[pct-l] Technology on the Trail

[Bighummel at aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

I did not even carry a watch on my thru-hike.  I kept track of the day of the 
week in my journal for post office purposes.  I carried a cheap, plastic 
compass and only used it a few times.  There wasn't even such a thing as calling 
cards then.  I sent my supply sender a post card from each point telling them 
where I was and when and when I expected to reach the next supply point.  

The trail was much less well known, much less well marked, considered much 
more dangerous and risky to hike, and yet, no one was attacked by a bear, no one 
lost their life, no one was seriously injured.  Many of us spent a lot of 
time lost or walking in circles (I did a 17 mile circle just north of Arrowhead 
one day and was so pissed at myself I almost, well, smacked myself! Should have 
used that stupid compass).  

I do remember catching a ride in Washington from the trail over to Paradise 
Lodge to climb Rainier.  The guy that picked us up had an 8 track tape (if you 
know what this is then you are older than 25!) of Chick Correa and it sounded 
like the finest music that my ears had ever heard, and made me realize just 
how much I missed music.  

When the MP3 players get under 1 ounce and carry 1,000 songs, then I will 
carry one and listen to it occasionally when I'm feeling low out there on the 
trail or in my bag at night.  I still wont carry a watch.   I won't carry a GPS 
either, nor a phone, nor a radio.   No need.  

Hiking is where I go to get away from all of the mechanized - electolyzed - 
technolyzed - analyzed - politicized world.  

Greg