Leaving technology behind

[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.