I used to never take my phone hiking, until I got married... Was stranded two days in the mountains due to a freak snowstorm, barely got any sleep because I had to get out of my tent every hour to clear off snow so it didn't collapse, was down to food rationing because I only packed one day extra, was in serious shit 15 miles from the nearest civilization during whiteout conditions. Missed my hit-time to get picked up by my wife. I had briefed her on what to do if I don't show up, the brief was essentially: "99% of the time I'm just behind on mileage or otherwise cannot move safely at that moment, so wait 48 hours and then start calling SAR (I worked in SAR in that region, so it would have been my co-workers out looking for me anyway), the other 1% is that I am seriously injured and to be frank, not much that can be done at that point"
So about 48 hours after the hit-time I managed to get out during a lull, and killed 20 miles in thigh deep snow, took me around 15 hours. Made it home safe and sound, the caveat she gave me is that if I was going to go do stupid risky shit in the mountains, that was fine, but she would not let me go anymore unless I took a phone.
I of course said "yes darling" and pack my phone. I turn it on once per day at a set time incase I have signal and she has sent me any messages and wants to talk, otherwise it rides in a ziplock.
