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Is there Cell Coverage on Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:09 am
by BigMitch
If there is cell coverage on either of these guys?

If so, what carrier? Thanks.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:15 am
by ExcitableBoy
Yes. Verizon seems to offer the best coverage in the Cascades.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 6:17 pm
by cbcbd
I've sent a picture message from the summit of Mt Ruth (behind and East of Shuksan) in a fog. Some txts followed back and forth. Didn't try making an actual call though. Could imagine Shuksan and Baker only having better reception. I use Verizon.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:34 pm
by BigMitch
Thank you!

I am taking a 5-day class on Baker end of June and a 3 day climb of Shuksan end of Septermber. I can't afford to be cut-off that long from my business.

Verizon

PostPosted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:12 am
by Norman
Must be a tower near ski area because coverage there is perfect from parking lot. We made numerous calls with verizon on the North Face of Shuksan which is in eye sight of Baker Ski area with perfect clarity. I have made calls from summit of Baker but not reliable with my cell, breaking up, but has worked on some summit days.

PostPosted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:45 am
by Alasdair
The real answer to you question is it completely depends on where you are, and sometime what the weather is doing, and other things that I have no idea about. If you are going to the north side of baker then the short answer is no you will not have cell reception unless you are very lucky. If you are on the south side of baker then the answer is it depends on where you camp and where you are standing, but dont count on it. If you are on the north side of shucksan (unlikely) they cell reception works. If you are on the sulfide glacier then no you wont have reception. If you are doing the fisher chimneys then you should be fine. All of these things are regardless of the service provider you have, but verizon is best. Text messaging usually works in all places except the north side which it wont.

So the answer is if you REALLY need to be in contact while you are gone you will need to take a satellite phone.

I spend a lot of time on these two peaks and I have a few areas that I know the cell phone works better than others, but I only found them by trial and error over the last five years.

PostPosted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 3:06 am
by BigMitch
Thanks for the detailed answer. I really appreciate it. I will look into renting a sat phone for the Baker Trip.