I’ve heard mixed reviews regarding Cell phone reception on the trail. Some experienced thru hikers told me there is good reception most of the way, but then I saw a post on this site last week that said that reception was poor… I have AT&T… does anyone know the real scoop on cell phone reception? Also, do cell phones work in towns along the way?
Thanks for any advice you can offer.
Tawneysue
I have AT&T and hiked from Springer to Damascus last year. I had good reception most times. Reception in the gaps was poorest but, at higher elevations, it was fine. I had good reception in Hiawassee and Franklin. I had no reception in Hot Springs or Damascus. I’m starting over again this year from Springer and intend to take my phone. Hope this helps!
Tom
Don’t worry there will soon be cell phone towers on every mountain in America. You’ll soon be able to talk to your stock brokers or walk the trail with no equipment and get yourself bailed out again and again.
Blue Jay
Tom, thank you for the information… Blue Jay, I think your comments are a little harsh and pessimistic. It seems a lot of people post harsh judgemental opinons. While everyone has a right to their opinion, it seems if you really wanted to get your message across you would post it as an opinion to be considered rather than an attach.
As a female planning to hike the trail alone and with recent rapes reported on the trail I think that having a cell phone with me for use in an emergency is a good idea.
Tawneysue
Tom, thank you for the information… Blue Jay, I think your comments are a little harsh and pessimistic. It seems a lot of people post harsh judgemental opinons. While everyone has a right to their opinion, it seems if you really wanted to get your message across you would post it as an opinion to be considered rather than an attack.
As a female planning to hike the trail alone and with recent rapes reported on the trail I think that having a cell phone with me for use in an emergency is a good idea.
Tawneysue
You don’t understand, Tawneysue. Blue Jay has the hardest life of any of us. He’s seen it all and done it all. He also has all the answers, and anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot. And while simpletons like us cannot comprehend the enormity of various issues, he alone sees the big picture, and can sit in judgment.
Bachelor
You’d be better off with a handgun than a cell phone to fend off rapists. Hundreds off female hikers before you didn’t carry either one.
Lone Wolf
Not only do I not seen it all or done it all, I did give a single answer. I did not tell anyone not to bring a cell phone, go ahead. Just be aware of the results of your actions, towers everywhere, pay phones are becoming extinct. To carry one to prevent crime is insane. A criminal would have time to commit many rapes and still get away long before anyone arrives. Just being on the AT and away from cities is one of the best ways to prevent rape. If you want a false sense of security, by all means carry a cell. Lone Wolf may be correct. Reality even on the AT is harsh.
Blue Jay
If you are concerned about your safety, don’t forget that metal tipped hiking poles can be very potent weapons. You might even want to get some self-defense instruction to learn how to use them more effectively. When you sleep, you could even compress then so they are like a dagger, which could come in very handy if someone bothers you.
One time I was attacked when I was sleeping, and I wish I had a metal tipped hiking pole close at hand.
Bob
I carry a cell phone with me when I backpack; I concur that it is a good idea to carry in case of emergencies. I also carry a survival whistle and some pepper spray. I have never used the cell phone while on the trail,never had to, pray I never have to. There was a guy hiking on the AT up in this area(Keys’ Gap on WV-Va. line) who had a heart attack and called for help from his cell phone; there was a story in a local paper about it. Where would he be now if he hadn’t had that cell phone?
Mini Mosey
Maybe we would all be better off if we stayed halfway between a hospital and a police station with a cell phone, a gun and a metal tipped pole. Why is everyone soooo afraid? Driving your car to a trail head is a hundred thousand times more dangerous than hiking the entire AT. Will you all relax. As for cell phones, if hikers don’t give a dam about mountain tops and it is clear they don’t, that issue is over.
