I've long preached the benefits of having a Garmin inReach device with you whenever you head out into the woods where cell reception is spotty at best. They are, in no uncertain terms, the one piece of gear I never leave home without. Why? A few years back, one literally saved my life while snowmobiling in the backcountry.
And that's a story that's eerily similar to today's, though one with a tragic note within, as while four people went snowmobiling in central Washington a few days ago, only two people exited after being extracted by Search and Rescue after an avalanche overtook them. They were rescued and were able to request for help, however, because they had a Garmin.
Again, always carry a Garmin or other satellite device. They can literally be life-saving.
