Hikers and climbers have two new options to help them head into the wilderness with confidence, as Garmin has released a duo of super smart handheld GPS devices.

The new GPSMAP H1 and GPSMAP H1i Plus utilize Garmin's GPS technology to track your whereabouts and keep you in touch with the outside world when you lose signal.

Both devices feature 3.5-inch color touchscreen displays and physical buttons, which you can use to access preloaded topographic maps and satellite imagery and track your progress as you hike.

They both boast up to 145 hours of battery life in GPS mode and come with an array of high-tech safety features to keep you safe in the wilderness. Livetrack sharing, for example, allows you to share your location with loved ones back at home, while a live weather feature provides up-to-date information and warnings about local weather conditions.

If you're in danger, you can trigger an SOS alert. This signal will be received by Garmin's 24/7 international coordination center, which will pass your information on to local search and rescue agencies.

The H1i Plus is the premium device and comes with a few more bells and whistles to streamline your outdoor experience.

With an active InReach subscription, you can share photos, voice messages, and texts regardless of your position in the wilderness. There are built-in front and back cameras so you can snap a selfie or a landscape shot, and your device will also respond to voice commands.

"When your journey takes you off the grid, the new GPSMAP H1i Plus lets you connect with loved ones through a photo, a text message or a voice memo where mobile phones do not work," says Garmin's Vice President of Consumer Sales & Marketing, Susan Lyman.

"Now, you can share your adventures in real-time, sending photos when you’re at the mountain summit or communicate with friends and family from the trail."

Although they're impressive, these extra features will cost a pretty penny. The GPSMAP H1i Plus will set you back $999.99 (£849.99) while the standard H1 is priced at $699.99 (£549.99).

These devices are the latest in Garmin's range of handheld GPS devices. We've tested and been very impressed with previous models, including the InReach Mini 2, which received a rare five-star rating in our review.

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Garmin inReach Mini 2: first impressions 

If you're heading out into the backcountry in any season, one thing you can't rely on is cell service, and that's why a satellite communicator is such a vital piece of equipment. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Garmin is the gold standard in satellite messengers – handheld devices that allow you to signal for help, and sometimes more, even when you're far from civilization.

Early satellite communicators simply allowed you to trigger an emergency alert and relay your location, but these devices have grown more sophisticated in recent years. In 2017, after acquiring DeLorme, the Garmin inReach SE+ and inReach Explorer+ were the first from the brand to utilize inReach satellite communication technology, which meant two-way messaging in addition to SOS alerts and GPS navigation capabilities, all using the Iridium satellite network.

Today, Garmin says it receives over 10,000 SOS alerts from inReach devices each year, and the brand has set about making the devices smaller and lighter for backcountry use. The Garmin InReach Mini lived up to its name and presented the communications possibilities in a smaller package. Then the Garmin inReach Mini 2 came along, boasting a larger 1.75-inch display for easier in-device use, a friendlier app, a better battery life, unlimited Cloud Storage, and TracBack routing with off-course alerts.

This device has a small screen that allows you to tap out a message to a loved one or communicate with mountain rescue, and you can also communicate via the Garmin Messenger app on your phone, which is easier and faster. It comes with an all-important SOS button that can trigger an alert to emergency crews and communicate your location.

As long as you have a clear view of the sky above you and aren't under a rocky overhang or a dense canopy of trees, no matter where you are on the planet, you can send a message via the small antennae. A quick caveat here, though: there are a few countries where its use is regulated, and a few hikers have even been arrested for trying to bring one into India so do read up on which countries are embargoed before you buy.

Anyway, assuming you're using your inReach in a country that allows them, if you have an emergency, you'll press the SOS button and a message will go first to the satellites in space, then down to the Garmin Response center in Texas.

Garmin Response will contact the closest emergency services to you to activate mountain rescue, and provide updates to your selected emergency contacts. But that's worst-case scenario. The rest of the time, you can use this device to stay in touch with friends and family, either typing out your own messages or using preloaded ones.

We've used this on the trek to Everest Base Camp and from Swiss mountain cabins and found it all fairly straightforward, plus the battery lasts for months, presuming you're turning it off between uses. Messages take a few minutes to go through, and your loved ones will be able to send you messages back as long as they have the Garmin Messenger app installed. It stands on its own base if you want to set it aside while your message sends and it comes with a carabiner so you can clip it to your backpack if you want to keep it within easy reach.

A full keyboard would make this device even more user-friendly, but would also make it bigger, and of course, the app removes that issue. On the other hand, reliance on the app also means your phone needs to be in good working order. This is also a pricey model that requires a subscription plan – we've compared the different options for you below – and these start at $7.99/month.

That may seem like a big price to pay to go for a hike, but it's a small price to pay for your life, and we think if you're heading out into the wilderness, it's crucial to carry a satellite communicator, and this one has certainly earned its title as one of the best out there.

Garmin inReach Mini 2: in the field 

When I was offered the chance to trek over 11 days to Everest Base Camp, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to test out the Garmin inReach Mini 2. After all, just getting to the trailhead requires air travel, and from remote Lukla airport, I'd be heading another 40 miles into the Himalayas. While the trek is better serviced than I'd imagined, there certainly wasn't any cell service, so it seemed the ideal scenario to test the device's legendary functionality.

A few weeks after my return from Nepal, I also took the inReach Mini 2 on a yoga and hiking retreat in the Swiss Alps to a cabin where I knew there wasn't any service or WiFi and for good measure, I've taken it along on a few hikes in the Scottish Highlands but if I'm being honest, I usually have service there.

Now that I've tested this out in three countries and two continents, I think I can confidently deliver my opinion on it.