Blue Jay
I can clearly see both sides of this arguement, If I saw somebody walking down the trail carrying on a conversation for no particular reason accept to be talking, I’d be less than happy with that individual. You can do that stuff at home. As for having it for protection, I agree with it giving you a false sense of security. What is somebody going to tell a rapist “hang on a second while I call 911”. Even if for some strange and unbelievable reason they did hold on, by the time help got there they wouldn’t be. Now on the other hand, medical emergencies are something in which Cell phones can and have saved lives. I am certainly not against anyone carrying a cell phone on the trail. People cary radio’s and nobody gets upset, people carry pocket mail and nobody gets upset, I’m carrying a GPS unit and a PDA and keyboard for research purposes and so far nobodies got upset. If they get upset because of towers, that’s nonsense, you could ban all phones from the trail and those towers would go up anyway. I guess what I’m saying is HYOH, but be mindful of others. If you feel the need to have a meaningless conversation don’t do it in the middle of a crowded shelter, because when your done you’ll probably get an earful. Lastly, with the current state of affairs this countries in, having an outside way of contact might not be a bad idea. Just my .02 worth.
BearKat
BearKat, I agree. Blue Jay, Um…I wasnt thinking a cell phone was going to prevent anything from happening to me…but if something does, since I’ll be alone…it seems like it could be a good idea. Blue Jay, wheather you like it or not we live in the year of 2003 with and a technolgical boom that happened for a reason. Are you suggesting that we shouldnt continue to grow and advance for the sake of convenience or safety? Its not like I’m hiking in a body cast with pillows on all sides and a satelite location device with a back up helicopter waiting should I fall… but since the technology exists why shouldnt I use it?
Tawneysue
In ‘98’ when I thruhiked, I saw one cell phone the whole way. Now even the guy who defends me has a GPS, a PDA and a keyboard. I just read in a medical journal about a group of scientists that openly put human genes in a cow. Yes, technology exists, why shouldn’y we use it?
Blue Jay
Carrying a cellphone can possibly help save a life but most people who carry them use them to call family or friends, even in shelters I have seen. Another good legit use for a cell is to get transportation into towns instead of hitchhking. I’ve believe the protocol is to never allow others to see the phone or see you use it. Again, if you have to hide it in your pack, it isn’t going to help you much in cases of crime. If you are doing a thru-hike on the AT starting at Springer, you will never be more than a whistle (everyone should carry a whistle or similiar device)from getting help in GA-NC-TN as over 100 people per day start at Springer during the peak of thru-hiking start season and I estimate between those and the day-weekend hikers you have probably 50 hikers per mile on the trail during that time. If you start hiking in April in Maryland or Pennsylvania where you will be alone more often but with a lot more locals, then perhaps a cellphone should be carried if you are female. Besides that, unless you carry the cell phone right where you get to it easily, you won’t be able to access it in time if you are being raped or robbed.
However, I guess carrying a cellphone is a personal decision and I would never carry one.
schikerbiker
Bluejay, Careful I’m not defending anybody. I, like schikerbiker think this is a very personal choice. I do believe that there is a certian ettiquette that should be followed in the regards to thier use. I will not carry one, I have no problem with anyone who does, I will have a problem with them if they commmence conversations in my presence for no appearent reason. As for me, I will follow the same procedure with my gear, whenever and wherever possible I will attempt to do my work in seclusion, even though what I’m doing is trail related. I will do this because I know there are people that have come up there to be clear of the electronic world, I think it’s only right for me to respect this. Remember I’m the one bringing the unnatural item to the mountain.
BearKat
Okay, Yes carrying a cell phone is a personal decision. Can we all agree on that?
I believe the question was reception. I have been looking into this because I have a few school groups that will be following me.
I’ve have found that Verizon has very good coverage throughout the trail at least thats what it says on paper!
If anyone has information on actual reception please email me. THanks!
Devon
Blue Jay, I feel your pain. The wilderness is going away and we sometimes feel helpless seeing it go little by little. Cell phones, although a necessary evil, take more than just a little.
Fred