Introduction
Living in the modern age, we have grown accustomed to carrying a smartphone with us at nearly all times. And whether you use your smartphone to keep in touch with family and friends, peruse pictures on Instagram, read the latest news, or play one of thousands of mobile app games, our phones remain our primary means of communication and navigation.
Similarly, our phones can be a great addition to a hiking or camping trip. From providing navigation through a hiking trail, to getting the latest weather reports, to calling family and friends in the case of an emergency. However, what should you do if you lose your cell phone while on a hiking or camping trip?
Below, we are going to review what to do if you lose your cell phone while hiking or camping and provide you with tools to better ensure that you don’t lose your cell phone on a hiking or camping trip.
Check Your Gear and Pockets
Before panicking, be sure to check your gear, pockets, and the inside of your tent and backpack to ensure that your phone was actually lost. When hiking or camping, you are likely to be carrying a significant amount of gear and items with you and it is quite possible that your phone was simply misplaced.
Not only should you check the inside of your tent and backpack but be sure to double-check through the pockets of your clothes. In addition, check inside your sleeping bag. To. Ensure that you simply did not misplace your phone within it.
Have Someone with You Call Your Phone
Whether you’re hiking or camping with friends, your kids, or a group of hikers you met on the trail, be sure to have one of them give you a call. Ideally, you will have left your phone’s sound on loud and will be able to hear it ring if someone calls you.
Otherwise, you should listen carefully to the vibration your phone will make while someone is calling it. Though, admittedly, more difficult than having your phone on loud, you should be able to hear the distinct vibrating sound of an incoming phone call.
Retrace Your Steps
As most of us have our phones on us at nearly all times, losing or misplacing your phone is generally recognized pretty quickly. If you happen to lose or misplace your phone while hiking or camping, the next best step would be to do a quick retrace of your steps.
Simply walk back the path that you have already completed, keeping a keen eye on the ground beneath you for your phone. However, if you happened to lose your cell phone at night, it is advisable to have other members of your hiking group turn on the flash on their phones to help you locate yours on the ground.
That is also why it is so advisable to always bring a first aid kit with you on any hiking or camping trip. A sufficiently equipped first aid kit will contain a flash light, allowing you to search for your lost phone even in the dark.
Utilize the Find My Phone Feature on Another Phone
Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, you can use a friend or fellow hikers’ phone to log into your account and search for the general location of your lost or misplaced phone. To do so on either an iPhone or Android device, simply follow the steps outlined below:
To find a lost Android phone, the phone must be turned on, must be signed into a Google account, must be connected to mobile or Wi-Fi data, be visible on Google Play, have location turned on, and have Find My Device. On.
- Go to android.com/find
- Sign into your Google account
- On the next screen you will see a map with the approximate location of your lost phone
- If the phone cannot be found, you will see its last known location
- On the same screen, you will have a list of options to choose from
- Enable lock and erase
- Play sound – which rings your phone at full volume for 5-minutes, even if it is set to silent or vibrate
- Secure your device, which locks your phone with your PIN, pattern, or password. If you don’t have a lock, you can enable one from this screen
- Erase device, which permanently deletes all data on your phone. However, once enabled, you will no longer be able to use the Find My device feature
To find a lost iPhone, ensure that the Find My feature is turned on, on your iPhone. From there, simply follow the steps below:
- Login to icloud.com/find
- On the next screen, you will be given a list of compatible Apple products within your iCloud account to locate
- Choose your iPhone device
- On the next screen, you will be shown your iPhones current location and be given a list of options to help you locate your lost iPhone
- Play a sound
- Mark your device as lost, which will allow. You to input contact information to display on your missing device. You can also choose to input a custom message. Marking your device as lost will also remotely lock your device.
- Erase your device. If you. Erase your device, all your information will be deleted from the device, and you will no longer be able to use the Find My feature from Apple.
Accessories to Help You Keep Track of Your Phone While on a Hike or Camping Trip
When it comes to hiking or camping, there are a ton of gear, accessories, and items that you will need to be in charge of and ensure are with you at all times. This makes it easier to misplace or lose your phone as you may be distracted with other items.
To help you keep track of your phone, we suggest investing in the following products which will help you keep your phone on you, and secured, at all times.
- A cell phone lanyard. With a cell phone lanyard, you will have your cell phone securely attached around your neck and will be able to access it with ease to help you with navigation or simply sending a quick text to family and friends.
- Wear a hiking belt. With a hiking belt, you will not only be able to place your phone in a secure pocket around your hips but will also be able to place other valuables and items within the pocket. This can also be especially useful for ensuring that your phone doesn’t get wet or dirty while hiking.
- Wear a smartphone armband. With a smartphone armband, you will have your phone wrapped to the upper portion of your arm and will be able to easily and securely place it for quick access.
Additional Steps to Help You Not Lose Your Phone on a Hike or Camping Trip
If you are truly worried about losing or misplacing your phone while out hiking or camping, we highly suggest leaving it behind. While this can be difficult, especially in our connected age, you can opt to bring a smartwatch with you instead.
Both the Apple Watch and several Android watches contain cellular technology built directly into the phone. This means that you will still be able to access all your messages, calls, and. important apps without having to carry your phone with you.
Although you will need to pay an additional monthly fee with your cell phone provider, it may well be worth the cost if you plan on completing multiple hikes or camping trips throughout the year.
In addition to the ease of wearing a smart watch, these devices will allow you to track your steps, distance, and elevation. You will also be able to gauge the number of calories burnt on your hike and can view your total hike time.
Conclusion
Losing or misplacing your phone while hiking can be a stressful situation. However, before panicking, ensure that your phone is truly lost. You should check every nook-and-cranny and retrace your steps to ensure that your phone is really lost.
If it is, be sure to login to your manufacturers website to locate your phone and to set off an alarm to better help you locate the device.
When it comes to hiking and camping, it is always better to be over-prepared. As such, we always recommend investing in a smartphone lanyard, belt, or armband to better assist you with keeping track of your phone.
And if you are really worried about misplacing or losing your phone, consider leaving it behind and investing in a cellular connected smartwatch. Though it will be difficult the first few days away from your phone, you will have a greater opportunity to take in the wonders of the great outdoors by doing so.