Seems like a good use for walkie talkies. Aren't they used a lot on farms and ranches? Not sure of the technology, but I think this would also eliminate possible cell tower ping evidence.
ETA: Pretty sure there was only one main road to take to 4 Corners from where they started.
The walkie talkie idea you suggest could be spot on imo, particularly if you have local folks that don't want to be subject to the tracking of cell networks etc. I do bet that folks that work on ranches that have vast distances and possibly no or limited cell might make active use of walkie talkies.
There is also supposedly an Apple watch walkie talkie app that exists but IDK how it works or what its range is.
I've been to some remote places where satellite phones are routinely used. They can be pricey but if no other option exists then at least it can keep you safe and they are more accessible cost wise these days than they used to be.
IDK how LE might capture possible civilian satellite transmissions as I haven't seen such data used in a trial but I would guess that there is clearly some US agency (NSA perhaps?) that could capture this data for use by LE.
Found some interesting walkie talkie info from someone that sells them below:
What is the range of walkie-talkies? How much distance will they cover? What is the difference between VHF and UHF radios? We try to give simple answers.
www.walkie-talkie-radio.co.uk
Here is the info:
Walkie Talkie Radios & Range
Walkie Talkie Radios, range & frequency
Normal walkie-talkies just transmit directly from one radio to another. The likely range that can be expected from walkie-talkies can vary from a few hundred metres to a couple of miles or more.
The range is
drastically reduced when walkie-talkies are used within buildings, or in a town or city with densely-packed streets of big houses, office blocks and other buildings.
A radio that might have a range of 2 or 3 miles in open, fairly flat countryside may only work over 500m in city streets.
All brands of walkie-talkie have basically the same power output, and therefore approximately the same range. You won't find that one brand of radio has a range twice as good than another, because they are all subject to the same basic laws of physics.
Mobile Data Network Walkie-Talkies - Potentially Unlimited Range
We now
sell and
hire a totally new type of "radio" that contains a
SIM card like a mobile phone, and that transmits its signal via the mobile phone data networks. These radios get around the point-to-point range limitation of conventional walkie-talkies, and can transmit over any distance at all, provided that both ends are positioned somewhere that has a mobile phone signal. They are best suited for events in towns and cities where there is good mobile network coverage, and where "normal" walkie-talkies range is badly affected by lots of big buildings between one radio and another.
VHF and UHF Radios Compared - Which Is Best?
VHF (136 - 174MHz) signals generally work best outdoors, giving a somewhat longer range for the same power output than UHF (400 - 470MHz).
However, VHF signals really do not work well when there are obstructions like buildings around.
For most users who want their radios to be "good all-rounders", UHF is the best choice.
But if you plan to use your radios only in open countryside (or at sea - maritime radio is VHF) then VHF is better for absolute range.