How it works

Three things you do. One thing we do.

Filing takes about ninety seconds and two required fields. Then you go. The only part that matters is remembering to close out — and if you forget, that’s the whole point.

01File a plan

When you’ll be back, and who to tell. That’s it — everything else is optional and you can add it from the trailhead.

Back by
4:00 PM
Sarah · Mike
02Go

Tap start at the trailhead if you have signal. If you don’t, don’t worry — your timer was set the moment you filed.

Sarah and Mike get one message: John set out at 8:04am, back by 4:00pm. You’ll only hear from us again if he doesn’t check in.
03Close out

Repeat a short pattern to end the trip. It’s deliberately not one tap, so your pocket can’t do it for you on the drive home.

A new pattern every time — it’s never the same twice.
The one thing we do

If you don’t close out, we start telling people. Slowly, and you first.

Most of the time it ends at the first step, because you’re fine and just running late. That’s the buffer doing its job.

4:30 PMWe nudge you first. “Hey — okay? Reply 2 for two more hours.” By text if you’re paying, email if not.
5:00 PMSarah hears from us, with your plan and what to do about it.
5:20 PMIf Sarah is asleep, Mike hears from us too.
by darkThey get the phone number of the agency that covers where you went. A person decides what to do next — never us.

The whole thing, in one table.

If you read nothing else on this site, read this.
You add someone
They get one message asking if they’ll do it.
They accept
Reply YES, or tap Accept.
They want out, or want to change something
STOP to leave, MANAGE for everything else. If they leave, you’re told, by name.
You file a plan
The timer is set right then — before you’ve gone anywhere.
You start
Your accepted people are told you set out.
30 minutes late
You get nagged. One tap buys two more hours.
1 hour late
First person is told.
1 hour 20 late
Second person is told.
You close out
Repeat the gesture. Everyone is told you’re back.
What it costs
Email is free — timer, watchdog, packet and all. Texting is paid.

Each person hears from you on one channel — text or email, whichever you gave us. Never both. Someone who hasn’t accepted is never messaged and doesn’t count as cover; if nobody has accepted, we tell you before you leave.