If you're seriously going to go into the back country in the rural western US states and Canada, and you have a good paying professional job, there is no excuse

If you're seriously going to go into the back country in the rural western US states and Canada, and you have a good paying professional job, there is no excuse, in my opinion, not to spend $1000 on a full capability Iridium handset and the $50/month service plan that goes with it. If you really NEED to use it you won't care that it costs $1.20 a minute to make a call. https://www.iridium.com/products/iridium-9555/ https://www.iridium.com/products/iridium-9555/ People will happily spend $700 on an Arcteryx jacket and $400 boots but won't buy an Iridium handset. I truly don't understand.