Cell Phone Use In National Parks Debated

[Jorgy]

Cell Phone Use In National Parks Debated
Managers Weigh Public Safety, Serenity

POSTED: 11:37 a.m. EDT April 5, 2004
UPDATED: 11:41 a.m. EDT April 5, 2004

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyoming -- "Can you hear me now?" is one question you may overhear near the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park.

Cell phones are just about everywhere these days, including national parks.

Park managers say they want to ensure public safety and meet the needs of visitors, but some conversationists say cell phones are part of the hectic urban lifestyle people go to parks to avoid.

Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews noted that only about 2 percent of the park has cell coverage, and only in the most developed areas.

But cell phones can also create a false sense of security. One official at Grand Teton National Park said people go into the backcountry thinking all they need is their cell phone to survive.

[Jorgy]

But cell phones can also create a false sense of security. One official at Grand Teton National Park said people go into the backcountry thinking all they need is their cell phone to survive

Natural selection at work there.

[stuckinthereeds]

If people think all they need is a cell phone to survive in the wilderness, they got another thing coming. A cell phone won't stop blood loss or hypothermia or other mishaps that might take shape during an outing in the wilderness. Stick with two way raidios.

[Aught Six]

Park managers say they want to ensure public safety and meet the needs of visitors, but some conversationists say cell phones are part of the hectic urban lifestyle people go to parks to avoid.

If you want to get away from the city so badly, take a good long weekend hike into bear country. You won't find a cell phone within miles.

Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews noted that only about 2 percent of the park has cell coverage, and only in the most developed areas.

In other words, you won't even have to go all the way into bear country after all.

But cell phones can also create a false sense of security. One official at Grand Teton National Park said people go into the backcountry thinking all they need is their cell phone to survive.

Well, I think Jorgy pretty much nailed this one. It's funny how people have all of this technology, but they completely missed the basics of living on a biological level.