Myth 2: We can find you using your phone
This one is interesting. TV shows like CSI, and almost any legal or police procedural often use this “trope” of being able to pinpoint the location of someone by using the phone. It’s partially true that cell phones can reveal your “rough” location, but when you are in the backcountry it is much less accurate. There are methods we can use to try to locate you, but it is by no means as easy as the TV and movies make it look.
Read our article on cell phones and rescue. Never rely on your mobile phone to get you out of trouble as the battery life, and range of these devices are not reliable in the wilderness, even very close to major cities! The best way to make it easier to find you is to leave a trip plan with a friend, like the one at AdventureSmart.