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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 11:56 AM
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| Just wondering if anyone can provide some more specific information as to where one may be able to get cell phone reception on the West Coast Trail. Some site seems to indicate that tehre is no coverage at all, while others are reporting that with certain carriers you can get decent coverage along a fair number of the beaches. Anyone care to share their recent experiences? Which specific areas have been better than others? Is there cell reception at Pachena to coordinate transportation, etc.? |
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77 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 2:23 PM
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| I had no cell reception at Pachena but when I was there in January there was a payphone at the trailhead. |
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vancouver
50 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 4:24 PM
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I just got back from the trail on Monday.
My cell was the only one that seemed to work on the trail and was involved in getting a women with a broken arm out.
The phone is an old Virgin mobile. It connected to Verizon wireless, presumably via the Olympic peninsular. Various payment options were offered, we used collect calls - have yet to see the bill!
Oddly, the phone had regular service on the Patchena campground near the Reservation but zero service of any kind at the trail head 1/2 kilometer away. This was the only place along the entire trail with no reception.
As an aside, you will be told that the only stores are in Bamfield, this is not true. There is a small store on the reservation selling pop, chips, tobacco etc. It is in someones house so the hours are spotty.
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vancouver
50 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 4:27 PM
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| Yes there is a pay phone at the trail head, but if you are pleasant the parks person will call a taxi for you. |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2012 : 10:00 AM
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jimjams - Are you saying then that you virtually had reception along the entire trail?
I have an iPhone connected to Virgin Mobile (Canada) and a regular cell phone connected with Telus. |
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vancouver
50 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2012 : 11:50 AM
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I cannot say the "entire" trail, since I had the phone off most of the time to conserve battery life.
But whenever I powered up the phone I had reception.
From what I can remember I definitely had coverage at Cullite, Cribs and Darling river. |
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1097 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2012 : 1:27 PM
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| Using Bell, I got coverage at Thrasher and Pachena with no points in between. |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 5:11 PM
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| Great to know, thank you. |
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north van, bc
Canada
940 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 11:43 PM
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| my iphone 3gs on telus had none anywhere when I tryed last summer at each camp site including the trail heads. a guy from alberta with am alberta blackberry (I think also telus) had coveridge on a few places that he tried. pretty anoying! I think the iphones suck for coveridge. as i've had no coveridge other places as well when others have. |
Edited by - smac on 07/16/2012 11:44 PM |
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10 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 07:13 AM
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| Similar to jimjams, i had a rogers phone and turned it on a few times (always along the coast) and every time i had reception. |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
6 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2012 : 11:02 PM
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Hi Barbara,
The cell signal comes from across the straight on the Olympic Peninsula near Neah Bay in Washington State. It's a 1x signal from Verizon, which will only work on an older style CDMA phone (ie older Telus/Bell phones). Newer smart phones, phones with sim cards, or any Rogers/Fido phone will not work.
As long as you have close to line of sight of Washington state, you'll have coverage for sure. I was surprised to have coverage from inland areas like Adrenaline Creek. Once you enter Pachena Bay or Port Renfrew, coverage is spotty.
I get the privilege of spending a fair bit of time out on the trail so I ended up purchasing a pay-as-you-go flip phone from Verizon (I had it shipped to a US address, but you could walk into a walmart in the states too). If you're using a Canadian carrier, roaming charges apply. Have fun out there!
Mattias
ACMG Hiking Guide
mattias@unbound.ca |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2012 : 08:27 AM
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| Returned from the WCT, so will add my experience too now. I carried an iPhone 4s connected with Virgin Mobile and another cell phone connected to Telus. My main surprise was that there was absolutely no cell service anywhere around Port Renfrew. Went back to using pay phones there, so make sure you have some quarters. Along the trail I checked along campsites (Thrasher, Campers, Walbran, Cribs, Tsusiat Falls, and Michigan) and some other key points, but had no reception with either phone. The only place where I had reception (with both phones) was from around km 7.5 north of Pachene to about km 1 or 2. No reception at trailheads. I ended up hiking with 6 other people and they found the same. |
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vancouver
50 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2012 : 09:33 AM
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So it seems My crappy $40 phone that is so worn you can see its innards and provides amusement to all who see it - rocks on the west coast trail!
A Luddite win  |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2012 : 6:45 PM
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| Ah, but what's phone service without e-mail? ;-) one day the WCT fees will be high enough to provide some Canadian cell towers. Then again, it was nice to escape all that. |
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vancouver
50 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2012 : 7:08 PM
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Email = "electronic mail" ?
I think not, Email = E V I L mail!
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 Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5466 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2012 : 10:34 PM
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Ha, probably good not to get reception there; at least it would be for me, otherwise the temptation would be too great and I'd be replying to emails from my mother ("yes, we are OK, no, I haven't fallen off a ladder!") and updating my Facebook status: "Wilderness_Seeker has 50 blisters after a full day hiking from Thrasher Cove to Camper Bay. Looking forward to my freeze-dried clam chowder!" Oh, I wonder if anyone "liked" my photo?
Yeah, we just don't want to go there. Best to go somewhere unreachable for a true getaway. |
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West Coast Trail Cell Phone Reception
