[pct-l] Cell Phones

[dude@xxxxxxxxxxx (dude)]

--
cell phones are one of the things that I look forward to getting away
from when I hike. :-)  out of coutesy to others, if you take one on
the trail, please dont leave it on.  It would really ruin the wonder
of the back-country to hear a cell phone ringing.  It would make the
back country seem more like my office.  i dont carry one, but i dont
hike alone either.

peace.
dude


> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> Cell phones are a toss-up; is the luxury worth the weight?  I hike
> alone and so carried one last summer from Tuolomne Meadows to
> Castella and was not impressed. Reception was usually poor to
> non-existent, except near major population areas (Tahoe) or way up
> high where you have a straight shot to a distant repeater.  The
> desert sections of southern CA might be a different story as there
> is nothing to block reception; the only question is how far away
> is the repeater?
>
> At least in Central CA. AT&T supposedly has the most reliable
> coverage of all the carriers. That will change in other areas.
> I've seen 3 different cell services side-by-side atop Dick's Pass
> west of Tahoe and only one could make a call.  Surprisingly, there
> was no service in or near Castella along I-5. The locals said it
> is a known "dead area" and that AT&T is supposedly putting up a
> tower there soon.
>
> Use re-chargeable lithium ion batteries; they last much longer.
> Only turn your phone on when you need it. Don't leave your phone
> on so others can reach you - use your provider's answering service
> and check it periodically when you get up high. Put extra
> batteries and/or your charger unit in your bouncer box.
>
> If you really feel you need reliable on-demand communication
> capability, carry a satellite phone. They're heavy (16 oz) and
> expensive ($1500 + monthly fees) but they work virtually anyplace.
> I'm leaving mine home next time; a GPS is more useful and weighs
> less. I can wait for a pay phone or a passing hiker in an
> emergency.
>
> Wandering Bob
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Barb Asper
> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 6:32 AM
> To: michaelgosnell@hotmail.com; pct-l@backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snake Bite Kit
>
> [ Converted text/html to text/plain ]
>
> Sorry, Michael -- I forgot to 'REPLY ALL' on that last message.
> Anyway, to repeat, How do you all feel about cell phones on the
> PCT. We didn't carry one on the AT, but saw a lot of them, and
> even borrowed one to make a call from a rocky mountain top late in
> our hike. So, what is the concensus? How about reception? Thanks,
>
> Granny
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