Here’s how it performed:

Design and features

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 looks like a tiny version of the walkie-talkies you might have played with as a child. It fits easily in the palm of my hand and has a small screen that displays messages and a small antenna that connects to the satellites in space.

On the top is a power button and on left-hand side are two buttons: one to navigate up on the screen and the other to navigate down. On the right-hand side is a select button (labelled with OK) and another to go back, plus that all-important SOS button. That one is actually sheltered under a cap, as shown below so you don't accidentally press it, but it's easy to just peel it back and signal for help if things go wrong.

Those buttons, which aren't that unlike the controls found on most Garmin watches, let me send messages to loved ones while on my travels and gave me some peace of mind as I ventured further afield, but there are loads of other features too.

From the home screen, you can use the up or down buttons to scroll through the menu, which includes checking messages, navigation (I checked the digital compass was accurate but won't pretend I used it to bushwhack my way across the Khumbu Valley), turn on live location tracking and get a weather forecast, which is super handy. There's also TracBack routing, which helps find your way back to your start point if you get lost or find yourself in the fog, much like what you can find on the Garmin Fenix 8.

You can send photographs to loved ones via the Garmin app, but not in the device itself and even link your Facebook account to your Garmin app and post directly to social media, but I have to admit I preferred to skip this feature.

Weight and portability

At just 3.5oz (100g), the Mini 2 is comparable to a bar of soap or a deck of cards, meaning I didn't notice it in my daypack on my treks, and it's super portable too. It's small enough that I usually just stash it in the lid pocket of my Osprey Tempest 33, but it comes with a carabiner, which makes it really easy to clip onto the shoulder strap.

I wasn't in such treacherous terrain that I felt I needed to carry it this way, but certainly if I was picking my way across a steep trail where I felt rockslides were a possibility, I can see why I might want it within instant reach. For the purposes of thorough testing, that's how I carried it in the Alps and again, it's so small and light that I didn't even notice it.

Ease of use and messaging

I tend to think the litmus test for usability is whether or not you can figure out how to work a device without reading an instruction manual, and I'm pleased to say that with a little practice, I found the Mini 2 straightforward to use.

I did play around with it a little at home once my subscription was activated and as I set up the Garmin Messenger app on my phone, and I sent a few messages using the app on my phone during my first couple of days, but the first time I used the actual device properly was just after leaving Tengboche Monastery. It was the fourth day of my trek and I had just had a chance encounter with Tenzing Norgay's son Jamling, just a few days before the anniversary of his father's first ascent of Everest. Giddy with excitement, I sat down on a rock and powered up the inReach to tell my editor about the fortuitous meeting.

The device comes preloaded with a few messages such as "I've arrived!" and "I'm having a great time" – you can also preload your own messages at home on the app – but obviously, none of these would do the experience justice. So using the up/down and select buttons, I started typing out the message "I just met Tenzing Norgay's son" using the alphabet down the left-hand side of the screen. If you were born before a certain date, this is just like typing out text messages on an old cellphone, and if you were born after a certain date, the closest thing I can liken it to is searching for a video on YouTube or Netflix.

Anyway, I found it all quite painless, though I can imagine it being more challenging to some elderly users and those with vision problems because the screen is quite small. It does come up with predictive text that's reasonably helpful, so you may not have to type every word, and you've got 160 characters to convey your message, which is less than you'll get on Twitter.

I hit send and then went to turn off the device, when it warned me that the message hadn't been sent yet, so I set it aside, and only a couple of minutes later, I had received a response.

It's definitely easier to use the app, but to me, the whole point of the device is reducing reliance on my phone. I used it again in the Alps to send a few messages and found they took a little longer to go through (perhaps 5 to 7 minutes), but the more I use it, the easier it all becomes.

Battery life

Improved battery life is one of the advantages of the Mini 2 over the Mini, and I charged the device fully using the USB-C cable provided before setting off for Nepal in early May. Since then, I've turned it on and off no more than a dozen times to send and receive messages, and at last check, it still had 64% battery left.

Obviously, if you're using it as your primary means of communication, you like to send a lot of messages from the wild and keep it on all the time for tracking and navigation purposes, it's going to drain faster, and Garmin's guide suggests that you'll need to charge it roughly every 14 days in that scenario.

Personally, I can't really understand why you'd use it as your primary means of navigation when GPS watches and maps exist, so I'd suggest keeping it mostly off and saving it for check-ins and emergencies so you never have to worry that you'll run out of juice if you get cliffed out.

If you keep it off and just bring it with you on every adventure as a standard part of your kit, Garmin says you can expect a full year out of a single charge. I believe them, but I still think it's vital to check before you go out.

Value

With a retail price of $399.99 / £289.99, I can understand why people hesitate over making this purchase. It's certainly cheaper than most GPS watches and smartphones you're likely to buy these days, but since those increasingly come with SOS functionality, it makes sense that some people don't want to cough up.

Of course, that one-off payment isn't the whole story, because you need a subscription plan to use your inReach. Every plan carries a one-time activation fee, and then the cheapest plan is $7.99 (£7.99) per month, which does add nearly $100 (£100) a year. But the plans are quite flexible, and though regular mountaineers should probably just have an ongoing plan, you can also go month-to-month, which means you could activate it for a trip like mine, or only in the months when you tend to be out in the backcountry a lot.

In short, it does add up the more you want to use it, but as a journalist who often writes about hikers whose lives have been saved thanks to an inReach device, I think that when you tumble down that canyon or find yourself in whiteout conditions on Mountain Washington, the last thing you'll be thinking is how glad you are to have saved a few hundred dollars.

