Comments on: The Culture of Connectivity Continues

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 17:48:53 +0000

In reply to Beth Miller. See, the clients assume 24/7 connectivity and expect it..even with a person who can help them besides yourself. Checking in once a week (or even 3 days) is not understood. The fact that you are quitting is telling in itself. And a decision that is understandable to me. :)

By: Beth Miller

Beth Miller — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 17:42:32 +0000

Paul, I agree with you. I have, unfortunately, given up my plans to hike for a month this summer. Why? I sell real estate, solo, and my clients cannot conceive of my absence for a month or longer where they cannot reach me. Never mind that there would be a good, experienced real estate agent (or 2) helping to cover my obligations. Having said that, I RELISH the opportunity to have no correspondence with anyone outside my location as it is the only way to recharge myself mentally. I did find a solution…I am quitting work as of the end of the year to allow time in the wild when I want it.

By: Draggin' Tail

Draggin' Tail — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:11:52 +0000

A change highlighted by fellow Thru-Hiker Krispy Kritter during our 2010 A.T. ThruHike……. He had first Thru-Hiked the A.T. in 2004 and his observation of the difference between the two time periods was that in 2004, when hikers came into a shelter at the end of their daze hiking, the first question asked of those already there was: “how’s the water?”. In 2010, that initial question had morphed into: “how’s the cell phone coverage?”.
One wonders what next years barometer of connectivity capabilities will be stressed in the “wilderness”.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 20:23:14 +0000

In reply to grannyhiker. But that is your choice. And not mandated. :) A person I was dating recently had the opposite view from my ex-wife. She said if we became more serious I'd have to carry a SPOT. :D

By: grannyhiker

grannyhiker — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 20:20:46 +0000

There’s a big difference between having a PLB for emergencies only (nobody can call me on it!) and a cell phone! The PLB is to keep my grown children off my back so they don’t bug me about hiking alone–a big psychological weight saving! Anyone can call me on my cell phone, and with an increasing number of spam calls (which I don’t answer), it’s a major pain! I’m leaving Tuesday to car camp in an area where there’s no cell phone reception, hooray!

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 20:18:33 +0000

In reply to Paul G.

Feel similar to what I wrote seven years ago: SPOT and PLB are good things for people to take ***if they wish***. I would not consider it essential. My former wife grew up in Eastern Europe until she was 12 or 13. Her family had to sneak into what was then West Germany. The ex has a much different take on tracking devices and never wanted me to have one. 🙂 Now, people are starting to say tracking devices are “essential”…which is what I predicted seven years ago. A cultural shift has been reached.

By: Paul G

Paul G — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 10:30:44 +0000

Curious how your feelings towards PLB/Spot devices have changed, if at all, since your 2010 Connectivity musings. I was surprised to read how strongly Alan Dixon advocates for them in his recent post on the “21st Century 10 Essentials” which included one of these devices.

By: grannyhiker

grannyhiker — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 04:49:04 +0000

I’m with you 100%!

This all reminds me of a not so humorous poem by Ogden Nash, “On Occasion,” which is too long to quote here but certainly fits: http://www.aenet.org/poems/ognash20.htm
“O misery, misery, mumble and moan,
Someone invented the telephone,”

By: Tree

Tree — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:44:14 +0000

I am with you on this. I believe there is a personal loss when one sacrifices time alone in the wild for a psuedo-social experience. I have seen the renewal that comes when city stressed people learn to put their devices in airplane mode and leave it there for 4 days.