Originally Posted by
Christoph
So here's a tipsy, Superbowl post, but here's exactly what happened to me and my hiking buddy thing. Here's a story for ya from my thru hike that involves the Spot GPS thingy. We (a few new friends and I) were around the Pearisburg area on our thru hike attempt. We decided to go into town because of a severe lightning storm. We hauled butt to the nearest highway and finally hitched a ride into town to the Church hostel (I can't remember the name right off hand). But this particular hostel was literally right behind a the local hospital! You can guess the rest of the story from what I've said so far (and you would be be correct) but here goes... We find a ride into town. Pouring rain and lightning all around, in the back of a pickup doing 75 mph down the highway. We get to the hostel and settle in. My buddy wakes me up, middle of the night and is freaking out!!! Said his family was trying to get in touch with him, so much that his phone wouldn't work and locked up because of all the texts and phone calls, he couldn't even answer any of them (finally getting a phone call to his mom saying he is OK and the hostel is right behind the hospital and we hitched a ride.) Everyone had thought he was in an ambulance going 70 MPH on the highway to the hospital via the Spot app thing. Anyway, you get the story.... but the GPS thing can truly be a hindrance. Make sure your family doesn't totally rely on GPS and all that technology crap out there. No need to worry the folks at home, they're already worried enough about you (they really are) so tech can be a good thing, but they have to understand nothing is perfect and don't jump to conclusions. They will hear from you via text. I did this almost daily, or the occasional FB post. Moral of this story, don't rely on technology to the point your family is worried sick about you. There will be days (days upon days, even with Verizon) you won't be able to contact home. The trail is safe. No bears are out to get you. There are more people out there than you would expect (right in front and right behind you). You are more safe than the family at home in the city.