There are cheaper satellite devices available such as the Zoleo (though this one has a more expensive subscription so I think it all comes out in the wash) and if you have a newer iPhone with SOS, you could keep it in a waterproof case and carry a portable charger at all times and you might be pretty well-serviced. But I think the bottom line is that this device does what it says on the tin, does it well, and you won't regret owning it if you find you're faced with spending the night on a mountain.

Garmin inReach consumer subscription plans

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If your adventures take you into remote locations, there's one piece of gear that's even more important than the right hiking boots or waterproof jacket, and that's a satellite communicator.

These devices allow you to stay in touch and summon help in the backcountry when you don't have cell service, and right now, you can grab the gold-standard Garmin InReach Messenger for just $199.99 in REI's Memorial Day sale.

That's a gigantic 33% off the regular list price for this life-saving device, and we've never seen it cheaper, even on Amazon.

These devices have saved many hikers' and skiers' lives and have been used in over 10,000 successful rescue missions across the globe. Small, rugged and lightweight, this satellite communicator enables two-way text messaging using GPS technology, even in areas with no cell coverage.

You can even send two-way messages globally and easily text back and forth directly with friends via the Garmin Messenger app, no matter where you are in the world.

Not in the US? Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the best Garmin InReach deals near you.

In order to use the InReach, you'll also need a subscription plan to send data. There are lots of options available, including annual plans if you're going to be traveling frequently, and shorter-term monthly plans if you're going camping or hiking on vacation, but don't need coverage all year round.

If you're not in the US, here are all the best Garmin InReach deals near you:

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These days, you hardly ever hear about a mountain rescue effort that doesn't involve a Garmin InReach device, and that's a good thing. But if your outdoor adventures involve more hiking boots than parachutes, you might think that a $400 satellite communicator is overkill.

Think again, says Garmin, after releasing its 2024 data that shows that the vast majority of SOS calls last year came from hikers and backpackers.

According to the Garmin 2024 Year in Review report, these two groups made up nearly half of all SOS alerts last year – that's more than mountain biking, paragliding, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling combined.

The data also shows that while SOS alerts were triggered across six continents (and three oceans), the vast majority were in North America, with the west coast and Alaska showing the heaviest InReach use.

Meanwhile, the most common reason for a hiker, or anyone, activating their InReach device, was due to injury, though 2024 saw an increase in alerts due to wildfires, flash floods and hurricanes as well as encounters with wildlife like bears and rattlesnakes.

Of course, this almost certainly doesn't indicate that hiking is more dangerous than dirt biking – even if it does pose hazards like sprained ankles – or that Americans are particularly accident prone on the trail. Most likely, it's just a question of numbers. More people go hiking than skiing – according to Statista, 61 million Americans went hiking last year compared to just 18 million skiers, never mind the fact that most skiers are on resorts where there is cell service.

What this hopefully does indicate is that hikers are increasingly taking safety seriously. Since hiking and backpacking can take us way off the beaten path, cell service is often unavailable, which poses a problem if you fall, become ill or get lost.

With a device like the Garmin InReach Mini 2, you can quickly send a distress signal or communicate with emergency responders, even in areas with no cell phone service, all over the world (but don't take yours to India, or you might get arrested).

An active subscription is required with an InReach device, with plans starting at $14.99 a month. It's a small price to pay for your life, but there are other options if that's not in your budget.

Just yesterday, we reported on Overwatch x Rescue, an SOS subscription plan that costs $79.99 per year and works with InReach devices as well as iPhone 14 or higher running on iOS 18 in North America and. Then there are Personal Locator Beacons like this one on Amazon that don't require a subscription at all. Newer iPhones have an SOS function but if this is your backup, you'll need to make sure you carry a portable charger.

If you're considering updating your hiking kit, get more guidance in our article on satellite communicators.

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When three hikers "panicked" in whiteout conditions and activated their Garmin inReach device they didn't include much detail for rescue crews to go on – but using the emergency contact feature may have saved their lives.

According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, the three men – Jack Tragni, 24 and Vaishnav Raja, 25, both of Boston and Justin Yang, 24 of Cambridge – had set off to hike Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains on Sunday at around 9 a.m. as a training hike for Mount Washington.

The group encountered deep snow and whiteout conditions across the ridge, and while officials say the hikers were "fairly well prepared for winter," they lacked experience above treeline.

Hiking above treeline means you're more exposed to the elements and, particularly in winter, can make it much harder to navigate. The men were reportedly having difficulty following the trail and after going over Mount Lincoln, realized they weren't equipped to return. Officials say they activated their Garmin inReach satellite communicator at around 5:30 p.m. knowing "it would take hours for rescuers to get to their location."

The initial alert didn't contain much information for rescuers, and no more communication was received because the hikers found it difficult to operate the device in the cold and wind.

Fortunately, the device allows users to save emergency contacts, and because the hikers had previously set up this feature, officials were able to establish communication with people who knew of the group's intended route. The emergency contacts told officials the men had been in touch via text and shared that they were suffering from cold-related injuries.

Rescue teams were able to reach the hikers below the Greenleaf Hut just after 9 p.m. where they found that some of their light sources had gone dead. They gave them headlamps and escorted them back to the trailhead which took around an hour.

The hikers in this story did a lot of things right, but the case highlights the importance of respecting your ability level, learning navigation, carrying satellite communication and leaving a detailed plan with someone you trust. In addition, if you're venturing out in winter conditions, it's advised to charge your headlamp or flashlight and carry extra batteries.

How to add contacts to your Garmin InReach

To add an emergency contact to your inReach device, log in at the Garmin Explore website then complete the following steps:

1. Select Contacts (you may need to select My Info in the top banner to see Contacts).
2. Select Add.
3. Enter the contact's information.
4. Save details.
5. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each contact to be added.
6. Sync the device when you're finished.

