Leaving technology behind

[Jstpssng]

My GPS is an invaluable tool, my smart phone with mapping technology is the cat's meow. Yet sometimes it's nice to get back to your roots. Today was one of those days.
I took a walk looking for a place to put in a road including a crossing on a decent sized stream, and hoped to find enough wood to pay for it. I've been studying air photos for 6 months and knew where I wanted to go. So I left all of the electronics in the truck, and struck off with just my compass which I didn't really need as the sun was out to keep me on track. It was rather nice, I covered about 2 miles, saw what I needed to see, and didn't miss the electronics one bit. :thumbsup:
That's also the way that I like to deer hunt, except that I do take a waypoint on my truck and carry the GPS "just in case."

 

[Thomas]

Getting back to basics...its good feeling. :thumbsup:

 

[bunyip]

Hear you loud and clear, been out fishing for a few days where there is no mobile phone coverage and watched some kids in campsites at an absolute loss without twitter etc, you would think the world had come to an end.

 

[CalG]

I feel your need.

I leave my phone here on the desk just about 24 hours a day. Sometimes I work in the woods without it, actually all the time, 'wouldn't want to loose it.
Most times I run into town for bar oil, fuel or steel without it too.

Scary I know, I'm trying to man up!

 

[BleedingOrange]

Way back in the day, I can remember when it use to be a status symbol to carry the first cell phones and battery the size of a small shoebox. To-day, it is a status symbol to be able to leave that stuff behind, and be able to go a day or 2 without being connected 24/7.

 

[VroomVroom]

I take in non-residents moose hunters. Been guiding since my teens and before cell phone and gps. We also snowmobiles a lot on the mountains where 25 miles in s straight line was far. With the gps now, you can go really far before it felt like you were far from home. When father and the uncles were going in “the country” only the best of days were chosen. Tools, food etc. You had to know where you were going and be able to know during low drift where you were. I still like the map and compass, it’s like a treasure map for me. I take the gps though now in case I lose myself on the map. But the biggest downfall is, where we had all the country to ourselves back then. There’s now hundreds of people that go in the same areas that only a select few saw 20 years ago.

 

[oosik]

For all those years in Alaska where I hunted moose every fall (1960 to 1981) - no cell phone, no GPS, no guided hunt. H-E-L-L, it was the '60's and 70's and none of our current "high tech" stuff even existed.

Now - I have a cell phone but NEVER take it with me when I leave home. I have GPS on my motorcycle but as long as there is gas in the tank - I'm never lost. And I've never run out of gas.

Occasionally you will read stories of how a cell phone or GPS saved a person who was out in the wilderness. You know - if they don't have the wilderness knowledge or the ability to survive in the wilderness - what are they doing out there anyway.

There has only been two times when I was truly lost and both were when I was attempting to navigate thru a big city. A mistake I made twice but never again. Now I navigate AROUND big cities.

 

[Groo]

If a deer jumps out and you end up in a ditch with a broken leg, you'd wish you had a cell phone.

They are very small and light tool that give way more security than a first aid kit or handgun, plus you already own it. Why wouldn't you at least stick it in a pocket powered down?

These days, if you are going out into the bush, and would want to get rescued if you are over-due, you have a moral obligation to have some form of emergency comunication so others aren't needlessly putting their own lives in danger, just to prove your own manliness.

 

[AWSubie]

I think we can all agree that an understanding of "old school" basics and a working knowledge of high tech gadgetry is a nice combination.

 

[oosik]

Groo - we have no idea where you are located but around here in most of Ea WA state - you will only get cell phone service when you are in a town. Get ten miles outside the town - Zero service.

And yes - even though I've ridden motorcycle for 50 plus years without an accident that doesn't mean I can't have an accident. And like I said - if carrying a cell phone makes you feel safe - go for it. Around here and where I travel its just about equal to a handful of monkey poo.

Tell me exactly what I'm expected to do with a cell phone and zero service - if I get in an accident. Crap - what am I expected to do with a cell phone and zero service under normal conditions........

For some UKN reason I get the feeling you seldom venture beyond the big city light - Groo.

If you can't go into the bush without technology - then I suggest you stay the H-e-l-l out of the bush.

 

[oosik]

Yes - a working knowledge of modern technology is just fantastic. As long as you restrict yourself to areas where modern technology will function.

I wonder just how many folks who use "modern technology" have REALLY been out in the bush.

Example - there is a fantastic series of interconnected lakes that are 200 mile NW of Glennallen, AK. You get to this location by float plane. I've been to the Fog Lakes six times - I worked for ADF&G. I will GUARANTEE that there is no cell phone service anywhere near this location. I even wonder if Glennallen has cell phone service yet.

Unless you want to carry a satellite phone - you are on your own. Your cell phone won't even make a good weight as you fish for those gigantic lake trout or try your luck for lake whitefish.

