Sounds like the carriers there are running on pure wishful thinking. @waderamirez, your GPS story is the perfect proof of that. My phone might as well be a fancy paperweight in those spots.

Yeah, it's a brutal lesson to learn the hard way. Spending a night cold like that just makes you feel so defeated, like you failed at a basic part of being outside. It's not about fancy gear, it's about getting the sleep you need to actually have fun. Really glad you made the switch, it turns a chore into something you look forward to.