More lo tech

[jurahd]

Look around America---everybody's drooling and glued into their Smartphones. How many people were glued into their digital cameras 20 years ago? And so this "gluing" translates to backpackers on trails.

And of course there's a giant difference between my old Nokia call/text phone and a modern Smartphone. My phone is not a camera and can't take pics, can't pull up GPS and certainly will never get online and check Facebook.

The OP started this thread on Low Tech options for backpackers. I recommended going without a Smartphone---no sweat. Personally, I want absolutely no opportunity to get on the Internet with a phone on my backpacking trips. And I don't need a phone to pull up Waypoints or Maps or anything else. Certainly don't need Live Streaming of my trip.

Carrying a small "laptop" computer on a backpacking trip---and getting Online---is not something I ever want to do. My opinion only.

Then again, most of my gear is not low tech---certainly not my spectra fabric backpack or my Trail Pro sleeping pad or my MSR Simmerlite stove etc. Or my camera or little radio. But when I'm out there's no chance I'll ever connect to the world wide web---thank god.

What's neat is there's a high school in Michigan---the Cranbrook School---which for 50 years has taken many kids out on an annual 11 day wilderness backpacking trip and trip leaders do not allow the students to carry smartphones---for one reason---they want the kids to be immersed in the outdoor experience within their separate groups---and not have any connection to the outdoor world thru smartphone use. No texts from parents, no checking in with distant friends, no scrolling thru old messages, no possible online chats or distractions. Amen, brother.

The last thing they want is to have kids sitting around in a group looking at their separate phones---it ruins the group bonding experience. Instead the leaders want the kids to study their paper maps and plan the day's route.

Here's a pic of some of the kids---



Here's some other takes on the Smartphone---

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/sma...illing-travel/

https://www.loveexploring.com/news/7...of-backpacking

Internet porn will destroy your thru...maybe a good lesson in physical weakness factor. Guys need to deal with this...conditions are frustrating and tough ..temptation to dopamine rush ready at hand.
New challenge.

[Tipi Walter]

Internet porn will destroy your thru...maybe a good lesson in physical weakness factor. Guys need to deal with this...conditions are frustrating and tough ..temptation to dopamine rush ready at hand.
New challenge.

"Dopamine rush ready at hand" about says it all. It's the elephant in the room no one talks about. New challenge? No challenge if you ditch the smartphone and bring some books . . . preferably not erotica.