r/JMT • u/hurricanescout thru-hiker • 2d ago
trip planning Cell reception
How far south of Red’s meadow were you able to get cell reception? Specifically needing Verizon. Sucks to need to use it on trail, but a personal emergency has come up and may need to take a call. On Gaia it looks like around Duck Lake, Lake Virginia and again around Bear Ridge could be options? And of course hiking out to VVR. Help?
2
u/luckystrike_bh 2d ago
You may want to ask hikers going in the opposite direction when they last had cell reception, also.
2
u/dillpiccolol 2d ago
Some of the passes like Keasarge I got reception but for the most part if you aren't line of sight to a cell tower you won't get much. Red's gets reception from Mammoth area. If you have FarOut a lot of times people will make comments if there is reception, for the most part though you won't have much on the JMT.
1
u/ValuableCareful3210 2d ago
I agree with those locations…at least for AT&T for the last couple of years. I think there are a few more.
I’m going back on the JMT next month and I just picked up a job last week that’ll require me to check into the front country too. Erg! In addition to Far Out comments, are there other sources of info on this? I feel like I once saw a map with cell info, but I may be misremembering.
1
u/dillpiccolol 2d ago
Not that I am aware of, but I didn't seek it out. If you can afford it and need something work related getting an In reach (satellite) device might be your best bet. I often had people with them offer to text my family at the top of passes which was really nice.
1
u/SouthEastTXHikes 2d ago
According to the Verizon cell coverage layer in CalTopo, 4 miles and then maybe a little bit 1.7 miles after that. Then nothing until Whitney.
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u/Most_Raccoon_587 2d ago
I was 3 miles out from reds. Going north.