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Garmin lovers can now hit the trails with a new piece of GPS kit as the sports tech specialist has just launched its latest range of handheld navigators.

Combining Garmin’s popular GPS tech with immersive maps and several new navigation features, the new Montana navigators - named for the Big Sky state in the US - come in three different models.

Featuring a five-inch, glove-compatible color touchscreen, the Montana 710, 710i, and 760i satellite communicators are designed for rough use during backcountry activities like hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. They’re thermal, shock, and vibration resistant and claim an IPX7 rating for water resistance, which should allowing them to continue functioning at up to a meter of depth for 30 minutes.

All three use Garmin’s TopoActive mapping technology, which provides detailed visualizations of rugged terrain, coastlines, and summits. Alternatively, you can plot routes with downloadable satellite image maps, which Garmin claims are ‘high resolution’ and ‘photorealistic’.

Alongside tracking your journey, the Montana range aims to provide valuable insight into your progress with its navigation sensors. Among others, the built-in altimeter provides relevant data on your elevation, while a barometer measures the weather and a three-axis electronic compass keeps you on course.

All three models are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides 24 hours of life in GPS mode and 440 hours in expedition mode.

Suitable for remote backcountry adventures, the 710i and 760i models feature Garmin’s InReach satellite technology. Not reliant on phone signals, InReach tech can be used to communicate from all manner of remote locations, helping hikers call for help in extreme circumstances.

Life-saving on several occasions, Garmin InReach devices have been used to call for emergency help more than 10,000 times since 2012. In October, a hiker stranded on a Colorado mountain was rescued after calling for help using his InReach device. Only the previous month a Canadian hiker who’d been mauled by a bear was rescued thanks to his InReach device.

Despite its life-saving capabilities, InReach tech can be costly, requiring a monthly satellite subscription priced between $11.95 / £14.99 and $79.95 / £49.99 depending on your chosen features, as well as the initial upfront cost of the device itself.

Top of the Montana range, the 760i model also includes an 8-megapixel camera which automatically geotags images so you can return to your favorite spots later.

“No matter your adventure, the new Montana series can guide you and keep you connected, even when exploring off the grid,” claims Dan Bartel, Garmin’s Vice President of Global Consumer Sales.

Now available on the Garmin website, the Montana 710 has a list price of $649.99 / £549.99. Its satellite-capable alternative, the 710i, costs $799.99 / £729.99.

With both InReach tech and a geotagging camera, the top-of-the-range 760i costs $899.99 / £799.99.

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For some, Garmin’s InReach range of satellite communicators is a godsend, a handy tool to help lost or injured hikers call for rescue in emergencies.

Not reliant on mobile phone signals, InReach messengers can be used to send messages and distress calls in all manner of remote backcountry locations.

In the past decade alone, more than 10,000 lost or injured people have used a Garmin InReach device to call for emergency help, but be careful where you take them.

A British hiker who goes by ‘Hiker Heather’ on social media, recently found out the hard way that some countries don’t take kindly to Garmin’s innovative satellite tech.

On the way to catch a domestic flight in India’s Delhi airport, the social media star, who has more than 28,000 Instagram followers, was stopped by security officers while carrying her Garmin InReach device.

She was then informed that Garmin technology was illegal in India, and handed over to local police.

Heather was questioned and held in custody for over 10 hours before she was finally released on the condition that she return for a court appearance in the near future.

“Learn from my mistake, don't try and bring your Garmin to India,” she said in an emotional video posted to Instagram.

All satellite communicator devices are illegal in India to prevent security risks and unwanted surveillance.

Heather’s experience is far from an isolated incident, with several foreign adventurers falling victim to the law. Only last month, a Canadian ultra-runner was detained, questioned, and made to pay more than $2,000 in bail and legal fees for possessing an InReach device in India.

Tina Lewis, who’s previously won the Leadville 100 trail race, said she was ‘not aware’ that GPS devices were illegal, and had to endure ‘hours of investigation’ by Indian police.

India isn’t the only country where the Garmin InReach and similar devices are banned, the following countries also limit or prohibit the use of personal satellite technology.

• Afghanistan
• Crimea (region of Ukraine)
• Cuba
• Georgia
• Iran
• North Korea
• Myanmar
• Sudan
• Syria
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• China
• Russia

Heather currently remains in India, taking advice from the British Embassy while she awaits a court appearance.

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A US-based ultra runner has revealed she was arrested in India earlier this month for carrying a popular satellite communicator used by hikers and trail runners to stay connected in the backcountry.

Posting to Instagram, Tina Lewis, who is from Canada but lives in Colorado, says she had been traveling with her Garmin InReach in India for 2.5 months without any issues.

"I brought my Garmin InReach device as I do for many of my international trips for camping, possible mountain adventures, and to use when there is no cell reception for safety as a solo female traveler."

The InReach allows backcountry users to exchange messages with friends, family and rescue officials even without cell service. However, when Lewis arrived in Goa in early December, officials detained her on the basis of the 1933 Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, which states that possessing wireless telegraphy equipment without a proper license is prohibited.

"I was not aware a GPS device was illegal," says Lewis, who shares that she endured "hours of investigation" and days in court before being released and cleared.

The runner, who won the Leadville 100 in 2012, has continued her travels despite the experience and is now in Kerala, writing: "I’m not sure I will feel the same way about the country as I did before but I’m willing to at least leave with a better experience, and some good stories. I am most certainly getting the entire India experience."

She also claims that since her arrest, at least two other foreign tourists have been arrested for carrying the device, including an American and a Czech cyclist.

