Emergency Devices
As is noted elsewhere in this website, Isle Royale is a wilderness island located in Lake Superior. The weather and the trail and water conditions can change quickly. There are many ways to become injured and/or to experience a health or medical emergency.
For the most part, your cell phone won't work on most of Isle Royale. There are some rare places on the Island (mostly on some open, high elevation, places) where you might be able to get a Canadian cell signal. (Do you have international roaming enabled on your cellphone?)
If an injury or severe medical emergency arises, how will you request help (particularly if you are alone)? The nearest help could be MANY miles away. Your cell phone probably will not get a cell tower signal. Even if you have another person with you, they would have to leave you all alone--and maybe travel 5-15 miles-- before they can locate someone who can send out a request for help. (Such a person may be a Park Ranger, a boater with a two-way radio, a park visitor with a satellite phone--or someone with a (emergency) satellite communication device).
These devices are becoming more popular each year. Battery life is getting longer. Signal strength is getting stronger. The devices are getting smaller. And, there are getting to be more options available.
In almost every instance, you are going to have to pay to purchase (or perhaps rent) the device, pay for a monthly or yearly subscription (sort of like with a cellphone), and you may have to download some maps or apps in order to make the device fully functional.
Here is a link to an introductory informational article regarding such devices--published by REI Co-op. (Click the link).
Here is an article in which some of these devices are reviewed
An Article: "Do I Need a Satellite Communication Device for Hiking?"
-An article with links to various blog posts on Andrew Surka's website
Reviews of some satellite phones for backpacking
A link to the Garmin InReach Mini 2 (One of the more popular devices)
Click this link for more reviews of these Satellite Communication Devices.
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For the most part, your cell phone won't work on most of Isle Royale. There are some rare places on the Island (mostly on some open, high elevation, places) where you might be able to get a Canadian cell signal. (Do you have international roaming enabled on your cellphone?)
If an injury or severe medical emergency arises, how will you request help (particularly if you are alone)? The nearest help could be MANY miles away. Your cell phone probably will not get a cell tower signal. Even if you have another person with you, they would have to leave you all alone--and maybe travel 5-15 miles-- before they can locate someone who can send out a request for help. (Such a person may be a Park Ranger, a boater with a two-way radio, a park visitor with a satellite phone--or someone with a (emergency) satellite communication device).
These devices are becoming more popular each year. Battery life is getting longer. Signal strength is getting stronger. The devices are getting smaller. And, there are getting to be more options available.
In almost every instance, you are going to have to pay to purchase (or perhaps rent) the device, pay for a monthly or yearly subscription (sort of like with a cellphone), and you may have to download some maps or apps in order to make the device fully functional.
Here is a link to an introductory informational article regarding such devices--published by REI Co-op. (Click the link).
Here is an article in which some of these devices are reviewed
An Article: "Do I Need a Satellite Communication Device for Hiking?"
-An article with links to various blog posts on Andrew Surka's website
Reviews of some satellite phones for backpacking
A link to the Garmin InReach Mini 2 (One of the more popular devices)
Click this link for more reviews of these Satellite Communication Devices.
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