[pct-l] SPOT vs Cell Phone

[Chris Caviezel (Nordic Chris)]

What you take really depends on the function that you wish to use it for.
 
If you are concerned about getting hurt and then needing to get rescued,
than SPOT is more likely your better bet.  Additionally, it can provide "OK"
updates to your loved ones.  The newer models do allow some OUTGOING text
messages, but the messages are pretty spendy.  You will not have any ability
to receive incoming messages.  A warning however, once you press the 911
button for assistance, there is no way for the 911 rescue to be cancelled,
so you will have to wait for them to come and get you.  A few years ago
someone pressed 911, and then decided they did not need to be rescued and
then pressed the OK button thinking that it would cancel the 911 rescue.  It
did not.
 
Cell phones that have text messaging, can be really good at communicating
with loved ones, and your fellow through hikers.  The text message feature
can work a bit better than the cell phone alone.  You will want to keep your
phone off when not in use to preserve batteries.  But if you are making an
outgoing text message or expecting an incoming text message, that can
excellent.  What the phone does is puts your outgoing message in "cue" and
once there is a strong enough signal the message gets sent.  By doing this
however (keeping you  phone on, when there is no signal), the battery life
can drain a bit faster.  But last year I was successfully able to
communicate with a Trail Angel to let her know that we were a couple of
hours ahead of schedule.
 
Chris L. Caviezel
Central Cascades Winter Recreation Council <http://www.snowrec.org/> , Chair
Foothills Branch of the Mountaineers <http://www.foothillsmountaineers.org/>
, Hiking, Backpacking and Snowshoe Committee, Chair
Seattle Branch of the Mountaineers, Hiking Committee
<http://www.mountaineers.org/seattle/seahike/> , Member
 
Pacific Crest Trail Film Night, 4/1/2010
<http://www.mountaineers.org/pct-series> & 4/15/2010
PCT Series <http://www.mountaineers.org/pct-series> 
Snoqualmie Nordic Club Weather Blog <http://www.nordic-chris.com/>