InReach SOS Sent... What's Next?

After my backpacking trip in Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Creek on Sunday 5/14/23, a tree was across FS Road 62 about 2 miles from Big Fat Gap Trailhead. It was 5 miles to paved US Rt. 129 and another 14 miles to Robbinsville, NC. There was no cell phone service at the downed tree and no service at Big Fat Gap Trailhead. It's doubtful there would be any cell service until Robbinsville. I used InReach to text my son and after more than an hour he had not replied (he was doing yard work at his mom's and did not have his phone on him). So about 4:45 I pressed the InReach SOS button. In about a minute or less a text from InReach asking about my emergency was received. I texted back to InReach that I was ok and a downed tree was blocking FS Road 62. About 5:00 InReach sent a text stating that Graham County 911 had been contacted and a sheriff deputy was dispatched to my location. At 5:19 I received a text from Graham Co. 911 asking if anyone was hurt. I responded that no one was hurt, but a tree had fallen across FS Rd 62 and blocking the road. At 5:29 Graham Co. 911 sent a text stating a team was being assembled to remove the tree. The sheriff deputy arrived about 5:50 and two men arrived about 6:00. In about 20 minutes the two men had the tree removed from the road.

Including waiting on my son's reply for a hour the total time stuck was just under 3 hours. From the time I pressed the InReach SOS until the tree removed was about 1 hour and 35 minutes. I was very impressed with the speed in which InReach and Graham County reacted. Thanks to everyone involved with removing the tree.

Thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed the video.

Backpacking With Bryan DeLay webpage: http://bryandelay.com

https://youtube.com/shorts/xtdi71shvfk