Garmin InReach devices have saved many hikers' and skiers' lives and have been used in over 10,000 successful rescue missions across the globe. Small, rugged and lightweight, this satellite communicator enables two-way text messaging using GPS technology, even in areas with no cell coverage. However, in Garmin's information page about using the device internationally, the company does issue the following warning:

"iIReach devices operate on the Iridium satellite network, which provides 100% global coverage. However, some countries require prior permission or a government-issued registration code to activate or use satellite communication devices. Other countries completely prohibit the use of satellite communicators. In addition, United States embargoes prohibit providing satellite communications products and services in some countries."

The following countries may prohibit or limit the use of your satellite communicator:

• Afghanistan
• Crimea region of Ukraine
• Cuba
• Georgia (SMS)
• India
• Iran
• North Korea
• Myanmar
• Sudan
• Syria
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• China
• Russia

If you are planning on traveling abroad with your InReach or a similar device, you can learn more about countries that may prohibit their use here.

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If your adventures take you into remote locations, there's one piece of gear that's even more important than the right hiking boots or waterproof jacket, and that's a satellite communicator.

These devices allow you to stay in touch and summon help in the backcountry when you don't have cell service, and right now, you can grab the gold-standard Garmin InReach Messenger for just $199.99 in REI's Memorial Day sale.

That's a gigantic 33% off the regular list price for this life-saving device, and we've never seen it cheaper, even on Amazon.

These devices have saved many hikers' and skiers' lives and have been used in over 10,000 successful rescue missions across the globe. Small, rugged and lightweight, this satellite communicator enables two-way text messaging using GPS technology, even in areas with no cell coverage.

You can even send two-way messages globally and easily text back and forth directly with friends via the Garmin Messenger app, no matter where you are in the world.

Not in the US? Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the best Garmin InReach deals near you.

In order to use the InReach, you'll also need a subscription plan to send data. There are lots of options available, including annual plans if you're going to be traveling frequently, and shorter-term monthly plans if you're going camping or hiking on vacation, but don't need coverage all year round.

If you're not in the US, here are all the best Garmin InReach deals near you:

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Two hikers suffering from altitude sickness on a New Mexico mountain managed to signal for help just before their cell phones died, prompting an eight-hour rescue mission.

According to a Facebook post by Cibola Search and Rescue, the hikers were on the popular La Luz trail in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque on Monday. They reportedly reached the Sandia Crest, which forms the high point of the range at 10,678 feet in elevation but began to experience symptoms of altitude sickness upon their descent.

The hikers were able to communicate their circumstances to a friend before their phone batteries died, and the friend alerted mountain rescue. Just after 6 p.m., several emergency crews arrived at the scene, with one team descending from the peak, a second ascending from the trailhead and a further 20 volunteers combing side trails.

When the hikers were located, it was determined that one was unable to hike out on their own and was transported down the mountain on a wheeled stretcher. Both hikers were transported to the hospital and mission was completed at 2 a.m.

The Forest Service reports that the La Luz trail gains 3,200 vertical feet over 7.5 miles, warning that every year hikers are rescued from the trail, and some have lost their lives. In 2021, 20-year old Brandon Foster was found dead off the trail, just nine months after another man perished near the Crest. The Fores Services warns all hikers that they must be well-prepared physically and able to care for themselves in the event of a mishap and reminds hikers to know when to turn back, writing:

"You can also hike part of the trail. There is no rule that says you have to walk the whole trail. Use common sense when hiking. If you feel or think it is time to turn around, do so."

Backcountry safety at altitude

Altitude can do weird things to your body, and altitude sickness can strike without warning in elevations of over 8,000 feet, but it's more common among those who don't take time to acclimate. The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to take several days to adjust to new altitude before hiking or ascending higher. Learn more in our article on altitude sickness.

This case also highlights the importance of carrying reliable communications devices when venturing into the backcountry. Had these hikers' phones died sooner, or cell service been unavailable, they might have spent a long night on the mountain where overnight lows are currently around freezing.

The best method for communication is a satellite communicator such as the Garmin InReach device, which will hold a charge for weeks and work even when you don't have cell service as is often the case in the backcountry. 

If you choose to rely on your phone, new iPhones have the SOS function which will work without service, but it's vital that you also carry a portable charger and charging cable. Learn more in our article on how to keep your phone charged on a hike.

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Mountain rescue teams in Colorado started the week by issuing safety warnings to hikers after two separate incidents resulted in overnight rescue missions over the weekend. In both cases, solo hikers were attempting to climb 14ers – mountains over 14,000 feet high – when they became cliffed out and found themselves unable to climb higher or descend.

The first call came in on Saturday evening when a hiker used his cell phone to report that he was cliffed out on Quandary Peak near Breckenridge. Quandary is generally considered one of the easiest 14ers in the state to climb, but only when it's climbed by the standard East Ridge route. According to reporting in the Summit Daily, this hiker was near the summit on the West Ridge, which entails a Class 3 climb according to 14ers.com, and he had boxed himself in.

Rescue crews approached the area by helicopter and established contact with the hiker, but found him in terrain they felt uncomfortable traversing in the dark. Consequently, all teams spent the night at 14,000 feet while a mental health clinician coached the hiker through what the Summit County Sheriff’s Office public affairs sergeant Mike Schilling describes as a "pretty stressful situation."

At sunrise, teams were able to hoist the man to safety via helicopter, but rescuers warn all hikers and climbers of the importance of preparedness when doing route research as well as learning navigation skills.

The following afternoon another solo hiker activated their Garmin In-Reach from the Kirk Couloir, a narrow couloir splitting the cliffs between two 14ers, Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Peak in southern Colorado. According to 14ers.com, this route should only be attempted with stable spring/early summer snow.