And by the way - you break a leg at the Fog Lakes - - if you are very lucky somebody might be able to fly in and get you tomorrow - if your satellite phone can get service. I've been there and been fogged in for six straight days - they aren't called the Fog Lakes for no reason.

Lets see how you satellite phone( modern technology) works in very foggy conditions. Its rather disheartening to hear your float plane flying overhead and know they can't land because of the heavy fog. There will be no getting out today.

 

[Groo]

Plenty of dead zones out this way too, but it might help. Even in a city, you could fall down a manhole and break a leg. It is also worth noting you can also get a text out much easier than a phone call. Its not like I am telling you to haul out a 50lb piece of equipment every where you go. My phone weighs just over 5 oz. The case is my wallet, so no added weight for that either. If their isn't tech to locate a specific phone in a deadzone, there should be. It would be real simple to make. At the very least you could record a last message to your loved ones. As to your fog lakes; if they know where you are and can't land in your vacinity, that is 1000% better than not having a clue where you are. Primarily because nobody will be wasting their time and risking their lives looking for you. That is the real thing; it's not for you. It's for the idiots that think your hide might posibly be worth saving. I don't give a crap about how your feelings are hurt when a plane flies overhead, but doesn't pick you up. They could also potentially drop suplies near enough to save you, but that is secondary. If you have never needed a hand, then that is luck, not super mountain man skills. Crap happens in the most unexpected ways, times and ways. If you expect people to come to your aid in those times, you have a moral obligation to assist them the best your are able. In the 70s, that did not include a cell phone. Today it does.

 

[VroomVroom]

I take the gps in case I am off while on the topo map. In order to use map and compass, you need to know where you are on the map or you wouldn't know if your next destination is east west north or south of you. so its good to have in case. but I have had 2 gps's fail on me. I was using it with the map so I knew where I was and used compass no probably. while learning using map and compass you can verify and you learn the map faster. I'm talking long distances. If I'm walking while moose hunting. I can't walk far enough in one day to really get lost. If it got foggy, I could understand losing direction...so a compass would be good then. When on snowmobile though, there are times when you can be on small lakes and not know it up here etc. So you have to go by hills, valleys and gulches. I do like the spot tracker though. I broke down 10 years ago and my mother near had search and rescue called. I walked from 3 in the evening until 1 am in the night. I wasn't lost, but it took me that long to walk out. Because I knew she would be worried, I walked faster then I wanted. It wouldn't have bothered me just to take my time or even stay there for the night. That little device, if I can't make it home, I can just press the "ok" button and they know I'm alive and well.

 

[VroomVroom]

Ok, we got 110 more miles to go.....

 

[VroomVroom]

No cell phones work in the mountains here after a few km from the highway. Unless you got a good line of sight out to the highways from a distant mountain.

 

[turnkey4099]

I feel your need.

I leave my phone here on the desk just about 24 hours a day. Sometimes I work in the woods without it, actually all the time, 'wouldn't want to loose it.
Most times I run into town for bar oil, fuel or steel without it too.

Scary I know, I'm trying to man up!

Heh. I carry a cell for emergency use only. Maybe turn it on once a year. I hit a deer a week ago and have been waiting to hear from the claims adjustor. Stopped at the insurance agency today to see what the delay was. Yep, the **** fools had been calling my cell - never thought to try the landline #. I had the agent remove the cell number from the record. Good news was that the damage did not quite total the car by $300 and the body shop will be working to keep any overages under the $300.

 

[CobyRupert]

Occasionally you will read stories of how a cell phone or GPS saved a person who was out in the wilderness. You know - if they don't have the wilderness knowledge or the ability to survive in the wilderness - what are they doing out there anyway.

More often I read about the people who turned and drove into a lake, or a closed seasonal road, or their 13' tall truck into a 12' underpass because their GPS told them to.

 

[bunyip]

Police search and rescue here (Victoria) have portable transmitters that enable them to communicate with anyone who is lost who may a phone with them in a non service area.
Has saved a few lives in the snow and remote areas.
I don't know if the other States and Territories have this or not.

 

[Jstpssng]

Police search and rescue here (Victoria) have portable transmitters that enable them to communicate with anyone who is lost who may a phone with them in a non service area.
Has saved a few lives in the snow and remote areas.
I don't know if the other States and Territories have this or not.

This \ Garmin | inReach

is something which I am considering. There is a subscription service which you pay for, but you can send and receive texts with it. The only drawback for me is that it doesn't take track points often enough, so I will still need to carry another unit.
Remember though, that the most important piece of equipment you can have is right between your two shoulders.

 

[bunyip]

I forgot about the sat phones etc but most people don't have them and cost is prohibitive for the service.
On your second point a lot of people only have the case for that piece of equipment.