An avid hiker is cautioning people not to rely on having cell phone reception if they run into trouble on the trails.
Jack Hickey, who is also a retired member of St. John’s Regional Fire Department, was inspired to post about the issue on social media after noticing a sign on the White Horse Path near Pouch Cove encouraging people to call 911 in case of an emergency.
Hickey says he chuckled at the sign, because reception along most east coast trails is “nearly non-existent.”
He says there are some more expensive technologies, such as the ones they use in search and rescue, that can be used, but not conventional tools.
He says to call 911 itself there is often no reception, and people would have to walk four or five kilometers to call for help.
Hickey says it is important to always hike with someone, but even then it could take that person a while to find service if something happens.
Hickey recommends other pieces of equipment that are good to have on hand.
He says he always carries a headlamp, a lighter, knife, and GPS. He says even a garbage bag can be useful because it can be used as a rain poncho or a shelter if someone gets stuck overnight.