How is it that I get txt and notifications when camping miles from any service?

Question

I regularly camp high in the Rocky Mountains. The places I go are far from any cell service. I find that when I leave my phone on, I will receive various notifications such as for voice mail and, as I recall, txt messages, too. They seem to come in bursts and happens too often to be coincidence. How is this possible?

unknown · Accepted Answer

You're occasionally passing through areas that have at least limited coverage, and when your phone connects to the tower, it's able to download voicemail notifications and texts that the server has been storing for you.  It's possible to get a weak signal in some areas even when you are miles from a tower, depending on the geography, trees, buildings, etc.