iPhone Satellite Functionality Saves Denver Mountaineer

[MacRumors]

Apple's satellite texting features saved an injured climber over the weekend, according to Colorado news reports. The man was stuck above 10,000 feet on Snowmass Mountain, which is one of many snowy mountains in Colorado. It can be a dangerous hike due to the potential for rockfall and because of ice.

On the trip, the unnamed 53-year-old man summited the mountain and was using a technique called glissading to slide down the mountain. Sliding down a snow-covered mountain can result in injury, and the man suffered damage to his wrist that prevented him from continuing.

There was no cellular signal where he was located, but he was able to use the iPhone's satellite texting functionality to contact a family member. The family member got in touch with the sheriff's office and Mountain Rescue Aspen.

He was located at Snowmass Lake, which is approximately eight miles from the mountain's parking area. Responders said the man was not able to walk out on his own, and it took 17 rescuers to get him to safety. Rescuers arrived to the mountain at approximately 8:25 a.m., and the climber was safely out of the area by 5:30 p.m.

Texting via satellite is just one of several satellite-based features that are offered on the iPhone 14 and newer. There is also an Emergency SOS via satellite feature that allows iPhone users to get in touch with emergency services when no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is available.

In a press release, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office suggested that climbers learn how to use satellite texting. "Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office remind adventurers that carrying an emergency communication device and knowing how to use Apple Satellite texting can significantly speed up the rescue process. If you are asking for help, don't hesitate to press the SOS button--it allows MRA to establish direct communication and coordinate a timely response," reads the release.

Article Link: iPhone Satellite Functionality Saves Denver Mountaineer

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

Glissading? That’s certainly a dumb way to die…

 

[filmantopia]

Holy schnitzel. That's like 25 minutes from where I live. The satellite feature definitely feels like a lifeline when I'm out hiking.

 

[russell_314]

It’s nice to see Apple products helping people.

 

[GrassShark]

As good as this sort of feature is, I have the feeling it's only going to embolden stupid or reckless people to go out underprepared or push past what they're safely capable of doing.

Edit: There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding going on here, so let me be clear — my comment isn’t about the guy in the article, it’s a general observation about how safety features can shift people’s risk-taking. I never once referenced the man. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t force it on him.

 

[IceCool]

This feature could be game changing on Apple Watch.

Great to see this actually helping people!

 

[Nick_Australia]

The human race is all about pushing boundaries.

 

[Baritone_Guy]

I hope he gets a bill for his actions.

 

[Plutonius]

I hope he gets a bill for his actions.

I hope he pays the bill before doing something stupid again .

 

[Black_Mage]

This may sound cold, but this reads like another example of someone playing stupid games and winning a stupid prize.

Criticism of stupid aside, I'm glad this service is available for people to call for help in remote areas. I noticed that T-Mobile offers satellite services on their most expensive plan. I wonder if it will be available on Mint Mobile.

 

[Caseman93]

Apple's satellite texting features saved an injured climber over the weekend, according to Colorado news reports. The man was stuck above 10,000 feet on Snowmass Mountain, which is one of many snowy mountains in Colorado. It can be a dangerous hike due to the potential for rockfall and because of ice.

On the trip, the unnamed 53-year-old man summited the mountain and was using a technique called glissading to slide down the mountain. Sliding down a snow-covered mountain can result in injury, and the man suffered damage to his wrist that prevented him from continuing.

There was no cellular signal where he was located, but he was able to use the iPhone's satellite texting functionality to contact a family member. The family member got in touch with the sheriff's office and Mountain Rescue Aspen.

He was located at Snowmass Lake, which is approximately eight miles from the mountain's parking area. Responders said the man was not able to walk out on his own, and it took 17 rescuers to get him to safety. Rescuers arrived to the mountain at approximately 8:25 a.m., and the climber was safely out of the area by 5:30 p.m.

Texting via satellite is just one of several satellite-based features that are offered on the iPhone 14 and newer. There is also an Emergency SOS via satellite feature that allows iPhone users to get in touch with emergency services when no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is available.

