Can anybody give me an update on the current use of communication technology on the trail? Nine or ten years ago the Pocketmail was popular; cell phones were out there but not widely used. More recently I've heard about the Peek email device, but understand there were problems with it. Any and all comments welcome. Thanks!
_Tom_Technology on the Trail
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#1
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#2
Get a smart phone. It does everything. Email, compass, star map, note pad, phone(almost forgot), etc.
_Snags_
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#3
I agree with Snags. In 2009, I used a LG nV2 Verizon phone with a qwerky keyboard. Pretty much had cell coverage the entire trail and even surprisingly in Maine. However, there was no cell coverage in the Smokies. This year I will use the new HTC Thunderbolt. Great weather apps at the touch of your fingers. No surprise storms anymore. Even though I can access my trailjournal page from the phone, I will still opt to send my daily journal along with photos to my journalist and let that person correct spelling and post it to my journal web page. NedtheFed
_Ned_
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#4
Ned, good luck on your trip and I still have and use the BA seedhouse 2 you sold me, Thanks again and keep us informed on your progress, if we ever meet I owe ya one.:cheers
_karo_
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#5
A hike on the A.T. can also be a time to be apart from the electronic maelstrom of the modern world... a time to be alone with your thoughts, a time to reflect & listen for inspiration.
The question is: how much intrusion of technology do we want to bring into the woods?
Hypothetically, if we were to have every possible piece of information about the trail at our fingertips including the current doppler radar, #'s to call for a shuttles to town at every road crossing, the gps waypoints for ever step of our hike, and pics/movies of all the highlights of the trail, this would eliminate most of the adventure & discovery. Our hike would be reduced to a completion of a task or challenge: walking from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’.
This post is not meant to be critical of those who choose to bring all the latest gadgets with them on a hike - that’s their choice. My intent is to raise the question of how much of a ‘wilderness’ experience we want to have during a hike.
Happy Trails!
_freebird_
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#7
Freebird, I agree with you to a point. The reason I hike is to get away from the computer, TV and such. However, there are those that don't have the opportunity to get out in the woods for three to six months at a time. Those people could only wish to leave their jobs and life and enjoy the wilderness. They live through some of us that have that opportunity. What's wrong with sharing our experience with them to ease their pain? NedtheFed
_Ned_
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#8
Ned - there's nothing wrong with sharing your journey with others. In fact, I don't think its 'wrong' for a hiker to bring all their gadgets to the trail with them - that's clearly their choice as I mentioned in the post above.
I simply raised the issue of the impact of technology on the trail - how it can affect our hikes.
Let’s take an extreme example: a hiker whose ipod on constantly so that he/she can’t hear the birds or wind whistle through the trees, constantly checking for cell phone reception to chat or text friends & family & maybe playing game apps at night in the shelter instead of interacting with fellow hikers. This person would effectively insulate him/herself from most of the wonderful out-of-doors experiences he/she could have without the gadgets.
Years ago, when hand held gps’s were introduced I ran into a fellow thru-hiker on the A.T. named ‘Tumbling Tom.’ Tom got his name because he stared so much at his gps screen that he often tripped over things & fell down. I’m not joking here - Tom’s a real person & a great guy. Now that’s Tom’s choice - he was fascinated by the new technology - but there’s no doubt his fixation on the tiny little gps screen turned his hike into a mostly ‘virtual’ hike. If Tom somehow miraculously reads this post, I’m fairly certain he would agree with me.
Was is ‘wrong’ for Tom to constantly stare @ his gps. Certainly not - that was his choice. Did he miss part of the ‘wilderness’ experience by doing so? Definitely.
We don’t even need technological gadgets to distract us, because we can fixate on food for example or the past or worry about the future. It’s hard to be ‘present’ in the moment on the trail at all times, but I’ve found that I have a much deeper experience when I’m able to be present & live in the moment.
Happy Trails!
_freebird_