Satellite Phones – Connecting You Beyond Limitations

In the United States, neither the Department of the Interior nor the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service keeps track of missing persons. However, using the National Park Service’s reported SAR (Search and Rescue) incidents, we can set a baseline statistic for lost backpackers. In 2013 alone, 2,348 individuals were reported as lost on federal lands with a 90% success rate of retrieval.

According to National Geographic, most of these incidents revolve around day hikers straying or falling off a trail without cellular signal. This very scenario was brought to the silver screen in the 2010 blockbuster 127 Hours. In this retelling of hiker Aron Ralston’s fight for survival, Aron wanders off the marked path in Utah’s Canyonland National Park and soon becomes trapped between a boulder and the canyon’s wall. Aron attempts to use his cell phone to call for help, but realizes he is out of range of the nearest cellular tower. Without spoiling the ending, Aron eventually escapes the chasm to retell his story, albeit with life altering injuries.

Many seasoned expeditioners have invested in satellite phones as a form of insurance. One such instance took place in the summer of 2022 on the “Top-of-the-World-Highway” in Alaska. Retired Satcom Direct employees, Richard and Cindy Shenk were two hours from cellular service when their friend’s motor home was forced off the road by oncoming traffic. The motor home teetered on the ledge of a 1,500-foot drop. The driver crawled out of the side window and used their rental Iridium Extreme to hail a tow truck. Disaster averted; they were on their way 48 hours later.