Incorporating your Cell Phone as Part of your Safety Plan when Hiking?

Over the last twenty years, hiking has continued to grow in popularity thanks to the tremendous health benefits that this low impact sport has to offer. One of the most important things that you should bring on every hike besides brining extra food, a blanket and layers is your cell phone.

What a Cell Phone Can do on the Trail

Many people who love hiking don’t take their cell phones with them on their hikes because they want to leave the technology at home or are afraid that they won’t get coverage on the trail. This is a big mistake. Just about every cell phone in this day and age has nationwide coverage so you can use your cell phone when hiking up the side of a mountain or through a remote desert valley.
The average cell phone in this day and age is equipped with advanced features like Internet access, so, for example, if you were to get lost when out on the trail, you could find your location using a web based tool like Google Maps or call 911 and wait for emergency services to come and get you.

How to Prepare your Cell Phone for the Hike

• Charge it up – Before leaving for your next hike, take the time to plug your cell phone in and charge it because a cell phone is useless if it has a dead battery.

• Set it to vibrate mode – To avoid the embarrassment of having your phone ring on a busy hiking trail take the time to set it to vibrate mode, this way you won’t miss any calls and can still have the ability to use your cell phone if you need it.

• Invest in a rugged carrying case – There’s nothing worse than the sick feeling that comes with dropping your cell phone. To avoid this happening to you it’s important to invest in a rugged carrying case so your cell phone will be protected, just in case you drop it.

Many people have an everyday phone as well as a hiking phone (usually water proof). You don’t need two phone plans. All you need is an unlocked cell phone to put your sim card in.

Tags: cell phone, hiking