A news release from Custer County Search and Rescue reports that the hiker had become stranded on a narrow ledge at 13,400 feet due to mixed rock, snow and ice conditions. Again, the rescue took until the following morning to complete and a video shared by Custer County SAR shows the hiker in deep snow.

Custer County SAR reminds all mountain recreationists that with shorter days and overnight freezing temperatures, winter conditions have arrived in the Colorado mountains and everyone needs to be prepared for challenging conditions and long rescues.

Staying safe in the mountains in winter

Though the calendar says it's autumn, winter conditions have arrived at high altitude and anyone attempting to climb in alpine zones should be equipped with crampons, a helmet, an ice axe and avalanche gear, as well as possessing mountaineering skills. Without this gear and experience, you should consider your 14er season over until next summer.

It's advisable to carry a Garmin InReach device, a satellite communicator that will work even without cell service and has been used by over 10,000 people to get emergency help. It's also important to remember that when conditions are challenging, rescue can take many hours.

"Rescues can take hours to organize, aviation assets are weather and often daylight dependent, and back-country users need to be self-sufficient while waiting on rescue resources to arrive," warns Custer County SAR.

Make sure you are always carrying everything you need to spend the night on the mountain, including a shelter such as a bivy sack, a headlamp, extra warm clothing, water and snacks.

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A Colorado hiker has been rescued from a scary situation by activating a satellite communication device after becoming stranded on an unmarked route.

According to a Facebook post from Mountain Rescue Aspen, the call came in on Monday morning alerting them to a stranded hiker in the vicinity of Capitol Lake. The hiker had set off on Sunday with the intention of hiking the “Hell Roaring Ridge” near Capitol Peak, one of Colorado’s deadliest 14ers.

"This is a challenging route that is difficult to navigate and is not a marked trail," writes MRA.

The hiker had camped in the area the night before, but in the morning became "cliffed out"  – a term used to describe a hiker getting stuck in an area where they can no longer proceed either up or down.

Fortunately, the hiker had done several things right. They were carrying food and provisions, a shelter and a Garmin InReach device which they used to contact a friend. That friend alerted mountain rescue and the team was able to establish contact with the hiker.

"It was determined that they would be able to shelter in place until the Mountain Rescue team was able to get to them," writes MRA.

Team members were able to reach the hiker by 12 p.m. using GPS coordinates and local knowledge of the surrounding area. The hiker was uninjured and was assisted back to the trailhead.

Though this scenario ended well and the hiker was well prepared for emergencies,  Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public of the dangers of hiking in the mountains, warning:

"Be extra cautious when it comes to taking routes that are unmarked."

What is a Garmin InReach?

In October 2022, we reported that over 10,000 people have used Garmin inReach devices to get emergency help. The inReach Messenger is a tiny device that's a potential lifesaver when you're camping, hiking, or bikepacking in remote locations. It connects to your phone via the Garmin Messenger app (available for both iOS and Android), and lets you send and receive text messages via satellite, letting you stay in touch even when there's no cellular connectivity.

You can also use the device to send an interactive SOS to Garmin's control room, which will put you in touch with the appropriate emergency or rescue services wherever you are in the world.

In order to use the inReach Messenger, you'll need a Garmin inReach subscription. There are long-term plans for regular explorers, plus monthly options if you're only planning to be away for a short time. There are three consumer plans (safety, recreation, and expedition) that you can choose from depending on how many messages you want to send, and which location and weather features you want.

Here are the best Garmin inReach Messenger deals near you:

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On or off grid, Garmin is promising to keep you connected with the launch of the new InReach Messenger Plus, which adds photo and voice messaging capabilities to the SOS device for the first time.

Retailing for $571.06 / £429.99, this satellite communicator wants to be more than an emergency tool, incorporating a wide range of bells and whistles to sweeten the deal. The new image and voice-send tools will allow users to share selfies from signal-less summits and contact loved ones in the wilderness.

These functions might not seem vital, but they can also be extremely useful in the event of an emergency, used as part of Garmin's SOS system to show and tell responders additional details, helping them find people who've wandered off trail or suffered an injury. 

Just last week a Canadian hiker who had been mauled by a bear was rescued after using the InReach system.

But that was far from an isolated incident. The InReach system is literally life-saving, with tens of thousands of people world-wide using it to get emergency help. Should there be cause for alarm, the inReach Messenger Plus will send an immediate message to Garmin’s 24/7 international emergency assistance center, which will organize a response accordingly. 

As it’s a satellite communicator, messages sent using the inReach Messenger Plus are not reliant on mobile signals, making the communicator all the more suited for remote adventures. 

Long-lasting and durable, the inReach Messenger Plus runs off a rechargeable lithium battery with up to 600 hours of juice depending on how it's being used. The rugged exterior is also built to last, capable of withstanding temperatures down to 14°F / -10°C, while surviving up to a meter of water exposure for 30 minutes. 

Impressive but not exactly cheap, the inReach Messenger Plus will set you back the cost of the device, plus an additional $19.91 / £14.99 a month in a satellite subscription, which is required for use. 

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Another Canadian hiker was mauled by a bear over the weekend, prompting officials to highlight the importance of carrying a satellite communicator in the event of an emergency in the backcountry. 

The attack on the 45-year-old man occurred in a remote area of Crowsnest Pass, southwest Alberta on Friday morning, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A news release says the man was hiking near Window Mountain Lake when the bear attacked him, but did not disclose whether the bear was a grizzly or black bear. The incident took place just two weeks after another man was attacked by a grizzly bear northwest of Calgary.

Emergency services received the SOS activation at 11:19am from a Garmin device, prompting officials to dispatch to the area where they discovered the hiker with "extensive" injuries. The hiker was airlifted to a hospital in Calgary where he is being treated.

