90 karma · joined August 25, 2023
Let's also not forget while down is natural, the material encapsulating it is usually not!
https://backcountryaccess.com/en-us/c/bc-link-radios/
Any decently made GMRS radio should be fine for coordinating around the ski resort. I've had mixed results with FRS as the range is quite poor. This is amplified by the fact that the other party could be on a different face of the mountain as well as covered by trees. It's also convenient that many GMRS and FRS frequencies overlap, so if someone in your party only has an FRS radio or doesn't have a license, they can still communicate with GMRS users, assuming they're within range.
As another commenter pointed out a satellite communicator would be preferable in an emergency situation, as FRS/GMRS cannot be relied on to request emergency or rescue services. I keep a Garmin inReach Mini for this purpose.
Better answers: Run your own vpn or Owncloud instance or run your own Matrix/Jitsi server
This idea partially drives the demand for "Death Water" where they're not really selling water, but rather, an aesthetic.