alltechnologyshouldbeassumedguiltyuntilproveninnocent.docVIP

Taking Technology into the Wilderness (Provided by: HighCountryE) All technology should be assumed guilty until proven innocent. —David Brower, prominent environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club Foundation When I was a boy we learned what the land looked like, and we knew the rock cairns that the people had built on the land to find their way in storms and whiteouts, because we were a part of the land and we knew it because if we didn’t we would not live. Now these computers [GPSs] that the young people use to find their way—it makes them afraid of the land. . . . They make you afraid of what you should know. —Inuit elder living in northern Canada, quoted from Kevin Patterson, The Water In Between, p. 205 Technology is a way of organizing the universe so that man doesnt have to experience it. —Max Frisch Central Questions Addressed in This Article What about taking and using high-tech gear in the wilderness? How should we define “high-tech” gear relative to wilderness travel? What high-tech gear will enhance and what will detract from my wilderness experiences? What about emergency communication devices like personal locator beacons and navigation devices like GPS units? What is my general philosophy regarding the use of modern technology in the wilderness? Some Starting Assumptions It is necessary to make several assumptions to deal effectively with the above questions. Assume that high quality wilderness experiences are desirable when backpacking. Consider that there is no such thing as a “pure” wilderness experience untainted by human technology. Airplanes and satellites fly over. Trail signs and maps involve some technology. Modern packs, tents, boots and clothing all involve lots of technology. Essential survival gear (e.g., LED light and topography map) usually involve some technology. Assume that technology can intrude on our wilderness experiences. Consider an extreme example of the person who takes a digital camera, a sma