"No matter what your experience level is, while exploring the wilderness, SOS devices are an essential tool for anyone who may find themselves in an emergency situation," writes the RCMP.

"It is the most reliable way to call for help after sustaining an injury in an isolated area."

What is Garmin's SOS feature?

The Garmin inReach messenger is a tiny device that's a potential lifesaver when you're camping and hiking in remote locations. It connects to your phone via the Garmin Messenger app (available for both iOS and Android), and lets you send and receive text messages via satellite, letting you stay in touch even when there's no cellular connectivity.

You can also use the device to send an interactive SOS to Garmin's control room, which will put you in touch with the appropriate emergency or rescue services wherever you are in the world.

In order to use the inReach Messenger, you'll need a Garmin inReach subscription. There are long-term plans for regular explorers, plus monthly options if you're only planning to be away for a short time.

Bear safety

Knowing what to do if you meet a bear is a prerequisite for hiking on North America's trails. With black bears found across the country and the more aggressive grizzly bears found in several states, it's important to know how to avoid an encounter in the first place and what to do should you end up face-to-face with one.

Right now, bears are fattening up for winter torpor which means human-bear interactions are on the rise. If you are recreating in bear country, make sure you understand what to do if you meet a bear and keep your bear spray close to hand.

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Memorial Day typically kicks off the busiest two-week climbing period of the year on Denali, and this week has kept mountain rescue teams for the National Park on their toes on North America's tallest peak. Rescuers have reportedly spent several days trying to reach and deliver aid to five climbers who are suffering from hypothermia and frostbite.

According to a news release from the National Parks Service, mountaineering rangers received an SOS message via a Garmin InReach satellite communication device at 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning reporting that a team of three climbers on the 20,310-foot summit was hypothermic and unable to descend.

"Rangers maintained two-way communications with the team until approximately 3:30 a.m., when the team texted that they planned to descend to the ‘Football Field’, a flat expanse at 19,600-foot elevation," states the report.

Park helicopters were unable to land in the area due to adverse weather conditions on Tuesday morning, so the Alaska Air National Guard was recruited. Their crews managed to spot two of the climbers at between 19,000 and 20,000 feet just before noon, while the third was located by a climbing guide near Zebra Rocks lower down. The helicopter was finally able to land at a camp at 14,200 feet at 5 p.m.

In a separate incident, two climbers had been receiving treatment for frostbite at a medical tent at the same camp for several days, and the helicopter was able to evacuate them by air before returning to attempt to reach the climbers higher up the mountain.

By 9 p.m., one of the three climbers had made their way down to the 17,200-foot high camp and was experiencing severe frostbite and hypothermia. An NPS ground team ascended from 14,200 feet and were ultimately able to evacuate the patient at around 10:15 p.m.

Clouds moved back into the area that evening and attempts to reach the remaining two climbers failed. As of Wednesday morning, they remained at the Football Field and rescuers were waiting for the weather to clear before trying to reach them again.

Just last week, a Japanese climber was found dead on Denali while a month ago, we reported on a New York forest ranger who died in a 1,000-foot fall while climbing in Denali National Park.

The NPS reports that there are currently 506 climbers attempting climbs on Denali. So far this season, 17 out of an additional 117 climbers have reached the mountain’s summit, equating to a 15 per cent summit rate.

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Update April 2: This deal has come to an end but we've found an even better one here.

One thing you're not likely to find out in the backcountry is cell service, and that's why it's so important to invest in a satellite communicator. Typically, they're far from cheap, but right now, you can pick up the tiny Garmin InReach Mini for just $284 at Amazon. That's a great savings of 29% off the list price for this life-saving device, and the cheapest we've ever seen it anywhere.

With the Mini 2, you can send messages to other InReach devices, and connecting the device to your phone via Bluetooth allows you to send text messages via satellite using the Garmin Messenger app. Sending an interactive SOS alert will connect you to a 24-hour emergency response center, which works with rescue teams worldwide to get you the help you need.

The Garmin InReach Mini 2, which dropped in 2022, is tiny but powerful, letting you stay in touch with friends and family even when you've got no phone signal, and summon emergency help from anywhere in the world (though there are some countries where its use is restricted).

If you're planning on spending time in the wilderness but outside of the US, just scroll down to the bottom of this page for the best Garmin InReach deals near you.

The bundle includes the satellite communicator in Flame Red, a 10ft USB Type A to USB Type C Cable, USB charging adapters, a USB car adapter plus a microfiber cleaning cloth and portable battery charger for longer adventures.

In order to use the InReach Mini 2, you'll also need a subscription plan to send data. There are lots of options available, including annual plans if you're going to be traveling frequently, and shorter-term monthly plans if you're going on a camping or hiking on vacation, but don't need coverage all year round.

If you're not in the US, here are the best Garmin InReach deals near you:

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Winter is showing no signs of abating in Colorado's mountains and while that makes for epic powder skiing in the backcountry, it also means high avalanche risk – something one skier learned the hard way last week.

On Thursday, March 28, a skier was swept 2,000 feet down Buffalo Mountain when an avalanche struck. Buffalo Mountain is a 12,777 foot peak that looms over Silverthorne and Frisco on the north side of I-70. According to a Facebook post, Summit County Rescue Group received an alert at 10:14 a.m. that an avalanche had occurred in Silver Couloir.

"Initial reports were of a skier who was swept out of sight of their companion, who had begun a transceiver search while descending the path. Ultimately, the injured party was found to be close to the toe of the slide, and with what were believed to be mild to moderate injuries."

