phone technology advances? The brief answer, for now, is no.
iPhones
An iPhone 14 and later can initiate an emergency SOS via satellite (when your phone is not linked to a cell network or wifi). Apple says these iPhones have the following capabilities when communicating via satellite.
- Emergency SOS via satellite connects you to emergency responders
- Roadside Assistance via satellite connects you to a roadside assistance provider
- Messages via satellite lets you message friends and family right from the Messages app
- Send Location via satellite lets you update your location
Despite these advances and capabilities, there are limitations. This is why, for the time being, it is important to carry along a device like an inReach. Having that device within arm’s reach in an emergency is also important.
The best resource we’ve come across in the short-term is this excellent review from Outdoor Life—this fall they conducted a thorough review of the iPhone’s sat-comms capabilities. We’ll summarize some of their takeaways below.
- Compared to an inReach Mini 2, an iPhone 15 took considerably longer to send a text message via satellite from both “deep” and “shallow” canyons. The iPhone took 70 and 20 minutes longer, respectively, to deliver the messages.
- This might not pertain to an emergency (just two-way messaging), but Outdoor Life found that the iPhone could send a text to a Google phone, but the Google phone could not reply.
- Outdoor Life had issues getting the iPhone to engage in sat mode when there was ineffective cell service (one bar but could still send a text). However, in this scenario, Outdoor Life reports that in airplane mode, the unit will not lock onto a satellite.
Like me, if you are somewhat new to this function on an iPhone….there’s a demo for that.
Sending an SOS message via satellite from the iPhone, you will be prompted to answer some basic questions.
Two-way texting/messaging is helpful. It can make the rescue and subsequent treatment more efficient in an emergency. But, in an emergency where hitting an SOS button is about all one can manage, the iPhone presents a slightly more complicated scenario. Like an inReach, the phone must be turned on. Then a simple yet multi-step process to connect with a satellite is required. This includes properly orienting the phone.
With an inReach, the unit must be on; then one hits the SOS button. (This also requires the ability to connect with a satellite, and in situations with an overhead canopy or limited open sky, connecting to a satellite might take some time and/or reorienting/moving the device.) Once emergency services are contacted, a two-way text thread can ensue. (Many of us use a phone and Garmin Messenger App to interface easier texting via a phone with the inReach’s capacity to hit a satellite. If the situation is dire, it’s easy just to hit the SOS button and then tend to the situation at hand—the inReach’s passive capabilities (fingers crossed, you don’t need to orient the device in an open-sky situation) should send the message once the unit syncs with a satellite.
Redundancy
While learning about the upsides and downsides of iPhone use as an off-the-grid emergency device and basic communication tool, I was directed to read up about an April 2024 incident involving a Colorado Avalanche Information forecaster.
For accuracy, here is the entire first paragraph of the accident report’s rescue summary:
“Worker 1 tried to free himself, but could not. His cell phone was in the left thigh pocket of his pants and he used his free hand and a ski pole to tear the pocket open and reach the phone. Once he got it, he realized it had been damaged in the avalanche and was no longer working. He tried to reach the equipment in his backpack. His pack was on his back with the sternum, waist, and leg straps on. The tree he was pinned against prevented access to his waist belt and leg strap, so he could not release them to access the contents of his pack. Eventually, he got into his pack through the top opening and retrieved extra layers, food, and his satellite communication device. He sent a distress call from the satellite communication device at 4:30 pm. Avalanche debris and tree canopy interfered with the message transmission. He repositioned the device over the next 30 to 40 minutes until messages began to transmit successfully. The CAIC received the emergency transmission at 5:11 pm.”
In the report’s comment section, there are several relevant points.
- “Worker 1 was at work and operating under the CAIC’s Field Safety Plan (FSP). As such, there was a detailed description of where Worker 1 would be traveling, the time he planned to return, and the specific equipment he was carrying, including a satellite communication device that was turned on and tracking.”
