WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 33
  1. #1
    Registered User Zman's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-24-2016
    Location
    Mississippi
    Age
    64
    Posts
    84

    Default cell phone charging

    o.k. are there any secrets to finding places to charge your cell phone during a thru-hike?

  2. #2

    Join Date
    08-07-2003
    Location
    Nashville, Tennessee
    Age
    72
    Posts
    6,119
    Images
    620

    Default

    My "secret" is to carry a small (6") extension cord, so if I find an outlet,-- even if it's in use,-- I can plug in the extension cord, re-plug in whatever was already there and also plug in my charger. Clear as mud?

    That's on long hikes. Otherwise I carry a battery pack, sized for how many days I'm to be out. I can also charge it in wherever I can find an outlet.
    [I]ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: ... Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit....[/I]. Numbers 35

    [url]www.MeetUp.com/NashvilleBackpacker[/url]

    .

  3. #3
    Registered User Christoph's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-18-2015
    Location
    Valdosta, Georgia
    Age
    51
    Posts
    596

    Default

    I have an Ankor 10000map external but only used it a few times. I found there's a lot of places to grab a quick charge along the way. As usual, keep it in airplane mode, and don't use it unless you need to to save some battery. Used mine for all of my pics and vids on mlast years thru and battery was only little concern. Lots of places in towns, hostel stops, you go through a lot of parks that have outlets hidden here and there, etc...
    - Trail name: Thumper

  4. #4
    GAME 06
    Join Date
    10-15-2004
    Location
    Prescott, Arizona
    Age
    69
    Posts
    724

    Default

    One can find outlets to charge at a wide variety of places in towns. Restaurants, grocery stores, laundromats, post offices, libraries, campgrounds, they are just everywhere.

    I carry a wall plug which has 2 usb charging outlets on it.

    This way I can charge both my phone and spare battery at the same time, or I can use it to share charging with another hiker.

  5. #5
    Registered User LittleRock's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-10-2014
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Age
    38
    Posts
    803
    Images
    24

    Default

    The squirrels build secret outlets inside of certain knotted oak trees. They only work with squirrel chargers, though, so you need a squirrel-USB adapter.

    On a slightly more serious note, I did see an electrical outlet inside a shelter once. I believe it was Bailey Gap Shelter in Virginia. No idea if it was a working outlet or just a joke, my money is on the latter.
    It's all good in the woods.

  6. #6
    Registered User KDogg's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-30-2015
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    Posts
    267

    Default

    It is much less of a problem than you imagine to find charging spots. The key, though, is to ask permission. Nobody likes entitled hikers.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-05-2013
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Zman View Post
    o.k. are there any secrets to finding places to charge your cell phone during a thru-hike?
    I carry 7 spare batteries. That usually gets me to the next town. If I had a phone that doesn’t allow you to change the battery, I'd carry the equivalent amount of charging power...

  8. #8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jefals View Post
    I carry 7 spare batteries. That usually gets me to the next town. If I had a phone that doesn’t allow you to change the battery, I'd carry the equivalent amount of charging power...
    The equivalent of 7 full phone charges? What are you using your phone for where it requires that much juice?

  9. #9
    GAME 06
    Join Date
    10-15-2004
    Location
    Prescott, Arizona
    Age
    69
    Posts
    724

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jefals View Post
    I carry 7 spare batteries. That usually gets me to the next town. If I had a phone that doesn’t allow you to change the battery, I'd carry the equivalent amount of charging power...
    That sounds a little odd.

    What phone and batteries are you carrying?

  10. #10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Zman View Post
    o.k. are there any secrets to finding places to charge your cell phone during a thru-hike?
    Any time you see a vending machine, there will be an outlet behind it. Many commercial buildings have an outdoor outlet or two if you look around. I even found one hidden in a kiosk stand in the SNP.

    I typically don't need to use my battery pack between town stops, but I use it to top off the phone charge on the hike into town and then charge the battery pack. That way I don't need to baby sit the phone while it charges and if someone does walk off with the battery pack, I haven't lost much. Although the chances of that is pretty small.
    Follow slogoen on Instagram.

  11. #11
    Registered User middle to middle's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-25-2005
    Location
    A A county, MD.
    Age
    83
    Posts
    360

    Default

    Oh are you nuts
    Quote Originally Posted by LittleRock View Post
    The squirrels build secret outlets inside of certain knotted oak trees. They only work with squirrel chargers, though, so you need a squirrel-USB adapter.

    On a slightly more serious note, I did see an electrical outlet inside a shelter once. I believe it was Bailey Gap Shelter in Virginia. No idea if it was a working outlet or just a joke, my money is on the latter.

