On a Monday morning, our group embarked on an adventure into the lush Remutaka Forest Park, despite the drizzly weather that was set to transform into a clearer day. It was the school holidays, and we were determined to make the most of our time, surrounded by nature.

Our plan was simple: spend a couple of days in a Department of Conservation (DOC) hut, indulging in junk food and card games by the warmth of a crackling fire.

The journey to the hut involved a river crossing, where the wide shingle river basin presented us with a few small streams to navigate. However, after reaching our destination and settling in, we noticed a significant change in the streams.

The once crystal-clear waters turned murky and swift, and the weather, instead of improving as we had hoped, took a turn for the worse. Faced with this unexpected weather shift and the now treacherous river crossings, we made the decision to wait, believing the conditions would improve.

In hindsight, this proved to be a mistake.

The weather continued to worsen, leaving us in a precarious situation. We scoured the valley for fellow travelers or alternative routes to safety, some of which existed but were either too risky, especially with children, or entirely impossible. With limited cell coverage and growing concerns about our predicament, we chose to activate our ResQLink 400 PLB prematurely. It was a tough call, but we wanted to avoid the risks of a nighttime rescue operation if we failed to return as planned, and to ensure that our friends and family could reestablish contact with us.

It’s hard to say what would’ve happened if we didn’t activate our beacon. But thanks to ACR, that is a scenario I can choose to visit in imagination, not in memory.

Thank you ACR.