In a press release, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office suggested that climbers learn how to use satellite texting. "Mountain Rescue Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office remind adventurers that carrying an emergency communication device and knowing how to use Apple Satellite texting can significantly speed up the rescue process. If you are asking for help, don't hesitate to press the SOS button--it allows MRA to establish direct communication and coordinate a timely response," reads the release.

Article Link: iPhone Satellite Functionality Saves Denver Mountaineer

It's called Starlink! wtf

 

[Caseman93]

No mention of Elon Musk's Starlink making this capable.

 

[Corpuscle]

Glissading? That’s certainly a dumb way to die…

Is there a relationship between glissading and satellites that I'm not aware of?

 

[Corpuscle]

As good as this sort of feature is, I have the feeling it's only going to embolden stupid or reckless people to go out underprepared or push past what they're safely capable of doing.

Oh please. Stupid people will find a way to do stupid things regardless of anything else. Find me one example to support your hypothesis. What you are claiming will simply never happen.

 

[Corpuscle]

The human race is all about pushing boundaries.

And that has nothing to do with the potential for being rescued.

 

[Corpuscle]

No mention of Elon Musk's Starlink making this capable.

People who have untenable theories tend to not be very logical.

 

[JohnC1959]

No mention of Elon Musk's Starlink making this capable.

Globalstar satellite network is currently used for this

 

[JohnC1959]

As good as this sort of feature is, I have the feeling it's only going to embolden stupid or reckless people to go out underprepared or push past what they're safely capable of doing.

Oh please. Stupid people will find a way to do stupid things regardless of anything else. Find me one example to support your hypothesis. What you are claiming will simply never happen.

And we have no idea if this activity was all that stupid. He was doing something that many have done many times and can be less dangerous that skiing depending on the steepness and other factors. Even a normal, dry mountain hike could have some odd event happen (a sudden rock fall for example) rendering someone in need of rescue. I suppose some may feel just venturing into the mountains is stupid but that's pushing things a bit.

 

[GrassShark]

Oh please. Stupid people will find a way to do stupid things regardless of anything else. Find me one example to support your hypothesis. What you are claiming will simply never happen.

I said embolden, not enable. It obviously already happens, this will just amplify it. As for examples, risk compensation is a well-documented phenomenon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation

 

[macfacts]

It’s nice to see Apple products helping people.

Apple is the master of scaring people into buying their products, always talking about privacy, etc.

 

[GrassShark]

And we have no idea if this activity was all that stupid. He was doing something that many have done many times and can be less dangerous that skiing depending on the steepness and other factors. Even a normal, dry mountain hike could have some odd event happen (a sudden rock fall for example) rendering someone in need of rescue. I suppose some may feel just venturing into the mountains is stupid but that's pushing things a bit.

I never said what he did was stupid. I made no comment at all on what this one guy did, but rather a broader observation of what I foresee to be an unintended consequence of this otherwise useful tech.

 

[JohnC1959]

I wish I had this ability back when I was doing lots of backpacking. They now have satellite weather on the phone. Being able to tell my wife that circumstances mean we'll be home a day or two late would be great. I upgraded my 13 pro to get this features since I often find myself with no cell service on some road trips.

 

[JohnC1959]

I never said what he did was stupid. I made no comment at all on what this one guy did, but rather a broader observation of what I foresee to be an unintended consequence of this otherwise useful tech.

True, but with no such qualifications as you now make in your post, you should be able to see that people would infer this.

 

[Corpuscle]

And we have no idea if this activity was all that stupid. He was doing something that many have done many times and can be less dangerous that skiing depending on the steepness and other factors. Even a normal, dry mountain hike could have some odd event happen (a sudden rock fall for example) rendering someone in need of rescue. I suppose some may feel just venturing into the mountains is stupid but that's pushing things a bit.

You misunderstood. I wasn't saying he was stupid. I was responding to the assumption made by others that having a rescue possibly available may make people more likely to do stupid things. Risk management, as mentioned by someone, has absolutely nothing to do with this. I just can't believe that someone would decide to do or not do something very dangerous based upon their chances of getting rescued via their phone.

 

[fatTribble]

This is why I don’t venture more than a mile from any Starbucks 🤭