Communications

Communicating with the outside world is difficult along the trail. It may not be desirable anyway, after all why try to "get away from it all" if you are planning to bring it all with you. Some hikers do carry cell phones and the subject is very heavily debated. Many people feel that the detract from rather than enhance a hike. Some feel that it adds an extra measure of safety. Others feel that they give a false sense of security, encouraging a hiker to take unnecessary risks because after all help is only a phone call away. Battery life and availability of service are also issues that are argued about. Cell phones aside there are some forms of communication that are generally accepted.

The Appalachian Trail passes through or near a town every at least once a week. Almost all hikers avail themselves of a pay phone or hotel phone to call home and check on things. Some also have a portable e-mail device with a modem and use that to send and receive email. I am maintaining a journal on this site and will be updating it by this method.

Trail shelter registers and the grapevine serve very well as communications tools. Hikers make a point in stopping at trail shelters to read the registers. The will usually leave an entry saying that they stopped by. They will also leave and receive notes and messages for and from other hikers. Messages are also passed verbally.

Emergency communications from home are frequently received within 1 or 2 days of the time they are sent. Keep in mind that a network is being activated and such communications are for emergencies only. Basically the home contact is aware of the vicinity that the hiker is in having received that from the last non-emergency contact. He or she can call the appropriate town sheriff, police, or local trail maintaining club who will pass the word on to passing hikers who in turn will annotate registers. One or 2 days doesn't seem fast in an electronic age but keeping in mind that it can take 4 or 5 days to get home from the time the message is received the time is indeed quick.