In a matter of two weeks it had summarily displaced a personal address book, a business calendar, a calculator and four floppies containing work records. After pounding out 32.5 miles that day, knowing that a ride and a cold beverage would be waiting for us was no trivial deal. I have found that walking helps me unwind a little. I know the kind of behavior cell phones encourage when they are brought into the wilderness. It's not just misdemeanor-level stupidity, such as calling for trail directions or dinner reservations.
Cell phones are inappropriate technology for the wilderness.
Their use runs counter to the very reasons we go into the wilderness. At least that was my position until very recently. On a trip last month to southwestern Montana, I took along a company cell phone strictly for work applications. What happened next was unplanned. I didn't hesitate for a second.