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Grandma L
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You can take all the communication tools and gadgets along - choose when and how to use them. Disconnect or communicate - Just because you can, doesn't mean you will or should. I like having the choices.
I also like building memories with the kids and having it all documented - pictures, text messages - whatever makes them fall in love with the adventure and outdoors!
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ILcdr
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Voyageur Outfitters on the Gunflint rents spots or did last year anyway. Voyageur N. in Ely as well. I've also rented on line. They Fed Ex it to you and you Fed Ex it back.
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mashpotatomezzo
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Considering renting one of these devices for our August trip since we'll have two kiddos with us. I think it will definitely give my sister some piece of mind (we are taking her 10 year old). Looking into something with some sort of two-way communication. I'm seeing lots of rental options when I search online. Just wondering if anyone has any experiences or recommendations for who to rent with, and what device would best serve us. SPOT seems like it'd work well for us, but I know very little about any of these devices. Entering at EP47, and the farthest we'll be from the EP is maybe Gaskin. Thank you so much!
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Grandma L
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I really like my InReach more than my SPOT - it gives us the ability to text - via satellite. Most of the major outfitters have them to rent.
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scramble4a5
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I have a Spot and used it last year. It is one way texting but for my wife's peace of mind at home that works. Personally, my trip partner and I don't really want to text back and forth with folks at home.
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IndyScouters
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If you are entering at EP 47 - Rockwood Lodge has the Delorme InReach available. It has the SOS feature and has GPS, can interface to most smartphones (better screen and keyboard function), will record your trip (pings every 10 minutes when activated) and allows 2-way texting at $.50 for every message (Inbound and Outbound). If you are judicious with the texting the cost for a week would not be horrible. Love the Gunflint Trail side and actually have two Permits for a couple of groups going in in June from Rockwood. Enjoy!
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mashpotatomezzo
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IndyScouters: "If you are entering at EP 47 - Rockwood Lodge has the Delorme InReach available. It has the SOS feature and has GPS, can interface to most smartphones (better screen and keyboard function), will record your trip (pings every 10 minutes when activated) and allows 2-way texting at $.50 for every message (Inbound and Outbound). If you are judicious with the texting the cost for a week would not be horrible. Love the Gunflint Trail side and actually have two Permits for a couple of groups going in in June from Rockwood. Enjoy!
"
That's actually perfect! We went through Rockwood last year, and are using them again this time. I'll ask about it when I call to reserve the bunkhouse! Thank you!!!
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Grandma L
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I have a set time to check text messages each evening. We work on the theory - no news is good news. But, sometimes it is kind of nice to touch base with the home front.
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Grandma L
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oops - double post
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Wick
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mashpotatomezzo: "scramble4a5: "I have a Spot and used it last year. It is one way texting but for my wife's peace of mind at home that works. Personally, my trip partner and I don't really want to text back and forth with folks at home."
Don't get me wrong - I don't particularly want to be communicating with the outside world, either! I really enjoyed being disconnected on my first trip last summer, but my sister struggles with pretty severe anxiety, so I'm lucky she's letting us take my nephew in the first place. I think the trade off for her peace of mind back home is worth it. "
I dont think there is anything wrong with communication. If cell phones worked out there, i would encourage those kids to send pics and messages to the whole world about their trip in the outdoors. Communication is never going away, and in fact, will get easier in the future. Being there is what is important. If messaging is the key to getting kids outside,,,just do it! Do it twice!
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billconner
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Wick: "mashpotatomezzo: "scramble4a5: "I have a Spot and used it last year. It is one way texting but for my wife's peace of mind at home that works. Personally, my trip partner and I don't really want to text back and forth with folks at home."
Don't get me wrong - I don't particularly want to be communicating with the outside world, either! I really enjoyed being disconnected on my first trip last summer, but my sister struggles with pretty severe anxiety, so I'm lucky she's letting us take my nephew in the first place. I think the trade off for her peace of mind back home is worth it. "
I dont think there is anything wrong with communication. If cell phones worked out there, i would encourage those kids to send pics and messages to the whole world about their trip in the outdoors. Communication is never going away, and in fact, will get easier in the future. Being there is what is important. If messaging is the key to getting kids outside,,,just do it! Do it twice!"
Wow. Thank goodness there is room for both schools of thought. I can't imagine not being completely disconnected - a major motivation of tripping for me. I'm sure it will also be a long time before our Scout troop allows cell phones and communicators, thank goodness.
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billconner
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scramble4a5: "I have a Spot and used it last year. It is one way texting but for my wife's peace of mind at home that works. Personally, my trip partner and I don't really want to text back and forth with folks at home."
+1 and Amen!
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mashpotatomezzo
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scramble4a5: "I have a Spot and used it last year. It is one way texting but for my wife's peace of mind at home that works. Personally, my trip partner and I don't really want to text back and forth with folks at home."
Don't get me wrong - I don't particularly want to be communicating with the outside world, either! I really enjoyed being disconnected on my first trip last summer, but my sister struggles with pretty severe anxiety, so I'm lucky she's letting us take my nephew in the first place. I think the trade off for her peace of mind back home is worth it.
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Frenchy19
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If carrying and using such a device means a better trip for whomever, then go for it. I got a DeLorme a couple years ago as my wife was concerned about me on longer solo trips, and I do not have a problem using it. She gets the peace of mind knowing I am safe, and she also enjoys tracking my route via the mapping feature.
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