- “The satellite communication device was crucial in this accident. When Worker 1 missed his check-in time, CAIC dispatch could pinpoint his location and communicate it to staff in the field and search and rescue personnel. Once Worker 1 reached his device, he could call for help and communicate the extent of his injuries. This allowed responders to bring the equipment they needed to treat his injuries and evacuate him from the field.”
- “The speed of the rescue response highlights the importance of trip planning, communication, and having an emergency response plan. However, Worker 1’s communication device was in his pack and the nature of his burial made it very hard for him to reach it. His cell phone was connected to the device, but was damaged in the avalanche and unusable. It took Worker 1 around two and a half hours to retrieve the device and another 30 to 40 minutes to send a distress message. Carrying communication equipment is important, but considering how you will use it in an emergency is just as important.”
To summarize, had the phone been the only means to send an SOS, there’s clear potential for a more serious outcome. The fact that the satellite communication device was turned on and in tracking mode (standard protocol for solo CAIC forecasters) was key for a more timely response.
The last bullet point speaks to where we stow these sat comms devices. In this case, it is hard to imagine where stowing the device would have provided easy access after the burial. Hindsight is 20-20. About 95% of the time, my sat messaging device is tucked in an easy-access zip pocket on my pack. Had I been pinned like this forecaster, I would have been in the same difficult situation regarding access to the device and hitting SOS.
All this, hopefully, leaves us better informed. And for the near future, relying only on an iPhone for an SOS or two-way texting in an emergency might not be the wisest plan. Sure, two-way messaging via a satellite on an iPhone is sweet. But in a real deal it-is-hitting-the-fan situation, having a dedicated satellite messaging device is your best security blanket to call for help if you are beyond cell service. That said, it’s time to better familiarize myself with my phone’s satellite capabilities and ensure my emergency contacts and key information are updated on my phone.
Part of the redundancy I’m considering is understanding the communication tools I use when touring. One step further is knowing when to use each tool, in this case, the iPhone or a dedicated sat messaging device. As part of my new thought process, I’ll think about scenarios when I might hit the SOS button on my inReach Mini or attempt to text with the iPhone when I have no cell service. If the iPhone connects quickly, that may be an efficient means to summon help.
Please be safe. Please take the time to comment if you have more details about using phones or satellite messaging devices in emergencies.
Similarly, what about the strength of the battery on your X+ year old iphone? Recently, I’ve been thinking about cell phone battery life as a safety precaution. Does your phone hold a good charge… does your partners… does it seemingly die even in airplane mode? We’ve all had that friend whose old iPhone can’t hold a charge for more than a day (i was that friend). What sort of risk does below average battery life and one that especially can’t hold up in cold weather add when recreating in the outdoors? iPhone’s are increasingly more expensive, but thinking about it in this way helped me justify the upgrade from my old iphone 12 mini (great phone by the way).
That’s a good point—justifying the cost of an upgrade if it means longer battery life. In recent years, the cell coverage in our local wilderness zone has become more reliable. It follows, too, that I should probably bring a small battery-block to serve as a backup for the phone which might be my backup for the inReach Mini.
You can also have Apple put a new battery in your phone for around $100. I did that and the battery life went back to as good as new. Once your phone’s battery health gets to around 80% of original capacity a new battery is a good idea.
Thanks for that Travis——I’m learning new things, like how to check for my battery’s capacity compared to when it was new in the Settings.
Thanks Travis, I did not know Apple did that, and that I could check. I have also considered upgrading my phone at times, mostly for the battery. I also treasure my 13 Mini, since it’s the last time they made a “mini”. If I replaced it, it would become larger and harder to pack.
is the iPhone mini “fast and light”?!
I also have added a tiny portable battery to my repair and first aid kit. It seems like a simple addition as rescue becomes ever more dependent on batteries. I also now run almost all USB c devices, to streamline charging things. Even my emergency bindi headlamp is now USB C instead of batteries!