[at-l] Technology....And Intrusive Discourtesy

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

Possibly not such a "simple call" to the authorities. Once off the ridge 
line or off a mountain top, there are many areas that a cell phone gets 
little or no signal. This demonstrates the fact that so far, there are not 
so many cell phone towers to connect the hiker into the real world. Calls 
to 911 may not even reach the appropriate county, or even find a center 
that knows how to locate you. Consider the GSMNP, with little idea if you 
will reach TN or NC. Even then, the local EMS may still prefer that you 
evaluate your options to evacuate yourself.

One of the appropriate complaints about cell phones includes the concept 
that folks will call 911 inappropriately, or use the cell phone rather than 
preparation for the task and risks at hand. In my mind, this is a better 
complaint than the idea that someone is calling to thank Payne/Webber for 
their early retirement. In general, a cell phone only increases the places 
from which a call for emergency assistance may be made while still 
requiring the person find ways of getting to such a location. Inappropriate 
use of 911 services can be and should be treated with financial and legal 
corrective actions.

If a day, section, or thru hiker finds a cell phone in their pack helps 
relieve anxiety for themselves or their family, I think it is as reasonable 
as carrying an extra pair of socks or other redundancy. Doing without a 
phone can be a symbol of success and accomplishment, and relieves them of 
several ounces of gear. A discourteous person with a cell phone is a 
problem in the woods or in the city. They are just as worthy of education 
and pity as a poorly prepared person for the hazards of the woods and the 
city. However, I just can't see getting one's panties in a wad over their 
problem.

OrangeBug

At 02:02 PM 5/29/2002 -0400, rick boudrie wrote:
>This past weekend I was thinking about that as we came down a very icy and 
>steep section of a trail on the backside of a 4,000 footer.  ... And it 
>would have ment less still if I knew that if something did get twisted on 
>that icy trail, a simple call to the authorities would be all that it took 
>to make things better.