I might have already related this (or maybe not) but it bears repeating. After I sent the SOS emergency call in the morning I waited about 3 hours while hobbling around on the sandbar and casting a few lures around.....(huge splashes during the night convinced me of walleye activity just outside my tent). I had managed to "pop" the joint back into place (ouch!) that night but it was swollen and sore.

Anyway, after 3 hours I decided to send a "send help" message to my wife's Email. Maybe have her call the park office etc. etc. Little did I know while I was casting my lure (I did catch a nice walleye and a pike) the SPOT was sending consecutive "send help" messages to my wife......one about every 10 minutes. I think she got 6 or 8 "send help" messages. This had the unfortunate effect of her thinking my situation was indeed dire. I also hadn't realized that SAR had already called her some 3 hours earlier, informing her that I tripped the beacon and they were inquiring about me and my physical condition.

When I finally got to talk to her the first thing she said was "the whole world is praying for you" ;D. She had contacted people we knew in several states and of course the prayer chains in various churches started up. My poor wife.......she is a trooper though and was strong despite not knowing. I must admit a certain calm came over me about the whole situation.

The SAR guys said they had loaded up quickly after getting the call but smoke from the fires had delayed them. So, that is a lesson. If you use the "send help" function it will keep sending a message if you keep it on. (even if you are distracted by some nice walleyes)