[Cdt-l] Electronics

Tue Feb 9 15:44:24 CST 2010

Brian,

Thanks for your input.

I was soliciting opinions and thoughts. And got them.

My final tally for electronics is GPS, Spot, Pocketmail, cell phone  
and camera. No mp3 nor satellite phone, so I guess I am roughing it ha  
ha ha.

All my early years hiking (40 years ago) were made without any  
electronics. Ok, I did have a homemade headlamp. But seriously, I am  
finding intense pressure from wife, kids and friends to know how I am  
doing and where I am. I guess they think an elderly guy needs all the  
help he can get.

This has been a great discussion and as you and Jim point out it comes  
down to personal needs. HYOH, eh?

Do you live near Kinlochard in the Trossachs National Park? I have a  
friend who moved there last year. As he says, "I moved closer to where  
god lives".
I have been to Scotland and admit it is a beautiful place when it  
isn't raining. Great rainbows, yes!

Thanks again,

tumbleweed

On Feb 9, 2010, at 4:22 PM, Brian Dickson wrote:

> I guess its a personal thing, but I enjoyed being away from gadgets  
> on the trail. I had a digital camera and the smallest gps for  
> emergencies. we both took tiny mp3 players and kept them for  
> occasional dirt road travel - I probably used mine for about 3 hours  
> over the summer. PCs and email are available in almost all towns now.
> I think the camera was close to vital for me as it greatly enhanced  
> my enjoyment, particularly now 5 months later- but the mp3 and gps  
> (and cellphone) can easily be 'ditched'. We did both carry at least  
> one book for reading in the tent though, and binnoculers- they were  
> our luxuries.
>
> Brian (and Martina) Black Isle, Scotland
> www.pbase.com/briansolar1
>
>
>
> From: Doug-Sue <doug-sue71 at comcast.net>
> To: Cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Tue, 9 February, 2010 16:18:34
> Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] Electronics
>
> I love natural sounds. In the north country the sound of the wind  
> going through the treetops is my favorite symphony.  My wife has  
> asked me, what if the world blows up while you're away, someone  
> dies, etc?  My answer is I will find out in time, no need to rush  
> bad news.  For me, absolutely no radio or music player of any  
> kind..  I spend the entire time I am hiking with my eyes glued to  
> the landscape, watching and listening to everything.
>
> One luxury- I like to pack along some cryptogram puzzles for evening  
> when I am in the tent but not quite overcome by sleep.  3 or 4 pages  
> of cryptograms will last me weeks!
>
> -RedDoug (stuck in Battle Creek, MI)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: cicelyb250 at aol.com
> To: doug-sue71 at comcast.net ;
> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 10:20 AM
> Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] Electronics
>
> I second the thought of leaving the gadgets behind.  Almost every  
> town has a computer somewhere if you need to send/receive news of  
> the world.  As far as a radio plugged into your ears - in the south  
> I was listening for the buzz of rattlesnakes, in the north I was  
> listening for the woof of the bears.  Dangerous sounds aside, why  
> miss the call of sand hill cranes, wild horse snorts,  and the  
> sounds of the numerous other wildlife that line the path. A Phone  
> card with a ton of minutes can be carried - a lot lighter than any  
> cell phone which will rarely work until you are in a town anyway.    
> Take a gps and camera that work on the same size batteries.    I  
> bought AA's at costco and send them in my maildrops - about $8.00  
> for the whole trip..
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doug-Sue <doug-sue71 at comcast.net>
> To: Cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Tue, Feb 9, 2010 10:00 am
> Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] Electronics
>
> For me one of the joys of a long hike is leaving all this stuff  
> behind.  I
> do not want a cell phone with me.  My only gadgets are a GPS and a  
> simple
> camera.  Consider, one of the reasons for hiking is to go cold  
> turkey and
> break the on-line addiction.
>
> Just my thoughts.
>
> -RedDoug
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jack Richardson" <jackrichardson at roadrunner.com>
> To: <>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 9:21 AM
> Subject: [Cdt-l] Electronics
>
>
> > Electronics??
> >
> > On my AT thru in 2001 I had a TM20 Pocketmail device and digital
> > camera. That was it! During my PCT 2007 hike I had a cell phone,
> > satellite phone, Pocketmail composer, digital camera and a MP3  
> player.
> >
> > So for this years CDT hike I will have Email device, cell phone,
> > satellite phone, GPS, Spot Tracker, iPod Touch, digital camera, a
> > solar battery charger and specific device rechargers (3X)!
> >
> > It seems that each hike has brought on more necessary (??)  
> electronic
> > gear. I may have to hire a sherpa to carry my electronics this  
> year!!!
> >
> > All kidding aside, I see there is a new email device available  
> called
> > the "Peek". Research shows it to be lighter then Pocketmail  
> Composer,
> > able to handle my current email accounts, text messaging, view
> > attachments, smaller size, wireless and high techie. Unfortunately  
> it
> > does not use AA batteries like the Composer.
> >
> > Any thoughts on Peek versus Pocketmail???
> >
> > Any thoughts on Electronics on the CDT???
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > tumbleweed
> > _______________________________________________
> > Cdt-l mailing list
> > Cdt-l at backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/cdt-l
>
>
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