The report continues that the avalanche didn't seem substantial in size, but the "significant" vertical drop allowed it to carry the skier over half a kilometer, more than enough to "cause serious injury or even death."

However, the skier was prepared for avalanche conditions, deploying their airbag, which meant they were never fully buried by snow or debris. An avalanche airbag is designed to fit inside a ski backpack and when activated, fills with gas to keep you afloat in a slide, and create a pocket of air around you so you can breathe if you do get buried. They were also able to activate their Garmin InReach GPS device, which meant rescuers were able to locate them despite "very spotty cell coverage" in the area.

Due to high winds, rescue crews deployed on foot and placed the injured party in a toboggan before skiing them out and transporting them to the hospital via ambulance for treatment. 

This incident could have been a lot worse, but fortunately, it appears the skier had avalanche safety training and was able to employ safety tools. SCRG reminds backcountry adventurers to immediately call 911 before calling anyone else if you see an avalanche.

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A couple killed by a grizzly bear at a Canadian National Park last week sent a simple but ominous final message from their Garmin communicator before succumbing to their injuries: "bear attack bad".

As The Guardian reports, the pair have now been named as Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse. Both were experienced hikers and campers, well-versed in wildlife safety, and had packed appropriately for their trip into the backcountry with bear spray, a cellphone, and a satellite communicator that would allow them to stay in touch with family even without mobile connectivity, and call for lifesaving help in an emergency.

On the evening of September 31, Inglis's uncle received text from the pair informing them that they had reached base safely after a delay. However, shortly later he got a call from Garmin's InReach support center informing him that the couple had activated the device's interactive SOS function, and sent a short but chilling message.

The support center, which is connected to emergency services all over the world, also notified Parks Canada, which immediately dispatched a specialized team that deals specifically with wildlife attacks. However, bad weather meant they were unable to use a helicopter, and by the time the team arrived on the scene, Inglis, Gusse and their dog Tris had sadly passed away.

All precautions followed

The wildlife attack team found the bear later that day – an elderly female with teeth in poor condition and unusually low fat stores. Parks Canada has said it will not speculate on the cause of the attack, but it has echoes of a similar incident in 2018 when a starving grizzly attacked and killed a woman and her child in in Yukon.

The couple had followed proper safety precautions, and their food cache was hung up well away from their tent, undisturbed. Their family believe they were probably taken surprise while reading in their tent. They had deployed a can bear spray, and there were signs that they had tried to scare off the animal.

"They lived for being in the backcountry and were two of the most cautious people I know," said a relative shortly after the incident. "They knew bear protocol and followed it to a tee."

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You’ve probably heard the old adage that you’re more likely to get hurt driving to the trailhead than you are on the hike, but according to new data from Garmin, that may not actually be true. A newly published report shows that a staggering 39% of SOS triggers to Garmin’s emergency response service come in from hikers and backpackers – more than three times that of drivers.

The data, released in October 2022, details 10,000 SOS calls that came in from Garmin’s InReach satellite communications devices over the past 11 years. When a user runs into trouble such as becoming lost or sustaining an injury and they’re outside of cell service, they can trigger an alert on their handheld Garmin InReach device which sends a distress signal to GEOS Worldwide, a 24/7 emergency monitoring and incident response service located in Texas. The signal communicates their precise location so that a local rescue team can be mobilized.

The figures were accompanied by mapping showing the location of the triggers, which are clearly grouped around mountainous regions where people like to hike such as the Pacific Crest Trail, the Rocky Mountains, Patagonia, the Alps and New Zealand.

The next largest group of users requesting callouts were drivers at 12%, followed by motorcyclists, climbers/mountaineers and boaters. As for the reason for the trigger, it may come as no surprise that injury and medical emergencies accounted for more than half of all calls. 

Now, there are no reliable figures on how many people go hiking, but it’s likely that the sheer volume of hikers as compared to skiers and paragliders may account for much of the disproportion, and we’ve no way of knowing whether hikers are more likely to own a Garmin InReach device as compared to people engaging other activities. It’s also clear that hikers are more likely to enter into an area without cell service as compared to drivers, so again, the gap between those two groups may be smaller than the data suggests. 

What the numbers do tell us, however, is that emergencies can and do happen on the trail, and this reinforces the need to be prepared whenever you’re out in the wilderness. Every time you’re setting off for a hike, make sure you follow these essential hiking safety recommendations:

• Tell someone where you are going
• Check the weather forecast in the area where you’re going via a reliable weather app
• Carry a compass and know how to read a map
• Carry an emergency beacon or satellite messenger
• Dress in hiking layers
• Stay within your skill and fitness level
• Carry an emergency shelter, emergency blanket and first aid kit (mountain rescue can take hours to reach you)

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Garmin has launched a new device that allows you to send text messages anywhere in the world, including locations without cell phone coverage, helping you stay in contact and reach emergency services when you're adventuring in the backcountry.

If you enjoy exploring remote locations, you'll likely already be familiar with the Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator. The inReach Messenger also uses satellite tech, but rather than working as a standalone device, it connects to your smartphone via the new Garmin Messenger app (available for iOS and Android). It will automatically choose between Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite connectivity depending on coverage to ensure messages are sent and received. 

It supports group messaging so you can stay in touch with all members of your group, plus people back home, and supports GPS location sharing so you can always be found.

If you need urgent help, you can send an interactive SOS to the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center, which works with international emergency services to get you the assistance you need as soon as possible. If your phone battery dies, the inReach Messenger can give it enough juice to send an emergency message.

The inReach Messenger is available now direct from Garmin for $299.99/£249.99, and requires an inReach subscription plan for global messaging. There are various different plans to choose from, depending on how often you'll be traveling to remote locations and how many messages you'll be sending.

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