Amateur Radio may do what you need. . . (Score 1)

Amateur radio has the most available options and are only limited by your willingness to carry the gear. You can certainly make contacts with people at great distances only using a little power. Line of sight is not a very big issue(hike the Arizona back country regularly with just a HT in tow). Antennas, amps and careful band choice will make all of the difference in the world. There are satellites to contact through, repeaters to hit and people who scan for distress calls all the time. Look only to some of the amateur radio rescue stories to see that quite possibly amateur radio is the way to go. Once licensed the only ongoing fees for amateur radio are the ones you choose to pay(memberships and new gear). Consider that plenty of folks travel the Appalachian trail with only a small QRP rig in tow and manage to make plenty of contacts you may be barking up the right alley. Check out ARRL.org or 14er.org for more information on that subject.