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-05-2013
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AllDownhillFromHere View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by jefals View Post
    I carry 7 spare batteries. That usually gets me to the next town. If I had a phone that doesn’t allow you to change the battery, I'd carry the equivalent amount of charging power...
    The equivalent of 7 full phone charges? What are you using your phone for where it requires that much juice?
    One reason I carry 7 is cause I'm on the PCT where the distance between wall power is greater than it is on the AT. Also power is one of those things I want to be sure I have enough of. Also, some of those batteries might fail. So those are some reasons I have 7. But what so I use it for? Pictures and checking guthook during the day. If I turn it on to check guthook and notice I've got an email, I'll check to see if it's anything important.
    At night in the tent I'll use it to text my kids, answer emails, let folks know about my day, pay bills.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-05-2013
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wyoming View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by jefals View Post
    I carry 7 spare batteries. That usually gets me to the next town. If I had a phone that doesn’t allow you to change the battery, I'd carry the equivalent amount of charging power...
    That sounds a little odd.

    What phone and batteries are you carrying?
    I'm carrying a Samsung Galaxy S5 and the batteries that fit in that phone.
    You’re probably thinking i-phone, or the new Samsungs where you can't change the batteries. Regardless, I'd look at: what's the longest section of my hike without power, and how long will it take me to get between those two points. Then - how much power do I want for that interval. Then just get the batteries, if you have a phone like mine, or the appropriate Anker or other charging power that you will need.
    Wyoming, to one of your points about finding outlets...you are right. And in a pinch that will work. For example, there is sometimes an outlet in a campground restroom. But do you really want to hang sound in there for a few hours while you're charging something? Of course you can if necessary...

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-05-2013
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jefals View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by AllDownhillFromHere View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by jefals View Post
    I carry 7 spare batteries. That usually gets me to the next town. If I had a phone that doesn’t allow you to change the battery, I'd carry the equivalent amount of charging power...
    The equivalent of 7 full phone charges? What are you using your phone for where it requires that much juice?
    One reason I carry 7 is cause I'm on the PCT where the distance between wall power is greater than it is on the AT. Also power is one of those things I want to be sure I have enough of. Also, some of those batteries might fail. So those are some reasons I have 7. But what so I use it for? Pictures and checking guthook during the day. If I turn it on to check guthook and notice I've got an email, I'll check to see if it's anything important.
    At night in the tent I'll use it to text my kids, answer emails, let folks know about my day, pay bills.
    Oh yeah, a couple more things:
    Sometimes at night all alone in the wilderness, I like to listen to Jackie Evancho. Feels like I've got an angel with me out there.
    Also, I'm kinda slow. If I have a town 20 miles away, it might take me 3 days to get there!

  15. #15

    Default

    There was a picnic table pavilion right before the dam at Fontana that had an electric outlet.
    charged my camcorder right before entering the park, this was before cell phones

  16. #16

    Default

    there were still pay phones everywhere too

  17. #17

    Default

    It's almost like electricity is free. Not a single mention of buying something from the establishment you're charging at. The Trail Provides I guess.

  18. #18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KDogg View Post
    It is much less of a problem than you imagine to find charging spots. The key, though, is to ask permission. Nobody likes entitled hikers.
    Exactly!
    always ask permission and tip your waitresses too

  19. #19
    Registered User colorado_rob's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-20-2012
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Age
    67
    Posts
    4,540
    Images
    3

    Default

    So many random places along the trail, like shacks of various types just off the trail. I agree, if in an establishment, you should be buying something to use a plug as a common courtesy, but when the owner of a shack isn't around and you use his plug without asking, let us do a bit of math:

    A cell battery has about 3000 maH of energy at full charge. That's 3 amp-hours, at 5 volts (USB voltage) = 15 watt-hours of energy, which is about 1/70th of a kilowatt hour. A KWH goes for about 12 cents, so if you charge your phone you are costing the owner of the plug 12/70's of a cent, roughly a sixth of a penny. There are inefficiencies in the system, call it 50% so maybe it's more like 2/6th's of a penny or 1/3rd of a penny. Just sayin'.

    So, in towns it's a no-brainer assuming you have errands at places, but along the trail look for shacks/barns/whatever that have overhead wires to them and many times there will be a plug somewhere on the building.

  20. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-28-2015
    Location
    Bad Ischl, Austria
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1,588

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Slo-go'en View Post
    Any time you see a vending machine, there will be an outlet behind it...
    The guys running the vending machine will not exactly love you if you forgot to re-plug the machine after charging, thus spoiling the whole content of the fridge.
    Luckily, in our country most outlets are double, so I didn't have to unplug the vending machine, but could use the free twin outlet.

    Its highly recommended to carry a high performance charger with dual USB output, so you can charge the phone and the powerpack simultanousely while, say, sitting in a cafe.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •