IR Emergencies and what to do

[johnhens]

Island Inquiries…What do you do when things go wrong?

Let’s face it. Things in life do go wrong, even on beautiful Isle Royale. The best way you can be ready for these curveballs is to plan ahead and prepare for whatever your chosen park experience may throw at you. Many services available on the mainland are not available on Isle Royale.

☑Cell phone service is unreliable; do not depend on it.
When things go wrong nowadays, many of us reach for our cell phone. On Isle Royale, chances are it isn’t going to work. So how do you get a message out for help if you have an EMERGENCY? If you or someone in your party is mobile on foot, make contact with a boat at a dock that has a marine radio. Or, if you or someone in your party is mobile, travel to a staffed ranger station (these locations can change annually - check when you arrive in the park). If you are not mobile, waiting for a fellow visitor to come by to assist in getting help is a last resort. In the case that your cell phone does have a connection, or if you have an emergency assist device like a personal locator beacon, dial (440) 546-5945 to contact the park’s dispatch. This number is the most direct way to contact park staff in an emergency.

☑Emergency response and evacuation take time, requiring you to rely upon your own skills and equipment.
Every emergency response the park performs looks different because the circumstances behind the incident, where the incident occurs, and what current weather conditions are all influence how the response is implemented. Come prepared with a first aid kit, warm clothing/rain gear for varying conditions, extra parts and tools (for boats), a map and compass (and know how to use them), safety assist devices (a whistle or a personal location beacon), and plenty of food and water (with a water filter).

Find out safety information specific to the type of Isle Royale experience you are planning: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/safety.htm

[IRexpat]

Bumping thread with some updates.

Satellite cell texting coming available- currently Beta testing by TMobile, likely to spread to other carriers... which might nullify needing to bring the InReaches or other dedicated satellite comm devices. Questions are: strength and reliability of the phone text to satellite.

Also, wondering if NPS installed a cell node... the FCC coverage map shows 100% coverage around Wash Harbor; IME we've gotten text and limited data while sitting on the deck at old and new camp stores. I wouldn't call that "100%" tho...

https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/location-s ... ech=tech4g

[Ingo]

I know there's been public WiFi at the Windigo pavilion for a couple years. From hiker reports, it seems that more and more folks are getting signals on the ridge, suggesting that carriers have improved their coverage and/or strength.

[kkrause]

I know there's been public WiFi at the Windigo pavilion for a couple years. From hiker reports, it seems that more and more folks are getting signals on the ridge, suggesting that carriers have improved their coverage and/or strength.

Last summer I was able to facetime from the overlook near the top of the climb out of E Chickenbone, and I got a text out at the Mt Franklin/Greenstone Ridge junction (AT&T)

[jerry]

Many years ago, I was able to make two calls out of Malone Bay CG. I figured it must have been a satellite sending my calls to a tower in Minnesota, or somewhere.

[Kelly]

Within the last three years, I've gotten signals at Merritt Lane (enough to make a call) and at Chippewa Harbor (out of curiosity). The signal at Merritt Lane was gone by the next morning.

[backwoods doc]

Be careful -- there have been reports of obtaining a cell signal, calls being made, then later discovering that those calls were made out of Canada, incurring hefty international calling fees.

[S_R_L]

there have been reports of obtaining a cell signal, calls being made, then later discovering that those calls were made out of Canada

Yeah, there's pretty much 100% coverage from Rodgers out of Canada. Thats included by my provider. But I don't bring a phone to the Island.

[RedLeg]

I'll check the Southside of the island with a tower scanning app when I'm there & see if anything is making it