Actually, the face of wilderness communications apparently is already changing forever. This is an interesting take: [url=http://http://blog.oplopanax.ca/2011/05/why-you-shouldnt-use-smart-phones-for.html][/url].

Certainly one of her main points, that the pattern of calling for assistance has changed due to cell phone usage, seems to be quite valid. I have read of several instances where confused hikers were asked to take a picture of their surroundings, thereby identifying the locality to searchers. This we could definitely not do in the old days.

Of course, cell phone coverage is not uniform and may indeed by spotty in wilderness. Well, the glass is either half empty or half full. I have been surprised at the places where my phone has worked. It will probably work even more consistently in the future. I just hope they get even better at disguising cell phone towers as trees.

As I get dragged kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century, dragging knuckles and all, I admit somewhat reluctantly that my phone is becoming part of my EDC, both in town and in the woods. After all, I go to the wilderness to seek solitude. What would Natty Bumpo or Nessmuk say?