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Redundancy in the Backcountry: GPS Communication Devices

By

Jason Albert

In the backcountry, there’s a fairly common practice to bring a single GPS communication device per group. A recent episode of the Coldfear podcast has us rethinking that calculus.   With hours of physical therapy time accrued since early April, I’ve scoured Apple Podcasts for stories and interviews that resonant. (I’ve needed something to make…

Responses

  1. Slim

    This is a very good point. I will reconsider this!

    In climbing I usually think about redundancy through the framework of 1: “if this items fails, will it be catastrophic?”
    Followed by 2: How big are the drawbacks (extra time using the redundant gear, extra weight)?”
    And finally 3: “what is the likelihood of this item failing?”

    If I apply that framework to an Inreach:
    1: yes, kind of. If outside rescue is required, lack of communication is probably very dire
    2: small. Just the small weight penalty.
    3: as you point out, moderately high, in the sense that many of the cases requiring an outside rescue might have the victims device damaged or not usable by them

  2. Whit

    As someone who mostly tours and rides bikes in remote places alone, the inReach mini has been my best friend and allows me to communicate with my wife when I’ll be late or need a pickup. I’ve only had to use the SOS once in about 10 years of having such a device and I may not have made it out if I didn’t have the inReach. It’s the best insurance plan you can have IMO and everyone should have one, even just for just the ability of others to track your route and txt when there’s no cell service — especially when you’re out there solo. It’s the weight of a Clif Builders bar (100g is so light yet we all are bummed when our skis or boots weight 100g more than your buddy’s).

  3. bruised

    I’m curious how much thought people put into where they keep it, the advertised method of clipping it to a pack strap is something I would never do. I immediately took the carabiner on mine off (#ul) and always keep it in a zipped pocket on my person so that if I were to fall and lose or otherwise get separated from my pack I still have access to it.

    1. Jason Albert

      You’ve got me thinking. My go-to is clipped to my pack if climbing/skiing with the stock mini-carabiner. Sometimes, depending on the pack, I keep it zipped in a handy pocket in the pack. No matter, my baseline is I must be able to reach the device unimpeded when wearing the pack. I can barely stand anything in my pockets while touring and have just become accustomed to a transceiver in my pant pocket. But, lose the pack, and I’ve got some issues in an emergency. And I can think of many scenarios where the pack could slip away, or rip off my body in a violent fall. Maybe time for a re-think on my part. (Note to self: According to Edgerly in the video linked above (in the story), he states the EMI from an InReach is only an issue when “touching” a transceiver. This seems like a problem that is easily mitigated.)

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