Hey there! My girlfriend and I are taking a few close friends and our fathers with us this year, and I am very slightly concerned about their age. In the event of an emergency, would regular walkie talkies reach the ranger stations? Do we need to get the radio channel that each station works on or should I use a small HAM radio that has been offered to me? In either case, how do I go about finding out the information that I will be needing??

Thanks much for any info or suggestions you may have.
Gruber

I doubt the walkie talkies will reach. FRS usually have a two mile range and GMRS have 5. This range is if you have a clear shot to the other person, which you won't in the BW so the range is greatly diminished.

You could check with the ranger station and see what they monitor, but you will be carrying alot of heavy gear to make this happen-and no power except battery. Cell phones might be easier if you can find a signal. Some southern entries get service, but it is spotty and hard to find.

If you are really concerned then I would rent a Sattelite phone for the time you are in. Many outfitters carry them now. You pay a rental fee and the just pay for any minutes you use. Keep emergency numbers handy and you'll have a realtively compact and reliable emergency communication device.

Good Luck and have fun.

How old are the fathers?

some outfitters such as Voyageur North rent satellite phones.

Lots of outfitters rent sat phones. The prices are all about the same, but the equipment may vary. Check around.

I'm actually leading a trip for youth... So this is a piggy back question... how well do the Weather Alerts work for the Motorolas in the BWCA? I know the radios get a 2-5 mile range, but what about the Emergency weather net.

I know that isn't that important during the day, but moreso at night and for the severity of storms...

What is the cost of satellite phones? I wouldn't normally think you need them, but my wife has MS and if anything real bad happened to me she'd be in a pickle. I've always stayed "on" the beaten path with her, and saved the high adventure for the Scout and "guy" trips.

I use a small NOAA weather radio, it picks up 2 / 3 stations just about everywhere, even way out at Hog Creek (EP 36) it worked well.

I agree cell phone coverage is pretty dicey... In '04 we were at an outfitter on Moose Lake, and one guy's phone had service way up on the bluff, but only if he held it way up in the air. My daughter's phone worked in the parking lot, but her boyfriend in IL said she sounded like she was behind a waterfall.

I rent a satellite phone for the week, alot cheaper than you would think, they get you on the minutes used though, usually $2./min The clearity is better than my cell phone in the town! It does have a little delay though.
It come in a Pelican case which is watertight. I consider it my parachute.

jay

HAM Radio in the 2 meters section of the spectrum worked fine for me. If you have a modern handheld radio they also include APRS (Automatic Package Reporting System) as well as GPS that allows me to broadcast my position as well as to send/receive SMS messages and e-mail one via radio. Was able to reach both the Ely, MN repeater as well as some on the Canada side. Your family can track you thru web sites such as APRS.fi

No rental fees or payment for messages. Also I can check NOAA weather, receive alerts,...

You need to have a technician license by the FCC in order to transmit in the 2 meters spectrum (144 MHz).

Regards, Miguel

A walketalkie will only transmit a few miles if you have a clear area like a lake or flat land. No way will it work over hills and heavy cover like a forest. They work good for talking to trip mates during the trip, like if you go out fishing and dinner is ready. Another is if your group is searching for campsites you can talk to the other group.

Not sure on a ham radio. I think you need a license to transmit, test and pay the government money for the license.

Satellite phones work great anywhere in the world. You can rent or buy one. If you buy you pay for the unit and you also pay for a service plan.

I have a InReach Explorer plus unit. It uses the same satellites as a satellite phone does. With it you can send a text message or email anywhere in the world. It has a GPS unit built into it. You can also get a weather forecast in two hour increments. You can also hit a separate button and call for a rescue if needed. The people at home can see where you are on a map if you send them a link. Kind of a piece of mind for the people at home to see where you are every day. You can rent or buy one. If you buy you pay for the unit and you also pay for a service plan.

The Inreach is nice in that you get gps. You get SOS notification sent out with the push of a button. You can also get weather forecasts although each weather forecasts costs a little bit.

I borrowed one last year. Just bought a Garmin Inreach 66i while they are $100 off. Just looked that sale ended. Better mapping system on this one that allows me to use the BWCA Quetico map chip. I then have all the campsites and portages clearly marked on my GPS.

Renting a SAT phone, a Spot, or InReach device from an outfitter while out is a great idea. Personally I’m praying I never need to use the SOS function!

Ryan

Gaidin53: "Just bought a Garmin Inreach 66i while they are $100 off. Just looked that sale ended. Better mapping system on this one that allows me to use the BWCA Quetico map chip. I then have all the campsites and portages clearly marked on my GPS. "

Ryan, I've been considering the InReach and 66i for a while now, too. Big investment, but looks like it would be a good one. What do you mean by the BWCA Quetico map chip? Can you tell me (us) more about it?

Is this a record? 15 years since the OP.

Holy buckets! Yeah that might be a record! Hopefully everyone in the original posters group survived the trip without incident!

Garmin map chip. Data doesn’t show up in the Garmin apps or Garmin explore on the computer. Only shows on the actual Garmin 66i. I specifically bought this version so I could use a map chip. It does include Quetico, by the way.

Garmin BWCA map chip

Ryan

Jackfish: "

Gaidin53: "Just bought a Garmin Inreach 66i while they are $100 off. Just looked that sale ended. Better mapping system on this one that allows me to use the BWCA Quetico map chip. I then have all the campsites and portages clearly marked on my GPS. "

Ryan, I've been considering the InReach and 66i for a while now, too. Big investment, but looks like it would be a good one. What do you mean by the BWCA Quetico map chip? Can you tell me (us) more about it?"

Just adding an option, the 66i can take custom maps drawn in Basecamp (free program) and on Birdseye Topo Raster Subscription ($29 year subscription, and adding available waypoints and routes (free). As on my 62st display. I have a bunch of files posted in the GPS forum.

butthead

THEGrandRapids: "Is this a record? 15 years since the OP. "

Holy thread resurrection Batman. I did not notice this when I first commented.