Outdoor Adventure USA

Such a sad story. An adventure gone wrong. You've got to feel for him and his family and friends.

OK, so what's a Spot and an APIRB?

MagicMtnDan wrote:OK, so what's a Spot and an APIRB?

Actually, it's an EPIRB - Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. This is a device that, when activated, sents out a beacon requesting emergency assistance on a frequency monitored by aircraft and provides your exact GPS location.

The Spot is a simpler device that will report your position to those you've chosen when all is OK, allow you to summon help from friends when you are in trouble, or contact a central emergency response center when in a life and death situation.

An EPIRB is used only in dire, life and death situations - the penalty for misuse is severe and expensive, as in most cases it summons a response from government agency rescue aircraft.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distress_radiobeacon

The Spot requires a subscription and allows those you've chosen to track your progress on a computer, and receive e-mail / text notifications from you. THe central station is privately operated.

More info: http://www.findmespot.com

Very sad story. I agree that these things can help be avoided. Not completely avoided but close.