Recently-rescued Scientist to Embark on Peruvian Expedition Carrying the Device that Saved him After a 70-foot Fall into a Crevasse in Nepal in May

YARMOUTH, Maine, June 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Just a few weeks following his harrowing rescue in the Himalayas, Dr. John All, director of the American Climber Science Program (ACSP), will be leading a team of 20 students and scientists on an expedition to Peru to examine changing climate conditions and the impact of human land use in the mountainous region. All and several of his team members will be carrying the highly-affordable device that saved his life in Nepal -- the inReach satellite communicator ($299 or $379).

Global news coverage of All's rescue in May was heightened by his live Facebook posts from his inReach device during the rescue, where he detailed the extent of injuries and the status of the helicopter's arrival. On his upcoming Peru expedition, inReach will continue to provide All and his team with the ability to send and receive text messages anywhere in the world, provide location updates with GPS tracking, and interactive SOS capabilities. The latest DeLorme offering – the inReach Explorer -- will now allow them to plan a route, mark waypoints and create high-detailed track logs of their expedition.

"Knowing we would consistently be out of cellphone range, we researched all satellite communication options to keep us connected. A satellite phone was more than we really needed, and as a volunteer-driven non-profit program, it wasn't very cost effective. We needed to be able to communicate back and forth in the event of an emergency, but we also wanted to keep everyone updated on the day-to-day status of the mission," said All. "As most of the channels we use are digital, the ability to text anywhere in the world was perfect. inReach offered us a great cost-benefit ratio – it blew everything else away."

All and his ACSP team depart for Huascaran National Park in Peru on June 23 and will be conducting research for two months. The Cordillera Blanca region, where the park is located, is a magnet for American climbers with more than 33 peaks higher than 6,000 meters and hundreds of 5,000+ meter peaks. ACSP has been sampling snow in the region for the past three years in an effort to quantify the glacial contamination levels. 

"Our work in Peru will be much more comprehensive than our high-elevation work in the Himalayas and will cover whole gamut of environmental parameters, from vegetation to water quality. The region is very remote and we will be collecting some samples from the walls of a crevasse to assess the seasonality of pollutants and their impact over time, so having an inReach with us is critical – both to communicate with each other and our team back home," said All. "Now that we've seen how well inReach works, we are looking forward to having more of them on this next trip -- especially the newest Explorer model, which will allow us to mark waypoints during data collection. Most importantly, parents will be able to keep in touch with their children at any time, no matter how remote our expedition."

inReach communicates over the Iridium satellite network, providing truly global two-way satellite connections, high network reliability and low-latency data links (less than 60-second delivery of messages end-to-end) anywhere on Earth, with no gaps, fringe or weak signal areas. inReach has the ability to maintain a satellite signal lock even in difficult GPS environments, such as in a steep canyon or under a heavy forest canopy.  In the event of an emergency, the interactive SOS capability of inReach automatically triggers remote tracking and allows users to communicate via text back and forth with responders at GEOS, DeLorme's partner for international 24/7 search-and-rescue monitoring, ensuring prompt response with the appropriate resources.

In addition to the messaging, tracking and SOS capabilities, users of the company's latest product inReach Explorer can view, create or navigate routes and waypoints. An easy-to-follow map view displays routes, waypoints, tracks and messages geo-located onscreen for backtracking or self-rescue. The built-in digital compass, barometric altimeter and accelerometer sensors ensure accuracy and provide heading and bearing information, accurate elevation readings, speed and other useful trip statistics.

The company also recently announced the launch of Freedom subscription plans for all inReach products, allowing users to pay for satellite service only when they need it, on a monthly basis.

About DeLorme
DeLorme is the innovation leader in personal satellite tracking, messaging and navigation technology. The company's flagship product, inReach, is the most affordable satellite communicator that sends and receives 160-character text messages, provides GPS journey tracking/sharing with family and friends, and offers interactive SOS capabilities anywhere in the world through the Iridium satellite network. When paired with a mobile device, the seamless inReach experience provides unlimited access to free downloadable topographic maps and U.S. NOAA charts. Founded in 1976 and recognized as a pioneer in mapping products, DeLorme is headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine, and is home to Eartha, the world's largest revolving globe. To learn more, visit www.delorme.com.

SOURCE DeLorme

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