All technology should be assumed guilty until proven innocent所有的技術(shù)應(yīng)被假定無罪的判決

PAGE

PAGE

2

TakingTechnologyintotheWilderness

(Providedby:HighCountryE)

Alltechnologyshouldbeassumedguiltyuntilproveninnocent.

—DavidBrower,prominentenvironmentalistand

founderoftheSierraClubFoundation

WhenIwasaboywelearnedwhatthelandlookedlike,andweknewtherockcairnsthatthepeoplehadbuiltonthelandtofindtheirwayinstormsandwhiteouts,becausewewereapartofthelandandweknewitbecauseifwedidn’twewouldnotlive.Nowthesecomputers[GPSs]thattheyoungpeopleusetofindtheirway—itmakesthemafraidoftheland....Theymakeyouafraidofwhatyoushouldknow.

—InuitelderlivinginnorthernCanada,quotedfrom

KevinPatterson,TheWaterInBetween,p.205

Technologyisawayoforganizingtheuniversesothatmandoesn'thavetoexperienceit.

—MaxFrisch

CentralQuestionsAddressedinThisArticle

Whatabouttakingandusinghigh-techgearinthewilderness?Howshouldwedefine“high-tech”gearrelativetowildernesstravel?Whathigh-techgearwillenhanceandwhatwilldetractfrommywildernessexperiences?WhataboutemergencycommunicationdeviceslikepersonallocatorbeaconsandnavigationdeviceslikeGPSunits?Whatismygeneralphilosophyregardingtheuseofmoderntechnologyinthewilderness?

SomeStartingAssumptions

Itisnecessarytomakeseveralassumptionstodealeffectivelywiththeabovequestions.

Assumethathighqualitywildernessexperiencesaredesirablewhenbackpacking.

Considerthatthereisnosuchthingasa“pure”wildernessexperienceuntaintedbyhumantechnology.Airplanesandsatellitesflyover.Trailsignsandmapsinvolvesometechnology.Modernpacks,tents,bootsandclothingallinvolvelotsoftechnology.Essentialsurvivalgear(e.g.,LEDlightandtopographymap)usuallyinvolvesometechnology.

Assumethattechnologycanintrudeonourwildernessexperiences.Consideranextremeexampleofthepersonwhotakesadigitalcamera,asmartphone,aGPSandaniPod,allonthesametrip.Withallofthesedevices,itisunlikelyheorshewillhavemuchtimetositquietlyandabsorbthesightsandsoundsandsmellsofnature.Whilemosthikersdonotfitthisextremeexample,manymighttolesserdegrees.

Assumewearenotpracticingsurvivalisttechniquesorattemptingtorecreateaprimitivewildernessstylewherewemakemostofourclothesandgear.

Eventhoughsomehaveaproblemwithalmostanyitemofmoderntechnologyappliedtobackpacking,assumethattheprimaryissuehereiswithtakinghigh-orhigher-techgearintothewilderness.Lower-techproductsofmoderntechnology(e.g.,basicgearmadefromplasticoraluminumornylon)arenotgenerallyatissue.Eventhoughtheselower-techitemsmayhavebeenhigh-techatonetime,theyarenolonger.

Defining“High-Tech”GearbyExample

Assumingthathigh-orhigher-techgearisattheheartofthisissueoftechnologyandwildernessexperiences,whatisthebestwaytodefinethisconcept?Itcouldbedefinedbymakingexplicitmanyofthecharacteristicsofhigh-techgear:electronic,miniaturized,computerized,computeraideddesign,solarcharged,complexindesign,innovative,makinguseofthelatestavailabletechnology.Butdefining“high-tech”inthisway(i.e.,byitsqualitiesandcharacteristics)onlygoessofar.Inthiscontext,abetterwaytodefine“hightech”isbygivingexamples.Mostwillrecognizethefollowinghigh-techitemseveniftheycan’tsayexactlywhattheyallhaveincommon(ifanything).Followingthisadvice,hereisacomprehensivelistofthelatest,greatestandhighesttechgearoftenseeninthewilderness.

cellularphone

smartphone

satellitephone

GPS(GlobalPositioningSystem)

PLB(PersonalLocatorBeacon)

PDA(PersonalDigitalAssistant)

FRS(FamilyRadioService)

GMRS(GeneralMobileServiceRadio)

MP3player(miniaturedigitalaudioandvideodevice)

LED(LightEmittingDiode)handlightorheadlamp

Chlorinedioxidebasedwatertreatment

Ultravioletlightbasedwaterpurifier

prescriptionmedicationsandwonderdrugs

mealreplacementpowdersandbars

vitaminandmineralsupplements

performancefabrics(e.g.,Goretex,eVent,silnylon,Cubenfiber,Spectra)

electronicsembeddedinclothing(e.g.heartratemonitor,heatingpanels)

solarchargersandphotovoltaicfabrics

digitalcamera

digitaltaperecorder

digitalAM,FMradio

digitalaltimeter,barometer,thermometer,chronometer,compass,etc.

alkalineandlithiumbatteries

titaniumgear

carbonfibergear

nightvisiongoggles

footwearwithgelpocketsinthesoles

Theabovecomprehensivelistfocusesonhigh-techgearoftentakenintothewilderness.Whetherornotsomeitemshavebeenmissed,Iguaranteemorewillarriveonthesceneinthenearfuturerelegatingatleastsomeofthesedevicestolowertechstatusormakingthemtotallyoutdated.

