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I have been discussing this with my wife as I plan some crazy wild ass adventures in the parks and she has pointed out that while she has no real issue if I want to die or lay suffering in the woods, what she has a problem with is everyone who is left behind with unanswered questions and the responsibility of finding a body should I fail to return. The technology has improved to the point that price and availability no longer are reasons to go on an adventure without some form of "help" signaling device. So, are we being overly selfish when we want to maintain some of the risk in a wilderness canoe trip?

I have soloed exactly once before and I rented a sat phone at the insistance of my wife.  I was a bit reluctant to do so as I have a few dozen trips under my belt and was fully confident in my abilities.  However, I aquiesced to her wishes when it became clear that the issue was NOT my own confidence in my abilities but rather the worry that she would have gone through for the 9-day duration of the trip.  Mrs. Snow_Dog has a PhD in worrying  ::) and I knew she'd be a wreck if I didn't have the means to summon help.

I also have 3 young kids and have no desire to turn Mrs. Snow_Dog into a single parent against her wishes...or mine.  So I caved.

The problem I ran into was that with the sat-phone came an expectation to "check in" every 2-3 days.  That part, I was NOT happy about.  I mean, I go up there to truly escape civilization and all it's attendant responsibilities.  Last thing I want to be dealing with on a canoe trip is stories about the kids fighting, the car needing a repair, the latest work-related issues she's dealing with, etc.  But that's who she is.  She HAS to talk these things out with SOMEBODY because that's how she deals with stress and if I'm available, I'm the go-to guy.  51 weeks a year I enjoy being able to lighten her burdens in this way.  But on a wilderness trip?  No thanks.

So is it fair for me to be selfish in the sense that I really don't want to open myself up to these conversations on a wilderness trip?  On the one hand, it significantly diminishes the value of my trip.  But on the other, my wife simply cannot comprehend my need to have some time away from the pressure of civilization, family, etc.  She'd be very hurt if I carry a sat phone but insisted on NOT making use of it to check in periodically.

All these issues make the SPOT device seem like a much better alternative for ME.  And when I'm tripping with others, I've been able to successfully defend my unwillingness to carry a means of contact.  But now that she's experienced the sat phone, the SPOT may no longer be an option.  We shall see, as I will be soloing again this year which means the issue is going to come up again.

Riskwise, I know the rules are different when soloing.  I'm not taking stupid chances regardless of whether I can summon help at the push of a button.  I had one bad experience on Basswood in a huge wind on my previous solo that definitely changed the way I assess risk while traveling alone.


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Further, should the parks maybe start requiring the use of phones or SPOTs?

I could see them eventually requiring users to sign a waiver if they choose not to use a signalling device of some kind but I highly doubt they'd be successful in a push for mandatory useage.  I get the potential liability but the waiver would answer that without stepping on a user's desire to be as free from technology as they choose to be.