From The Fifty and Eastside Thread Skiing with PLBs, InReach, etc
Given recent events and how they relate to the use of PLBs and satellite messengers, it certainly seems there effectiveness may be in question for most of what we do.
Dropping you into the The Fifty thread where Cody decides against the use of PLB in favor of racing for cell phone. Not even activating the PLB in order to avoid confusion when he got to cell service. Lots of good technical discussion afterward. Plus if you're not following the thread you'll thank me.
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...e-FIFTY/page12
And in Mono county, SAR just performed an heroic rescue of someone that fell down the hulk's west couloir (which i guess would be looker right?). They activated their PLB.
I won't spoil it, you can read it and see pics here
https://www.monosar.org/missions/201...-2019-19-253-7
My opinion may be skewed. Are there other cases (links) of different outcomes with PLBs that show where they do work?
What is a good time to use a PLB in the case of a backcountry accident. Or when should you rule it out? Are they worth their weight in other stuff you could carry?