November 27, 2000


What is the best device for calling for help when hiking or camping?

What is the best device for calling for help when hiking or camping? Ordinary cell phones don't seem to be reliable in the woods and satellite phones are too expensive. Are small CB radios a realistic option or a waste of weight?

— Bryan Gates Winston-Salem, North Carolina

You're right, Bryan —- cell phones don't always work reliably in the backcountry. That's because they're line-of-sight devices, meaning you can't have any obstructions (mountains, for instance) between your phone and the nearest antenna. Still, it's always surprising to me how often cell phones DO work in pretty remote places. But this much is axiomatic: The more you need a cell phone, the less likely it is to work.

Satellite phones are problematic, too, and as you note, they're extremely expensive. Motorola just about went bust trying to sell its Iridium system (Iridium itself is bankrupt), leaving Globalstar as the chief contender in this arena. And their phones aren't cheap —- about $2,000, with expensive calling plans as well.

CBs? Fuhgeddaboudit. CBs are line of sight, too, and have a limited range. You'll find them even less reliable than cell phones unless you're in an area with a lot of planes flying overhead. So they're a waste of weight except in CB-intensive areas such as on Alaska's Denali, where they are the primary mode of emergency communication.

Any solutions, then? Not really. The best advice I have is to simply be prepared for emergencies, and have a plan to follow if something goes awry. After all, even with a communications device that works, it's apt to be hours or even days before rescuers can reach a remote party. So be ready to take care of most things yourself -— or at least to control a medical situation until help can be summoned.