[ghaff]

Please. If your attitude is that if you get in some kind of trouble, you can just use your cell phone and have someone come get you, you should just stay out of wilderness areas.

You're endangering yourself which I wouldn't care that much about but you're also potentially endangering any search and rescue teams that have to come looking for you.

As for the lost scenario specifically. I don't know. Maybe carry a (paper) map and compass? In addition (not instead of) a GPS doesn't need cell reception to operate and works most places. (Some exceptions, like narrow canyons.)

[cc81]

There are options these days like the inReach that I would recommend for hikers that will be out in the wilderness for an extended period of time and/or might be away from easy access to help. Of course standard protocol still applies like telling someone what path you will take, when they should expect you back etc. but I would feel much safer with an inReach with me just in case.

https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/

[ghaff]

Part of me dislikes the availability of equipment that puts you in contact from pretty much anywhere--in part because it creates the expectation that you'll avail yourself of such equipment.

But, if I'm being sensible and I'm off by myself in a remote area, yeah, I'd probably take one.

ADDED: And, yes, it's nice to be able to call for help if you really need it. But way too many folks think they can just get in trouble because they're really not prepared, call 911, and everything will be great. A number of states actually collect costs from people if they were negligent these days.

[esrauch]

If your friend falls down a gorge and is unresponsive it seems more than completely reasonable to phone for help.

[ilikehurdles]

There are many ways[1] to radio for help already. It's unreasonable and irresponsible to get into that situation with only a cell phone.

[1]: https://www.rei.com/c/emergency-electronics

[ghaff]

I'm not sure what "that situation" is. inReach-type devices are probably prudent for certain activities in remote areas. Though if someone is unresponsive after falling in a gorge, I suspect S&R arriving many hours later--and many more hours getting to a hospital--isn't going to be of much help.

It's certainly not routine for individuals or even groups to carry such devices in wilderness areas even if cell phone reception is spotty. I can go 2 hours north of where I live and hike on steep trails where there's no guarantee of cell phone reception.

[dkersten]

How ever did people get by for thousands of years before cell phones existed?

[pilsetnieks]

The didn't. If you fell down into a crevice, you died. You could apply the same spurious argument to anything - how did people ever get by for thousands of years before antibiotics/vaccines/electricity/water purification existed? They didn't, they lived their nasty, brutish and short lives, and died.

[ghaff]

I could argue that cell phones (etc.) are technology that is basically: "Come rescue me." There are plenty of other technologies that we can use to help ourselves (maps, compasses, matches, and so forth). I'm at least somewhat uncomfortable with saying that calling for help is quite in the same category.

[dkersten]

There's a simple way to avoid it, with or without cellphones: don't go to dangerous places without being prepared for it.