Video from the train ride through the Bernina Pass in early June 2024, with snow and ice still covering most of the peaks and the pass itself.

The most impressive parts are the Lago Bianco (frozen lake by the train track - in June!) and the famous Brusio spiral viaduct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibo0ktiQl2g

#viaduct #BerninaPass #Switzerland #GrandTour #Trains #mountains

4/4 P.S.

1) Curious how I kept the flat face of the disk-like device horizontal while I hiked?

2) Garmin strangely refers to what I believe is "transmit power" as "protocol" in three models-- it is correctly called "transmit power" on the "plus" model

3) Garmin doesn't advertise the differences in power. They recommend clear overhead. Unfortunately, #hiking in the wilderness frequently involves forests and may require the extra power!

END

#WhatsInYourPack #backpacking #mountains

3/4 Last week, I used my new Garmin Inreach Messenger Plus for 20 hours in the same heavily wooded areas I had used my mini, including 10 hours of snowing and heavy overcast. It worked great! Connect times ranged from a few seconds to a few minutes (NOT 10's of minutes like with my mini). Not a scientific test, but not a single long delay among the 22 transmissions of text messages-- looks very promising that there is improvement! (CONT)

#WhatsInYourPack #hiking #backpacking #mountains

2/4 Here are some specs of the four Garmin Inreach models of interest: mini/mini2/messenger/messenger-plus have transmit powers (at Iridium satellite frequency) of 31.7/31.8/35.9/39.7 dBm. The "plus" has 3.8 dB higher power than the regular messenger and 8.0 dB higher than my mini (which translates to 6.3 times the power of my old unit). With such an increase in power, I was hopeful for faster connect times with the "plus". (CONT)

#WhatsInYourPack #hiking #backpacking #mountains