Don K

Rent a satt phone. Dont rely on your cell phone.

Had a friend hike into the Mountains inNew Mexicoa couple years back to bowhunt. He was with a partner and they where both in great shape. Two days into the hunt he got a pinched nerve in his back and he could not move. He felt helpless as his partner helped him to the tent. The next morning he figured it would be good but he still could not move around. They had to call out Search and Rescue to bring him off the mountain in a basket.

You dont plan for things to happen but sometimes they do. For the low cost of a phone rental its there if you need it...............

MinnFinn

I wouldn't count on a cell phone to be able to communicate, if you're not within 10-20 miles and in line of sight of cell towers, especially if you're in the mountains. We found when we were5 miles out of Thermopolis we were most of the time out of cell signal.
We had talked about the possibility of the satellite phone lease. That way as long as you have open sky above you should be able to communicate in case you really had to.
I do also carry a GPS unit, mark waypoints at the vehicle and key points along the way hiking out. The "track" or "trail" on the eTrex Garmin I have will leave a "bread crumb" trail you can see where you've been and as with this past fall follow out even after dark, as long as you have enough light to see the screen or use the built in screen. Extra batteries definitely, but also a good compass. Electronics can break or get wet.

Elkcrazy8

if you don't carry a satellite phone or personal locator, or even if you do, plot a travel map and let someone know when to expect you back, and don't stray from your travel plan. Cell phones may not get reception, but you can be located by blips from your cell phone . That is just how they got the last group of climbers off mount hood. If you get injured, keep the phone off as much as you can and send out a blip every few hours or so.

If you get injured or turned around, don't go wandering. Stay put and dig in and get a signal prepared.

I have a close friend who crawled2 miles one time with 2 broke legs, he is lucky to be alive!!!! Be careful.

MinnFinn

Excellent point! Someone has to know if your late getting back and where to begin looking. When staying at a motel near where we hunted last year in WY I'd leave a description on the night stand to let the owner of the Rainbow motel in Thermopoliswhere we'd be and when we expected to be back. We'd call her when we got back to the room each evening. It worked out well.