Comments on: Influential Gear?

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 15:50:32 +0000

In reply to Steve. And more Starlink or similar satellites the night sky too!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 22:43:20 +0000

Spot on, Paul. If it weren’t gear specific, I’d lean more toward social media. It seems like we’ll likely see more cell phone towers popping up in wilderness areas. Tastefully disguised of course.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 18:35:27 +0000

In reply to PaulW.

Thru-hiking culture, esp on the well known alphabet routes, is another ball of wax.

Because it’s isolated out here, I don’t think we are quite to that level. Yet.

(As an aside, we take Joan’s inreach. Her Mom lkes seeing us on the map. I like having happy in laws. 🙂 )

By: PaulW

PaulW — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 16:31:38 +0000

“Within a decade, if not less, the typical backpacking demographic with disposable income will find NOT getting connected as reckless as some people view hiking without a map or navigational skills.”
Based on my experience I’d say this statement is a few years late. 🙂
On my last long backpacking trip (part of the CT and CDT) I was really surprised to find that most people’s major concern was where they could find a cell signal, followed closely by how they were going to charge their gadgets. Earlier this year, while shopping at REI, a young salesman told me that it was very irresponsible to NOT be connected in the backcountry as we now have the technology to do so. This is also a comment I’ve heard from friends and family. Fear based marketing at it’s best!
FWIW, I did recently purchase an InReach Mini 2 that we mainly use for overlanding.