Missing hunters in Colorado

[mtnbound]

I don't think someone else can "ping" your Inreach. I'm pretty sure you must set up your account online to update your coordinates at your desired time intervals, then send an invitation email to each person that you grant permission to see your location via a link. Then you must have the device on and enable tracking. If you don't take these steps it is essentially a PLB that requires you to be conscious to hit the SOS button or send a text with your location and request for assistance.

After this incident, people will take a few minutes to set up their unit correctly, as that will provide the maximum safety in the backcountry.

By setting up a mapshare link, anyone you share it with can track your current location, ping for your current and past locations, and see you moving in real time, provided you have tracking enabled and the device is on.

With the unit on whether tracking is on or off, and you failing to return, Garmin, at the request of law enforcement, can ping your unit for the most recent location.

If the unit is powered off, and you failing to return, Garmin, at the request of law enforcement, can ping your unit for the devices past the locations, as seen in this instance.

The PLBs I am aware of lack these options, making Garmin's InReach or similar devices the best choice for backcountry safety.

 

[BrownTroutGuy]

This is so sad. May God comfort their families. For those of you second guessing your gear setup, these things have helped me before. Maybe this thread can help someone in the future.

Never leave your pack
Lightweight tarp
QuickClot/1st aid kit
PLB/InReach/Zoleo (I run ACR PLB + Zoleo)
Waterproof matches
Assume you’ll need to spend a night in the woods in bad weather with your day pack