Ron's wife - when to worry?

[rhendrix]

Idahobow, he did not pay for the track feature but one of us will be paying for it next year for sure!

 

[AZ Vince]

I'm glad he checked in.
Yes, a conversation about what to do in case of unforeseen happenings is definitely due.
Thanks for the update.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Ok first of all, you guys are awesome. I don't hunt but I'm tempted to join the forum just for pep talks!

Second, he did check in late this morning...thank God! I was hoping for some reassurance that the SPOT device isn't quite as reliable as everything I read online because having issues connecting made the most logical sense to me (although I'll admit I thought of literally every other horrific scenario imaginable). I think he checked in a bit more frequently last year so my expectations were probably set based on that. We DEFINITELY need to have a conversation about how frequently he'll check in and when to freak out, for future reference.

Before he got out of cell phone range, he told me he was really struggling with the altitude and said he may end up suggesting that Todd go up without him and he'd catch up....so the idea that he could possibly be alone added to my stress a bit.

A spa day sounds like a fantastic idea! Unfortunately between working and taking care of 3 kiddos there's not much time left for that at the moment. I do think he owes me one when he gets back though!

Thanks for talking me off the ledge...you guys may have prevented search and rescue teams from ruining his trip

I'm glad you posted this. We get so wrapped up in the hunt. We forget little details(I do anyways). I just told my wife I would be checking in every night! Good stuff!

 

[5MilesBack]

A spa day sounds like a fantastic idea! Unfortunately between working and taking care of 3 kiddos there's not much time left for that at the moment. I do think he owes me one when he gets back though!

Absolutely!

 

[gelton]

Its crazy but true that sometimes technology adds more stress than it removes. This will be my first year with the spot and I am more worried about technology failing and causing my wife undue stress than I ever have been before. If she wasn't expecting updates that fail to come then she probably wouldn't be worried at all.

 

[JPD350]

Idahobow, he did not pay for the track feature but one of us will be paying for it next year for sure!

Good to hear there will be a next year!

 

[charvey9]

I was out last year, using my SPOT to check in nightly.....or so I thought. For some reason, not all the messages went out. In hindsight, I don't think I was giving the unit enough time to transmit before shutting it off again. I just kind of took it for granted that 5-10 minutes was enough time. Wife wasn't happy.

I'm sure you have no thing to worry about.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Good stuff! Hope he stays dry, it's been raining up here all day

 

[Mark]

Idahobow, he did not pay for the track feature but one of us will be paying for it next year for sure!

Rent a satellite phone. Specifically, rent an Iridium satellite phone. Far more reliable than a SPOT messenger.

 

[Manosteel]

This thread is a nice reminder. My wife and I never had the talk about checking in or what to do when I don't. And I have been haunting the back country for a long long time. I'm taking off Thursday and will have a check in time in place. To bad about the SPOT issues. I have a delorme InReach which worked awesome last year. It gives you the ability to send and receive txts.

 

[Buckman]

I can remember when we used to stand in line at the local gas station to use the pay phone, if the line was to long, the call didn't happen.

 

[2rocky]

I tell my wife to worry if she gets a call from our contact where we are hunting. No news is good news. I'll call her when I get out of the woods.

Every year I reassure her as I leave, by telling her "yes honey, the life insurance is paid up...."

 

[jm1607]

I'm so glad he checked in!

I've had a beer with Ron before and we put in for some tags together this last year..

Sometimes when you're in nowheresville you can't get a signal or you may possibly forget a check in.. I'll be in the same boat myself in a few weeks.. If he's hunting with a buddy I'm sure they're ok and they have each others backs.. Don't worry, he'll be home soon!

 

[madcityelkhunter]

Mark - out of curiosity, where can you rent a satellite phone from?

 

[Mark]

Mark - out of curiosity, where can you rent a satellite phone from?

Google sat phone rentals and you should get several hits. Most will ship to your door, some will even pay the shipping one way. You pay for minutes used and about $0.75 per text. There's a local place I can get a phone from for $75 per week plus usage.

 

[MattB]

I am glad you confirmed everything is alright.

When I go hunting, my wife knows when I expect to be home and that I will call her when I hit the blacktop heading home (and likely not before). As odd as it may sound, it is easier that way.

 

[IanF.]

Just an FYI - I've gotten over 20 - 10hr days from my spot, so I know a fresh set of batteries lasts longer then my aver age trip. I turn it on when I wake up and off at bed. This year it will be a delorme inreach which I've already tested at 10 days per charge

 

[cliffyj]

Like IanF I used the spot previously. Last year during the big rains and floods my wife wasn't pleased she couldn't get hold of me so this year I went with the InReach also. Little more expensive but it does give you the ability to text and receive text from a standard cell phone. She is happier now that she can get a message to me in case something arises back home. Glad he got in contact.

 

[rhendrix]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been looking into the InReach. I think that would make an excellent Christmas gift!

 

[tstowater]

My wife and I worked through this issue many years ago when I was going on a sheep hunt in BC. I fully expected that I would have no way to communicate with her and she understood that there was no need to really try or worry as it wasn't going to make a difference. I gave her a contact number and we worked out the reasons for her to call (only for her or the kids) and determined everything else was inconsequential. Basically, when I go hunting, I'm gone and my wife does not expect a call or contact until I am done.

That being said, not everyone is as comfortable, especially for solo hunts, as we are. I have acquired a satelite phone but have not used it yet as I have not been anyway that we have deemed it necessary. Technology has its advantages and disadvantages and this thread shows when and how this can happen. If you are going to contact someone on a stated basis, then do it or risk creating concerns that later are shown to be unwarranted.