Smart Phone & Service – PCT SoCal

In general Verizon has the best coverage out in the sticks on the various long trails with certain minor exceptions where ATT can have better coverage. However, for the SoCal on the PCT, either ATT or Verizon will work. Verizon is clearly better once you go north of the Sierra Nevada as I can remember numerous places I had coverage with Verizon when hikers using the other carriers didn't. But in SoCal the difference wasn't that great between the two.

Good info here for several carriers:
http://www.pctmap.net/cell-reports/

Thanks all!

I have yet to find myself without service since ditching my iphone. Further more, verizon has great service. I hear the iphone 5 is a lot better about service but I just don't trust them anymore after the iphone 4 disaster, worst piece of tech ever for back country.