Starting a south-bound thru-hike in June '12. I'm an old guy (will turn 67 on the trail) and have had the customary health issues. I've trained for this and have no doubts...but wives do worry, don't they? I've promised to get a cell phone and keep an scheduled daily check-in. So a question: which phone and which network seems to work best? Appreciate all replies.
Bullwinkle
_JohnMcC_ I used Verizon and it seemed to work pretty well. Since I never used all my minutes, I would often loan my phone to another who couldn't get a signal. There may be better options and coverage these days... :oh
_Lady Di_ I've been using AT&T phones on the Appalachian Trail since 2006. In 2006 both AT&T and Verizon seemed to have equal service on the trail. Since 2009 I've noticed the Verizon customers getting a signal in more places where I could not.
I never used the phone in the shelters as it is poor etiquette. I would walk away from the shelter to the highest place around it away from the ears of others. This not only kept the conversation private but also helped improve the signal strength. If I couldn’t get a signal near the shelter I would take out the phone during the day on some high point and try again.
Keep in mind the shelters are usually placed in valleys because that is where the water flows and many do not get a good cell phone signal. Make sure your wife is aware that you are in the mountains and may not have a good enough signal for days and she may not hear from every day. I understand a text message can be sent and received with a weaker signal than it takes for a voice conversation. You might be able to send a quick “I’m fine at ___ location” in places where the signal is weak.
A device I am seeing more and more is a SPOT locator. It is a little device that sends your location up to a satellite then sends a predetermined “I’m fine at ___ location” email or text message to people you set on a mailing list. They can then see your location on Google maps. The device has emergency features that can alert emergency responders of your problem and your location. Check out their web site at http://www.findmespot.com/en/ for features and cost of the service available.
I originally kept my phone in a ziplock bag until I got caught in a downpour and the inside of the bag got wet and killed the phone. I now use a small dry sack specifically made for small electronic devices.
Incidentally don’t rule out place along the trail as being too remote for a signal. I thought I would be in No Mans Land when I entered the 100 mile wilderness and was pleasantly surprised to make calls in a number of places.
_Old Goat_ Verizon seemed to be the best of all the carriers. I had spotty coverage in Maine and NH but it was good most everywhere else as long as you are on a high spot you can at least send out a text message.
_Brian_ I think you'll have the best coverage with Verizon. It was certainly the concensus for thru-hikers in 2010.
_COB_ I hiked in 2006 and the reason i hiked is to get away from society and its technology, so please don't use cells around the shelters or the hikers,please keep that stuff to yourself.
THANK YOU.
_RED-DOG_