A group of travelers from Massachusetts found themselves stuck in a snowy Colorado gulch on Christmas Day, but they had a high-tech guardian angel of sorts — an iPhone's emergency feature. According to Boston 25 News, the crew utilized the SOS Emergency Call via satellite, a tool designed to function where cell service falls short. Despite being marooned in Miners Gulch, Gilpin County with no ability to call out, the innovative tech facilitated a distress signal that reached local rescuers.
Their vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma, was ill-prepared for the treacherous path it found itself on, immobilized by the thick layer of snow that blanketed the remote area around 6:30 p.m "So pro of the iPhone, we found out they needed help. Con, you don’t necessarily get all the information," public information officer Kimi McBryde explained, in a statement obtained by Denver 7. The exact number of people, the presence of animals, and the sufficiency of their supplies were all unknown variables to the responding team from Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery.
It took roughly three hours of navigation through wintry conditions before the rescue crew reached the Bay Staters. The efforts to extricate their own vehicle had failed, compounded by the challenge of Colorado's high altitude. "One of the parties had started showing symptoms of altitude sickness, so we were pretty concerned about that," McBryde shared with Denver 7. Despite the concerning onset of sickness, the group was reported to be doing well following the ordeal.
The capabilities of modern smartphones were praised by the team, with McBryde stating, "It's entirely a game changer." This technology ensures that even those without specialized satellite communication devices can reach out for assistance in precarious situations, as stated in Denver 7. To initiate an SOS call on an iPhone, users can press and hold the sleep/wake button and the volume down button simultaneously, then slide to activate the SOS function. Android users can also access a similar feature by pressing the power button rapidly five times, illustrating the broadening scope of safety measures in consumer electronics.
Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery, which is staffed by volunteers and operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, accepts donations through its website and offers training for those interested in joining the search and rescue efforts. These emergency responses underscore the unpredictable nature of travel in wilderness areas, and the importance of being prepared — or at least equipped with a charged smartphone.
