Emergency Beacon Angst

In my preparation for hiking some bushwacks in the mountains, I knew I would have to pull the trigger and purchase an emergency beacon. Deciding which one I needed was another story.

Hiking in the mountains means spotty cell coverage. For years I had been hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. Careful preparation and common sense had kept me safe so far, but I’d had a few close calls. I have known friends who have suffered falls and been carried out of the woods. Not being able to communicate my location and progress to loved ones at home was also a constant problem.

The New England Hundred Highest list would include some traveling along unmarked trails that are hiked with less frequency. Given my habit of hiking solo, I knew I would have to buy a device that could get a message out to Search and Rescue if something went seriously wrong. On some of these trails, I might not see another hiker for days.

There are many different brands with various coverage plans. I pored over youtube videos, online reviews, reddit, everything. Would it be Garmin? What about SPOT? Maybe Zoleo? Should I buy new or used?

I’m not a communicator at heart

I don’t send lots of texts or make calls from the wilderness. I’m out there to escape people, not gush about how I’m doing. I’m definitely not calling or taking work calls. A device with good service, that could send a message in the event of a dire emergency was all I needed. I’m not solo hiking Everest. It just needed to work in the United States. As a minimalist and green minded person, I decided a used device in good condition was all I needed. I liked the idea of recycling a piece of electronic gear that a hiker wasn’t using. I would prefer not to add more electronics to the world’s waste stream.

I found a hiker selling a SPOT beacon online for a reasonable price. The seller was local, and I had it in hand the following week. The beacon didn’t have rave reviews, but I’m tech savvy and had no issues activating it. In the multiple times I’ve used it, I have always had a signal and confirmed it’s tracked me without issue on all my northern hikes.

Just carrying one on those solo bushwacks has given me enormous piece of mind. For less than a hundred dollars, I rate it as one of my smartest buys and an important part of my safety gear that I carry when I’m in the backcountry. If you’ve been on the fence about taking the plunge, I heartily recommend you do.