The BMC urges that those entering into the mountain environment don't consider the use of GPS and mobile phones as a substitute for skill and knowledge in the fundamentals of mountaineering,

Fundamental skills include being able to:
- Navigate by use of map and compass,
- Prevent against being in situations that could readily result in life threatening injuries,
- Treat injuries
- Provide for one’s own evacuation/ rescue in the event of being unable to continue a climb due to difficulty, weather, illness, and or injury.

Mobile phones
This is not a safety device, nor does it guarantee the delivery of any perceived or needed services in the mountains. Use of a mobile phone in the mountains, in a non emergency situation, may be an infringement on the mountain experiences that others have come to enjoy and an intrusion into the wilderness experience. Using a mobile phone to

- Ask for directions,
- Ask for additional food and clothing to be brought to the user, 
- Ask to be rescued for a non life threatening or disabling injury,

Is properly considered by those agencies who might be called upon to render such assistance as an abuse of the technology, both on a practical and philosophical level. A cellular phone is a communication device that may be aid in the saving of lives and limbs if used solely for that purpose in the mountain environment, after all the above have been taken into careful consideration.

GPS
A GPS is not a substitute for use of a map and compass either in terms of accuracy or reliability and can not be used as a sole navigational tool. A GPS system can offer useful additional information on which to base mountain navigation.

The possession of cellular phone and/or a GPS should not lead the user to attempt objectives that would, in the absence of these technological aids, be considered as outside the experience and/or ability of the user.

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