Apple’s SOS via Satellite for iPhone has helped save a group of hikers that had become stranded at high altitude in bad weather.
A family of hikers that were hiking the Salmon River Trailhead of Mt. Hood on Tuesday, had climbed eight miles, gaining 3,500 feet of elevation.
Due to worsening weather and dropping temperatures, the family used the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature to summon help.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office report that a call for help came in at 7:30 pm. The family was advised to shelter in place as rescuers worked to reach them.
The changing weather conditions delayed the rescue until 6 am the following morning. When rescuers found the group they were “cold, wet, and dyhydrated, but otherwise okay.”
Now came the problem of getting the group of four adults and two children back down the mountain safely. A helicopter rescue was attempted, but weather and terrain prevented that.
Finally, an additional ground crew in a Snowcat vehicle from the Sheriff’s Department left base at 10 am, reaching the family and the first batch of rescuers several hours later. The family and all personnel were transported back to the search and rescue command post at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, 24 hours after their initial SOS call.
The SOS via Satellite feature is available on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models and allows users to send text messages to emergency services via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Users can also share their location via satellite through the Find My app.
Apple says the service can be used to send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions. Users will need to complete a short questionnaire with vital information, and the interface guides users as to where in the sky to point their iPhone to connect and send the message. The message sent includes the user’s questionnaire responses, their location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and Medical ID info if available.