Wild places call to us. You’ve felt it before. Disconnecting from the modern world can help you to relax and to breathe more deeply.

While you might be tempted to disconnect altogether while hiking, you might want to consider tucking your smartphone into your pocket before stepping out the door. In the worst-case scenario, your smartphone might even save your life!

In an emergency, your smartphone can help you...

Call for Help

The most obvious way that a smartphone can keep you safe is by allowing you to contact authorities. While this does require cell tower reception – and might therefore not be so helpful if you’re somewhere extremely remote – you’ll find that you’re able to get reception in many wild areas, as is the case in certain parts of the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.

Search and rescue workers can also talk you through an emergency and ask questions to figure out where you are.

Send Your Location

If you’re somewhere that you’re not really that familiar with, it can be hard to verbally describe your surroundings. Texting photos of landmarks and the general terrain to search and rescue teams can help them narrow down where you might be.

Even better, you can send them your GPS coordinates, making it even easier for them to find you.

Send Your Loved Ones Updates 

There are apps that you can download that will send regular progress reports to your family members, along with your location. This will make it easier for authorities to track you later on, if necessary.

Hopefully, they’ll serve more as a gentle reminder that you’re having the time of your life in the great outdoors but it’s always best to be prepared!

Help Authorities Locate You

In special circumstances, police can request that your cell phone company send your GPS coordinates so that they can find you. This is only used as a last resort.

Go ahead! Get some much-needed space from the daily grind, enjoy every step of the hiking trail and fully rejuvenate – but tuck that smartphone into your pocket, just in case.