Why satellite phones are critical for Alaska adventures

DIAL H FOR HELP

WHEN EMERGENCIES HAPPEN IN THE WILD, SAT PHONES ARE ‘WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD’

BY PAUL D. ATKINS

Ibegan hurting on the third day of our extended caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. The pain in my side grew with so much intensity that I had to exit the tent in the middle of the night.

Did I pull a muscle or something worse? Did the bull we took that morning and the milelong pack back to camp really take that much out of me? All I knew was that I was hurting, and it was getting worse. WORST-CASE SCENARIO PREPARATION This fall will provide memorable experiences for many, especially those lucky enough to live in Alaska, but also for those Outsiders planning a lifelong dream of hunting in the Last Frontier. Preparation works the same for both types, and being ready for what happens – either after the shot or even before the shot – are both equally

Whether a hunt ends early due to tagging out or bad weather rolls in and threatens your safety, being able to contact your transporter or outfitter is a huge plus. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

important. Being ready for whatever the Alaskan outdoors offers is the key to a safe and successful adventure.

There are many necessities that can make a camp more comfortable and the hunting a lot more enjoyable. What we need has been dictated over and over throughout the years – whether it be an outfitter recommendation, a brochure or info from someone who did it last year and, in most instances, are dead-on accurate.

One variable they can’t always predict is the weather, which dictates everything in Alaska. Your hunt will usually be influenced by it, no matter what else is going on.

After 20-plus years of living in the Arctic and mostly on the tundra, I’ve learned a few things that can save your hunt and, in some cases, maybe even your life. Most of my hunts have been normal, but a few haven’t. A couple of bear charges here and there, a downed plane, a flooded landing strip, an attack of kidney stones, and catching the flu have all been part of my time spent afield, both solo and with friends. START WITH THE SAT PHONE Granted, you’ll need solid rain gear, a good tent, good boots and the requisite food, guns, bows, knives, game bags, packs, and maybe a good first-aid kit to get you through a hunt. But if I was making the list, my number one priority would be a reliable communication device, such as a high-quality satellite phone. They are worth their weight in gold.

Most do-it-yourself drop camp hunts go as planned and there is really no worry on 99 percent of them. The transporter or outfitter will drop you off with your gear and seven days later pick you up and then head back to the tarmac in town.

I’ve hunted this way for numerous years – out and back again with no incidents. There were times, however, when we would get our caribou or moose on the first day and wished we had an earlier pickup but didn’t have a way to contact anybody. Or that time when temperatures rose and our meat and capes were in danger of spoiling, which they did. All were times I wish I’d had a way to call out. A TURNING POINT The day before that tragic day in American history, the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, I had just returned from a moose hunt up north. The next day, with planes grounded, it occurred to me that all those hunters in camp who were supposed to be picked up really didn’t know what was happening. I’m guessing they were thinking, “Where’s my transporter? The weather is good, so why isn’t he here?” It was afterwards that I took the plunge and invested in a satellite phone. It just made sense.

That was many years ago when the units were quite expensive. The phone itself was high dollar, the minutes that went with them even more so, or so it seemed. Nowadays there are many models and combinations that are quite affordable. I personally still use my old Iridium phone, which has never failed me anywhere on Earth, including while on four different continents.

Like all technology that’s constantly evolving, there are now numerous models that can handle any kind of weather. There are also tracking devices

For Atkins’ fellow ASJ correspondent Scott Haugen and outdoors lovers everywhere, sat phones are easy to operate and work in just about every location on Earth where satellites are visible to the phone. But it’s a good rule to bring along instructions for the unit and make sure everyone in camp knows how to operate it.

(PAUL D. ATKINS)

and apps that can be downloaded on your own smartphone.

There are many different brands and services – Isatphone, Thuraya and Globalstar, just to name a few. Minutes can also be bought using prepaid units that are good over time. That way you only need the phone when you’re away from cell coverage – or if you’re like me and spend most days outside. You can sign a service agreement and have the phone as a constant companion. Either way, the phone will give you peace of mind when you need an early pickup on a caribou hunt or get caught in a storm after harvesting a monster mountain goat.

SENDING SIGNALS Besides a phone, another option or maybe an included option is a SPOT beacon. It is battery operated and will send signals to loved ones anywhere in the world. It’s super accurate and delivers reliable location-based tracking and even messaging. It’s a true marvel.

No matter what calling device you decide to use, you should also carry a handheld GPS of some kind, whether for marking camp, a downed animal or if you become lost. Being able to mark waypoints and tell someone where you’re at can be a very valuable piece of information when you need it.

I highly recommend that you bring written instructions on how to use the equipment – either stuffed in the case or put in a waterproof baggie – plus a list of emergency phone numbers such as search-and-rescue outfits and the Alaska State Troopers. It is of the utmost importance to go over these instructions and phone numbers with everyone in camp before the hunting starts.

CAUTIONARY TALE That pain in my side intensified to the point that I passed out. When I awoke it was nearly dawn and my hunting partner, who was from the Lower 48, was a bit freaked out. I told him to reach into my pack and get my satellite phone. Though he seemed a little upset about why I didn’t tell him earlier, I made the call. The state trooper told me due to the September fog it would be dawn before they could fly to my location and pick me up.

As I lay there among our bagged caribou and antlers, I stared up into the sky. I cannot tell you the relief I felt when the small Super Cub cut through the fog bank and landed next to our tent. The ride back was excruciating, but once inside the hospital I knew I was safe. The kidney stones were painful, but luckily, I had been prepared and brought my phone. Otherwise, it would have been another four days on the tundra.

For more information, I suggest checking out Outfitter Satellite at outfittersatellite.com. They are first rate and cater to hunters all over the world. ASJ

Editor’s note: Paul Atkins is an outdoor writer and author from Kotzebue, Alaska. He’s had hundreds of articles published on big game hunting in Alaska and throughout North America and Africa, plus surviving in the Arctic. Paul is a longtime contributor to Alaska Sporting Journal.