For many of us – certainly myself – getting out into the backcountry is an escape from the modern, connected world we live in. As a matter of fact, when I first started writing this blog in 2016, back before the first of several society-shaking events that have occurred since then, my goal was ostensibly to reconnect people with the natural world, and DIS-connect them from what I called an artificial construct centered on the internet and instant communication.

I still believe there’s a lot of value in this, but…

It seems to be harder and harder to spend a considerable amount of time outdoors without figuring out how to incorporate technology. Some of it is useful, some maybe not, but there’s a great deal that seems inevitable. It’s gotten pervasive enough that, for many, a key piece of gear these days is a power pack – maybe, but not necessarily with a solar charger – that can keep our devices running throughout our “wilderness” experiences.

I’m as guilty as anyone. So, I want to do a quick rundown on my personal use of tech, and maybe offer some opinions on the good, bad, and ugly. I’m very interested in the opinions of others on these items.

Navigation

I’ve got to admit, I’m a geek for maps, and that includes a compulsion to chart and record my activities, key locations, and basically add to my collection of important (to me) places in the world. To do the recording, I used to use a stand-alone Garmin eTrex device – great for recording waypoints and tracks, horrible at actually serving as a map. As the years have passed, I’ve found those devices to be increasingly unreliable, and (at least in older versions) gluttonous consumers of alkaline batteries. So, I’ve made the switch to using the Gaia GPS app on my phone.

Switching to my phone feels like a Pandora’s Box of multiple sins. First – I’m looking at my phone FAR more than I want to. Even if I’m still just recording (and not using an app to replace a map), I’m picking up and looking at my phone every time I want to save a waypoint. Even if I’m on airplane mode or have otherwise restricted its reach, looking at my phone is an action that I associate with SO many other things – and if I happen to be on a front-country hike where I’m still on a network, it’s hard to avoid knowing about the emails that are also popping in. It’s really not good for immersion in the woods.

To make things worse, Gaia is a pretty great map too. I even used the app, recently, to discover a trail I had overlooked simply because it wasn’t on my printed map. So it’s easy to rely on the phone as a primary navigation device, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about that – on the one hand it’s just a tool, and a very capable one. But it’s also a phone/computer (maybe the aggregation of the other tools I list below make the case for the computer in your pocket?)

I have not fallen into the world of the FarOut app. But the impression I get is that modern thru-hikes can’t be done without it? I recognize that’s hyperbole, perhaps – but when all your mapping, resupply, and communication providing up-to-date input on trail conditions is in your phone, it’s really tempting to rely on it to tell you what to do next.

I HAVE started to use a satellite communication device (an inReach Mini), but I treat that as a fire-and-forget safety option. It doesn’t provide me anything other than a way to let my family know I’m still alive, in near-real time, and a backup signal of very last resort. But that shared peace of mind gives me a longer tether, and it’s easier to do things if others are more comfortable with it. So I’ll excuse that!

Investigation

This one I have to endorse. I really appreciate the proliferation of tools like iNaturalist, Seek, Merlin, eBird, PlantSnap and others that make it possible to identify wildlife seen (or heard) along the trail. This has not only been a source of education for me, but it’s also been a motivating factor for my exploration – I find myself paying more attention, seeking out wildflowers, or frogs, for example, because I know I’ll have tools in my pocket available to help me make sense of what I’m encountering. MOST of the time, I’m NOT connected on the internet, but I take pictures with an intent to upload and identify later. Absolutely love it!

Documentation

Not everybody does this, I realize – but I started documenting my trips as a video diary. There’s a small group of people that seem to enjoy seeing them, but I make them for me. I find it therapeutic to talk to myself and a camera while I hike, just to capture moments, my feelings and emotions, my highs and lows. I still go back and watch old videos, like one would read an old diary and reminisce. But these things take power and resources. I use a GoPro and rely on my phone (again) for certain stills, correlating both to the GPS track I’m also capturing. I wouldn’t give it up a this point, and my only defense is that typically, this is all self-contained in the moment, not connected to the broader world. But they do take power.

Ripple Effects

Given that we’re now in a world where the smart phone has proven to be an essential tool on-trail, we’re now seeing OTHER things that are capitalizing on the ubiquitous need for, and presence of, power. Headlamps and lanterns are now USB-rechargeable. I have a water purifier (UV Steripen) that recharges via USB. On one hand, this is great, the rechargeables are definitely more efficient than something that uses consumable alkaline batteries – but now, we’re talking essential gear that require a power bank in my pack to survive the weekend.

Is that what we really want?

I’m not a luddite. I can certainly see the value in a lot of this. I’ve ADOPTED a lot of this. And at some level, all of this is just another set of tools, no more controversial than lighter-weight high-durability pack and/or tent fabric. I think the real challenge I have is how to utilize the tools while effectively disconnecting, and to be honest, if I had a tool as powerful as a smart phone without the emotional baggage associated with what the smart phone USUALLY offers me, I wouldn’t be nearly as conflicted.

What do you think? Clearly tech has a place in the backcountry, but I’d be curious to know if others are as conflicted, or have to set limits, like I have.

Get Out There!