A leather phone holster is ideal for many backcountry hiking areas to enable you to carry and secure your mobile phone throughout the trip. However, going deeper into the wilderness is a different story. Even though cell phones do not work reliably in most wilderness areas, many hikers bring them anyway. In addition, I take my cell phone with me on most backcountry trips just in case. Therefore, it is critical to understand how mobile phones work and maximize their capabilities to offer oneself the best chance of communicating in an emergency utilizing one.
When you turn on your phone, it consumes power. When you move out of range of a cell tower, it continues to consume energy, and in some cases, consumes even more than usual in an attempt to connect to the cellular network. In the case of a “smart” phone, many people believe that using Facebook or Twitter consumes less power than making a phone call.
A Few Tips to Know When Planning your Wilderness Trip
Going into the wilderness entails some risk. Besides, Hengwin takes these best practices seriously and provide products for it such as phone purse cases from search and rescue operations and trail advocacy, so you can stay safe while also having fun.
- Planning – Always leave a hiking itinerary with family or friends and follow it.
- Safety Precautions – Learn about potential hazards before your trip and take appropriate precautions. Choose the proper clothing and equipment. Always hike with a friend. Choose a trail that corresponds to your group’s skill level.
- Limitations – Understand your limitations, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your hiking companions. Plan your route and travel speed to avoid the weakest member. Make sure that each member of your party is aware of what equipment the others have packed..
- Tracking – Using a map and compass, you can track your location. If you run into trouble, don’t be afraid to turn around.
- Bad Weather Condition – Staying put rather than attempting to travel in adverse weather such as rain, snow, or fog may be safer.
- Stream Crossings – The majority of large stream crossings have been bridged, but not all of them. In addition to facing unexpected or difficult stream crossings, high water or bridge damage might also entail encountering an unpredictable or difficult stream crossing. Look for the ideal crossing point. Look for regions that are wider and shallower, with less risk of flooding downstream.
- Dehydration – Dehydration can strike at any time, regardless of the weather, so drink plenty of water. Warm weather, effort, and dehydration can all contribute to heat exhaustion. Hot, red, moist skin and weariness are common symptoms frequently accompanied by a headache. Take regular short pauses in the shade and drink plenty of water when the weather is hot.
- Lost -If you get lost, remember your ten essentials. Maintain your calm and think through the situation. If you stay put, you will be found sooner. Keep warm and dry. Make a signal that can be seen from the air. In a forest clearing, spread out brightly colored clothing.
Additional Guidelines for Cell Phone Features Relevant to Wilderness Adventurers
Other notable features of cell phone technology that are useful for hikers and backpackers in wilderness areas include:
- If you cannot connect, try moving to different locations and calling at other times; ensure that your body is not blocking cell phone signals.
- Text messaging consumes less battery power than voice messaging.
- Emergency text messages are frequently received in fringe coverage areas when voice data is unavailable because it requires more signal strength. But still, most 911 emergency call centers are not equipped to receive text messages.
- Send emergency text messages to other people hoping someone can receive them to be contacted by proper authorities.
- An active cellular phone and nearest cell tower will connect with a digital handshake before any text message or voice call is connected. It can share this data between cell towers. Sending and receiving these bits of electronic data requires relatively little energy. Even if no contact was ever completed, emergency personnel could occasionally utilize these electronic breadcrumbs to find a cell phone
- Suppose that the receiving cell tower antenna picks up a weak signal. In that case, it can automatically boost the transmitting cell phone’s power to the maximum. However, it will cost your battery to be drained much faster.
- If your phone’s battery is running low, try dialing *3370#. Your phone will restart with its reserve power; the battery level on the device should have increased by 50%.
- Many cell phones have a GPS locating feature that is automatically activated when dialing 911. In addition, smartphones with navigation technology will frequently determine the phone’s latitude and longitude.
- Since different cell phone providers have other coverage areas, it’s good to have multiple phones and activate them with different cellular carriers.
- The international emergency number for a cellular phone is 112. If you are outside your mobile coverage area and there is an emergency, dial 112, and the phone will search any existing network.
Conclusion: The majority of the park has spotty cell phone reception. However, climbing to the top of a ridge may provide a chance to reach a cell site. Only report major emergencies by calling 911 from the backcountry. Ensure to provide who you are, your exact location, and any other pertinent information listed under “Emergencies” above. The ability to locate oneself is critical to any rescue operation’s effectiveness. Also, provide your cell phone number so rescuers can contact you. If they intend to call you back, don’t move. When it comes to getting a call to a cell phone in the wilderness, a few inches away can mean a big difference to the signal. Also, keep in mind that bringing your cell phone along with you is a must for emergency purposes, do not use it on other things that will drain the phone’s battery.
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