Can anyone tell me the most reliable cell phone company that will have service around the Stevens Pass north section to Manning Park? We are going to be getting a phone sometime around our hike (last of July) and are trying to decide which one to go with. Any help appreciated.
Bacall
Back in 2004 reception wasn’t that good (nearly none at all) and I don’t know if it has changed since. It’s a fairly remote stretch of the PCT and you might experience problems getting a call out.
GANJ
In Washington, Verizon is the choice for remoter areas…but, you have to be on a ridge top, and you can’t be too far in to get reception. The farther North you go, the less chance you will get a signal.
I carry an older cell phone (3 years old or so) that is a tri-mode phone, so I can often pick up old analog towers off in the NF here. But, as noted, best reception is the 1-90 corridor to Mt. Rainier area. North is pushing it, past Stevens.
Go into it expecting you won’t get service, and then be happy when you do pick up some 
sarbar
Ditto on Verizon, I also have the tri-mode phone (we live in a rural area) and get reception many places others do not.
The Lee’s
US Cellular works great around here, though I often “Roaming on the Verizon Network”. A Tri-mode phone is a must, but carry extra batteries & turn it off when you aren’t making a call (PS: Time will reset to 12:00 when no signal, so don’t rely on it for a clock!) as the analog mode eats batterys muy pronto. If you supply your own phone (an old one off ebay?) you can get a month to month with no contract from US Cellular. Also, dial *228 to update your roaming list & it makes a BIG dif. dcsmith36@aol.com
Daniel Smith