Lots of good points to ponder. I acquired an in reach for hunting 2023 season so that I can let my wife know if I might be home late. I carry it in my pack. I am generally not worried too much about a life threatening emergency unfolding rapidly, but am getting older and i don't have quite the strength, agility I used to have. My phone is in my mid layer chest pocket for onx reference and sos if needed. I don't like having more than a bino pack on my chest when hunting. And anything strapped to the outside of my backpack is vulnerable to breakage, loss or whatever so i generally avoid that. This is just me, but my general way of thinking is informed by 45 years of adventuring, hunting, canoeing, backpacking, mountaineering, back country skiing in environments from northern canada, to the north Cascades, to southeast alaska, to colorado and wyoming rockies. Rule number one is don't get so wrapped up in the moment that you make bad choices or do risky things without a general plan. Rule 2 is know how to survive if you get into it. We never go out without having to means and knowledge to survive if something goes down. Accepting a certain amount of risk is part of the allure of the endeavor isn't it? I see our local search and rescue going on a hundred missions a year bailing people who went out into the backcountry with no skills, knowledge or awareness.. Don't be that person. In closing, I see too many people substituting technology for knowledge and awareness to bail themselves out of trouble. Sure, have the Inreach and if it makes you feel safer have it accessible, but don't short change yourself into taking all of the adventure out of it either.
