How to share the location of your mobile phone in the mountains

When you go out in the mountains, whether for sport or for the day, there are a number of steps you can take to secure your activity. One of these is sharing the location of your mobile phone, but it is not the only one.

In this article we are going to analyse the importance for people who go to the mountains of sharing their location in real time. The tools you should take into account to facilitate communication and to be able to create immobility alarms at any given moment can save your life if something goes wrong.

A maxim that everyone who goes to the mountains should know is the rule of plan, equip and act. In the same way that to play a game of tennis you need a racket, or to play football you need at least a pair of boots, when you go to the mountains, you cannot forget certain key aspects, so that you do not have any problems later on.

Location sharing can be decisive if any problems occur

Every year, the rescue services and teams of the different autonomous communities respond to the call of various groups of people who have been lost, trapped or have suffered an accident and need to be rescued.

This can be a daunting task, especially when all the clues the rescue specialists have is a car parked at the base of the mountain.

If you are going out in the mountains, you need to plan your route beforehand, whether you are going out with friends or alone. In the same way, it is also key to be able to share your location in real time. This is the only way to make life easier for the people in charge of helping you when you need it most.

How can we facilitate our location?

To begin with, a review of surveys published in recent months confirms that when people go out in the mountains, 100% do so equipped with a mobile phone.

The problem arises when you see that only 44% of hikers and 57% of mountaineers reported carrying GPS. Despite that 67% of hikers and 43% of mountaineers said they did not carry GPS: if you have a smartphone you have a GPS.

So, that means, you can share the exact location where you are with your mobile. But what happens if it breaks down, if the battery runs out? Technology can fail, and to be forewarned, it is important to be aware of the more traditional methods such as the map and compass. As important as an extra charger for your mobile phone, it is important to take these two items, and to know how to use them in case of need.

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices can have coverage problems in mountainous terrain, posing a major challenge for all real-time monitoring systems that require a pathway to transmit data.

In any case, a smartphone should be sufficient to transmit your location, as long as you have the GPS function activated on your phone to determine your geo-positioning and you have data coverage to send information to the network about where you are at all times.

It is important to enable GPS so that the aps that geolocate you can do so with maximum accuracy. Without data coverage the coordinates of your position cannot be sent to the person you want to share your location with.

And remember, once you finish your adventure, your day or your trip to the mountains, remember to reset your phone settings if you want to deactivate your location. As well as letting everyone who was notified that you were going to the mountain know that you're back and everything went well.

Currently, there are countless Apps designed so that you can share your location with your mobile phone. In any case, these are the two most common ones, which are practically default on smartphones.

How to share my location with Google Maps

• Enter Maps with GPS enabled. Once inside, you will see your geoposition represented by a blue dot.
• Tapping on the blue dot of your location will open a blue screen giving you the option to share your location.
• You can choose to share location for one hour or until you deactivate the option. Underneath you can choose to which contacts (email) or with which programme (WhatsApp, etc...) you want to share the link that will be generated.
• The person with whom you share your location receives a link in which, upon opening, they see your position, moving if you move, on Maps.
• If you don't want to share your location in real time and only want to share your current location (the coordinates of your position), tap your finger for two seconds on your position on the map to get a marker and select the "share location" option.
• Choose to which contacts (email) or with which programme (WhatsApp, etc...) you want to share the marker and a link containing the geographical coordinates of your position will be sent.
• If this is your option and you are asking for help: do not move from that position.

How to share my location with Whatsapp

Log in to WhastApp with GPS enabled. Open the conversation of the person you want to share your location with and click on the clip in the message window. In the options that appear, select "Location".

A window displays with the option to send your Real Time Location (tracking your movements) or your Current Location (your current coordinate, without movement).

In your real-time location you can choose to share your position for 15 minutes, 1 hour or 8 hours. You can stop it whenever you want.

The person will receive a link to your location, which will open on Maps.

If you send your current location and you are requesting assistance: do not move from that position.

In addition to these two well-known applications, there are others such as OruxMaps or Maps of Spain. These are two App's for Android that allow you to make your phone work as if it were a hiking GPS.

Combining technology and knowledge of maps and compasses with good preparation and prudent behaviour, any mountain activity can be enjoyed.

I hope that after this post it has become clear to you both the need to let someone know that you are going to the mountains and to plan ahead, and to have all the means to keep your location on the network at all times, so that if something happens they can come to your rescue.