Interesting experience this week.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I've been up pulling my fall cat line this week. After driving around on roads that no one has been on for 7-10 days I finally see some truck tracks so I didn't feel quite so lonely.

I was out unloading the ATV and all of a sudden here comes a line of trucks and ATV's on tracks 21 deep.

I thought holy nuts all the game wardens in the world have descended on me all at once!!

BLM trucks, Sheriffs, you name it.

Well I'm standing there watching this procession drive by and one of the Sheriff trucks turns off and starts to approach me.

Back about 50 yards he stops for a minute and then comes creeping in, at 30 yards he yells at me to take my hand out of my coat pocket. I think I get it he thinks I've got a gun and all I'm trying to do is keep my hand warm so I pull it out.

Then he comes on in and tells me they had been up rescuing stranded deer hunters that got drifted in up on the California border.

Glad I got my traps out the week before up there, I used to trap it on snowmachine and knew how the drifts can get.

Course if I could just get those guys to rescue me each week they'd keep the roads open. lol!!

Joel

[bblwi]

Well it's probably just a local call Joel. Give it a whirl? See how many times they do that for you b4 they start demanding some payment.

Bryce

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I've been thinking about getting one of those "spot" deals from Cabela's where you can send a GPS distress signal or a I'm OK message by satellite.

In the days before cell phones I could have died or been hurt and no one would have known for a week or so.

Fortunately where I camped this year the phone would come in and out, sometimes I would have to walk out in the ranch yard 30 yards to call my wife, sometimes I had the luxury of talking to her in the trailer.

No phone reception all day out on the line though.

I rented a satellite phone a couple of years ago and really liked it. I thought about buying one but didn't want to pay a monthly fee for a year. I'd have done 6 months but they wouldn't go for that.

I'm glad I'm out, looks like another foot of snow on the way, time to hit the desert.

Joel

[hdwolfer]

Joel, we are thinking of the spot locator too.
Since there is less and less cell service now.
Read a story about a guy with a spot locator, without it he now would be dead. Went off a 35 ft cliff on a snowmobile chasing a wolverine in Alaska. He broke his self up real well. He was found an hour later with the locator.
Makes one think twice about the high lonesome at our ages now.lol

[markymark]

Take a look at the Black Berry Storm or World Edition, they can take a sim sattilite chip. It can be turned on and off when needed right off the phone if you have a connection.

[musher]

I find the "pull your hand out of your pocket" deal on the insane side. Do they assume everyone wants to kill them? Pretty wild west stuff.

There to rescue people and treat anyone else like a potential murderer.

I would have been taking that yahoos name and badge number down.

The spot locators have a monthly fee attached to them. I don't know how expensive. but it must be somewhat pricey since the wife hasn't bought me one yet. She did upgrade my insurance, though.

[JWarren]

common mode of operation for law enforcement here musher, welcome to land of the free, lol

[Woodswalker]

At 30 yards maybe he saw a resemblance to Claude Dallas. LOL

[lynxcat]

Joel... DONT FEEL BAD.... fish/game was in the "dallas" area several days BEFORE season this year... 4 f/g...2 blm officers.... NOW they're back AGAIN!!!! THIS TIME they've got two tents set up as well... CLOSE to the Nv boarder....SOMETHING... is happening in the Bull Camp.... Id/Nv line area...... and I AINTA GONNA go over and check... LOL
lynx

[bobwendt]

prolly a couple officers poaching cats across the line....... uh huh.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Joel doesnt the new chevy come with Onstar.

Isnt that basically a satellite phone. Wont do you any good if you are away from the truck but could check in at night with the wife.

I would suppose in case something did happen they could pinpoint your truck and give them a place to start.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

My go to town truck has onstar but my trapping truck doesn't, some irony in that huh?

Onstar works a bit better than cell phone but nothing like satellite. I think it just becomes another cell phone with a better antennae.

Joel

[northof50]

There is a 600$ yearly fee to have onstar to work. Learned that one Dec deer hunting and hit the automatic lock as i + partner got out. At least he had his phone. Worst part was the guns were locked up inside. AND 12 deer walked right up to us, and.......we were on the bald ass prairie and the sun was going down. At least the was one down. There was some lessons learned that day, and my trigger finger was so sore dry firing in the end.

[hotandry]

Joel,

I have a Spot radio I keep in a private helicopter I share with another guy. If the machine ever didn't start sometime, its a long ways to walk out of some places. More of a concern in the summer heat down here than winter cold. Haven't had to use it but I think they are a great way to go. Peace of mind if nothing else.

Reasonable costs, about $140 initially and then another $100 per year to subscribe.

You can send email and text messages to your wife or friends that say you are okay. Or send them a message that you are not okay. Or push 911 and it alerts authorites to send help fast. GPS so it is extremely accurate.

-John

[billcat]

I carry a hand-held aircraft radio and a GPS. They are both carried on the 4-wheeler, it goes everywhere, in the truck or on its own. Just get on the guard frequency and talk to the big boys upstairs. There's always one overhead, out here. They'll relay any call for help. Also, plenty of extra batteries (fresh every year). Might have to tell them I'm a downed airplane, that'll make sure somebody's coming ASAP.

Bill

[orcatdog]

Joel,
I wish I would have pulled a couple days ago. About 2 feel last night and drifting bad. About 70 miles NW of your line. Looks like I need to get the snowmobile out this weekend.

[trappincoyotes39]

Joel and others I believe the onstar phone is satilite? I have it and it works in any area I don;t have cell coverage? They also state it is a satilite phone? Problem being if your busted up away from the truck what good does the on star do you ? I have it incase of need while traveling and no cell service.

[lynxcat]

Onstar IS satellite.... used to sell them. You could go off the road..DOWN a canyon and when the impact notifies onstar of a wreck...you're UNCONSIOUS and hurt...they can give accurate enough directions to lead a BLIND man to you.
lynx

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

Well I must not have the satellite version then because it will sometimes cut out between my home and town.

It's handy because it's handsfree driving but the phone is billed as an additional phone on Verizon for $10 a month.

The onstar stuff sends me a diagnostic report every month and it opened the doors once for locked in keys.

That's about all the interaction that I've had with it.

Orcatdog, yeah I was tempted to stay till after the first but when I heard the storm was coming I said "been here, done that" and got out.

My trailer is still up there but I'll just drag it halfway home to the new line.

Right now I'm enjoying some rest, 3rd day now and I'm starting to strengthen up some.

That hiking in snowcovered boulder piles is like working out on a Bosu ball, you have to have your gut muscles tight consatntly to judge the uneven surface and be able to react to sliding off of slippery rocks.

I'll be a tough SOB in about another day and then start the slide back to sitting on my asss softness in about a week or so.

Depending on the weather and business hope to get back before I turn into a puss again.

Joel

Joel