The Logbook for the Trail Running World

Electric Cable Car is part of Trail Tracks Network.

Just a month until the new Skyrunner USA National Series kicks off. Four incredible races invite you to touch the sky: Whiteface Skyrace, Beast of Big Creek, Skeetawk Skyline Scramble, Kismet Cliff Run.

Emergency SOS Now on iPhone 14 Lineup

15 November 2022

Announced earlier during the iPhone launch, now enabled and live, via a software update for all iPhone 14 users:

iPhone 14 users can now connect with emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available; the service extends to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December.

Obviously I haven’t tried this feature yet, but this could be a potential game changer for how technology can help in the backcountry. The ability to SOS in the backcountry of course has existed for a long time, via satellite phones and other dedicated devices. But this is the first time a feature like this is available on everyone’s daily device, their phone in their pocket.

Currently the feature is free and takes users through a short questionnaire describing the situation they find themselves in, I’d love to see Apple extend this feature and offer a preset message to someone in one’s contact list. Not every situation requires full emergency operation, but a short “I’m running late” could ease a lot of worries for the folks back home. That’s where Garmin still has a leg up… and is charging for. Apple could add this for your iCloud family and make it part of Apple One?

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