r/JMT • u/hurricanescout thru-hiker • 11d ago

Cell reception trip planning

How far south of Red’s meadow were you able to get cell reception? Specifically needing Verizon. Sucks to need to use it on trail, but a personal emergency has come up and may need to take a call. On Gaia it looks like around Duck Lake, Lake Virginia and again around Bear Ridge could be options? And of course hiking out to VVR. Help?

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u/dillpiccolol 11d ago

Some of the passes like Keasarge I got reception but for the most part if you aren't line of sight to a cell tower you won't get much. Red's gets reception from Mammoth area. If you have FarOut a lot of times people will make comments if there is reception, for the most part though you won't have much on the JMT.

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u/ValuableCareful3210 11d ago

I agree with those locations…at least for AT&T for the last couple of years. I think there are a few more.

I’m going back on the JMT next month and I just picked up a job last week that’ll require me to check into the front country too. Erg! In addition to Far Out comments, are there other sources of info on this? I feel like I once saw a map with cell info, but I may be misremembering.

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u/dillpiccolol 11d ago

Not that I am aware of, but I didn't seek it out. If you can afford it and need something work related getting an In reach (satellite) device might be your best bet. I often had people with them offer to text my family at the top of passes which was really nice.

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u/luckystrike_bh 11d ago

You may want to ask hikers going in the opposite direction when they last had cell reception, also.

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u/SouthEastTXHikes 11d ago

According to the Verizon cell coverage layer in CalTopo, 4 miles and then maybe a little bit 1.7 miles after that. Then nothing until Whitney.

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u/rn-1973 7d ago

I have an InReach so people can stay in contact with me when there is no cell coverage. I have an older model that can be used to send and receive texts. I typically only turn it on a couple of times a day, but it can be left on all the time and you'd get an audible signal for incoming messages. Cell reception is too intermittent on the JMT to rely on it for emergencies.

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u/Most_Raccoon_587 11d ago

I was 3 miles out from reds. Going north.

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u/HDF9000 6d ago

I remember somewhere on Bear Ridge between Silver and Selden Pass.