SMS check-ins

SMS check-ins are for situations where internet data is poor but text or satellite messaging can still get out. Add sender numbers from the SMS Check-ins page. Verification is receive-only: HikeRuleOne.com shows a code and gateway number, and you send that code from the device you want to use.

Once a sender number is verified, messages from that number can start a hike, check in, add time, or finish. A verified number belongs to one account at a time. If another account verifies the same number, the old association is soft-deleted as a duplicate.

The phone number in your profile is separate. It is display information for the safety card and is not used to accept SMS check-ins. This keeps the communication channel explicit and avoids treating every displayed phone number as a command source.

Human-readable commands are START, QUICK, CHECKIN, ADD, and FINISH. START starts the best matching planned hike; if there are no planned hikes, it creates a 4-hour SMS-sourced hike automatically. QUICK intentionally creates a new hike even when planned hikes exist, and can include a duration such as QUICK 90M or QUICK 2H. FINISH marks the active hike complete.

ADD extends expected return time and can use minutes or hours. Examples include ADD 45, ADD 45M, and ADD 2H. SMS time extensions are explicit; check-ins do not automatically add time to the hike.

The web app can also generate compact encoded SMS payloads when a normal web check-in times out. Those messages include the action id, timestamp, and current location when available, so duplicate web/SMS deliveries can be ignored instead of creating duplicate events.