Pay phones - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

In this day and age of cellular, has anyone noticed a reduction in the pay phones at towns along the trail? Specifically, I’m thinking if there would be any negative impact to using a Pocketmail device.

The Unknown Hiker

#2

Definately, but they were there when I needed them. Salisbury, CT is the only place I came accross where I walked into a town just to use a phone and it had “been taken out 2 months ago.” I still would go without a cell phone. it’s just that dang ole 37 min charge payphones get you when you use them. ME was 12 min, NY 8 min, the rest were 35-37min.

Farsang

#3

Yep, a hiker friend and I were talking about this other day, I noted that when I was in Stratton this summer, the long time pay phone in town was now gone. Susan @ the Stratton Motel has free long distance for hikers, but that’s if you stay there… going to be harder and harder to fine I predict.

Bluebearee

#4

Unknown Hiker, the internet service for the pocketmail is a 1-800#, so why does it have to be a pay phone?..Hopefully a busines or hostel would let a person use their phone since it wouldn’t cost them anything…you think?..

Chairman

#5

I didn’t carry a pay phone, I used a calling card with 1200 minutes. It worked fine. I could use ANY phone and had no problem. I asked hostels and they were fine with letting make calls with the card.

Boo-Boo

#6

i think i heard they were not going be any pay phones in the near future. the pay phones i see have all been vandalized. anybody can get a prepaid phone and minutes.

benj

#7

I have to agree with others on this thread. I had no problem making toll free calls to send / receive email with my pocketmail device. In addition to pay phones I was able to make plenty of calls at hostels, hotels and local businesses along the trail. I only experienced one business on the entire trail, which did not let me use their phone.

Easy Strider