Jonathan--<br><br>It's funny you should bring up Jim Bridger-- I recently read his biography and I'm willing to bet that he would have been pleased to use a few tools/goods that might have made his life a bit easier-- it was a brutal time and wild country but he was clever enough to live a good long life. He didn't have much, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have used it if were available to him! Just a thought.<br>
<br>Jo<br><br><br>I think you have to set guidelines with your family/friends before you<br>
leave to address just these instances. I would think that unless you<br>
active the "help button", or didn't check in for many days past your due<br>
date, they would just understand you're OK.<br>
<br>
I suppose everyone is in a different situation... if you have a medical<br>
issue that raises your risk level, or are a bit older... perhaps<br>
something like a SPOT would be a reasonable trade-off... Yes, not quite<br>
the same as being fully immersed in Wilderness, but better than the<br>
alternatives. Everyone's limits of technological intervention are<br>
different. I mean, silicon-impregnated nylon is pretty un-natural... And<br>
when you think about what it takes to refine just a few ounces of camp<br>
fuel, it's a bit boggling. I know these are a bit different than having<br>
an immediate tether via satellite to the outside world, but to someone<br>
like Jim Bridger, they'd probably seem like a lot of unnecessary fluff.<br>
So, I guess we all have to just make our own bargains & hike our own<br>
hikes...<br>
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-Jonathan<br>
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