Toextendthis“definitionbyexample”abitfurtherwithcontrastingexamples,checkoutthenextsection.

ExamplesofLow-andMid-TechGear

Belowisacomprehensivelistofexamplesoflowandmid-techgearcommonlytakenintothebackcountry.Itisinterestingtonotethatmanyoftheitemswereconsideredhigh-techwhenfirstavailable.

Oldestandlowest-tech

knife

woodenequipment

canvasgear

woolclothing

oilskinclothing

primitivefishinggear

printedjournalsandguidebooks

printedpapermaps

eyeglasses

oilstovesandlamps

candles

featheredsleepingquilt

whistle

Olderlow-tech

watch

pistolorrifle

caulkedloggerboots

triconinailedclimbingboots

aluminumandstainlesssteelgear

zipperedclothing

moldedinsoles

customizedorthotics

plasticgear

compass

waterproofmatches

iodineandchlorinewatertreatment

tintedeyeglasses

toiletpaper

non-prescriptionmedications

chemicalfuelstoves

chemicalbugrepellents

monocular/binoculars

mechanicalcamera

bushplaneflightintoremotewilderness

Modernmid-tech

topographymap

mechanicalaltimeter

syntheticfabrics

syntheticinsulations

Velcro(hookandloop)clothing

collapsibletrekkingpole

metalalloygear

combination(multi)tool

fortifiedandmodifiedtrailfoods

freeze-driedfood

self-inflatingmattress

portablewaterfilters

Polaroidandtransitionlensesineyewear

contactlenses

waterproofandbreathableshellclothing

chemicalhandandfootwarmers

Lexanutensils

butanelighters

pressurizedcanisterstoves

liquidfuelstoves

compositelightweighttrailshoesandboots

alkalinebatteries

incandescentbulbflashlights

hydrationbladders

Whenseenasawhole,differentlevelsoftechnology(i.e.,low/mid/hightech)shouldbeviewedasacontinuumwithnoprecisedefinitionspossible.

ReaderParticipation:UseofHigh-TechintheBackcountry

First,additemsthatbelonginthe“high-tech”listthatarenotnowlisted.Second,checkoffthoseitemsyoucurrentlytakeorwouldseriouslyconsidertakingintothebackcountry.Thesecouldbeitemsalreadyowned,wouldliketoownifaffordable,orarewillingtorentforspecifictrips.

Defining“High-Tech”bySpecificActions

Tomakemydefinitionofhigh-tech-by-exampleevenmorecomprehensive,considerthefollowingspecificactionswhileusinghigher-techgear.Considerapersondoingthefollowingbeforeoraftercomingbackfromatrip:

usingacellularphonetomakearrangementswithpartymembers

usingacomputertovisittheInternetforspecifictasks(e.g.,researchingatrip,purchasinghikingequipment)

printingcustomizedmapsfromacomputerizedmappingprogram

usingaphotoenhancementorphotoorganizationcomputerprogramtoprocesspicturestakenduringatripusingadigitalcamera

transcribingnotesfromaminiaturizedrecordertowriteajournal,bookorarticlebaseduponwildernessexperiences

usingacomputertoactuallywriteabookorarticleabouttripsintothewilderness

usingcomputeraidedequipmenttodesignandmanufactureoutdoorgear

usingahightechvehicletogettoandfromtrailheads

Eventhoughtheaboveexamplesareobviouslymuchdifferentfromtheearlierexamplesofhigh-techgear,theyshouldaddanotherdimensiontothephilosophicalquestionsaddressedinthisarticle.

PhilosophiesofTechnologyintheWilderness:ThumbnailSketches

Withthenecessarypreliminariestakencareof(i.e.,questions,assumptionsanddefinitions),let’sgettotheheartofthematter:toobjectivelyexaminepotentialanswerstoissuesposedatthebeginningofthearticle.Whatfollowsarebriefsketches(inthefirstperson)thatwillprovideuswithacomprehensivelistofphilosophiesonthissubject.Iattempttostateeachwithoutanypersonaljudgmentsonmypart.Myconclusionsandphilosophieswillcomelater.

KeepItLow-Tech:Mygoalwhenbackpackingistogetasfarfromcivilizationanditstechnologiesaspossible.Iliketokeepitlowkeyandlow-tech.Therefore,Idonottakeanyhigh-techgearunlessnecessaryformetogetoutandenjoythebackcountrysafely(e.g.,prescriptionmedicationsandbatteriesformyflashlight).

Primitivism:Ipridemyselfinbeingabletosurviveandenjoythebackcountrywithoutanyhigh-techgear.Afewlow-techitemslikeaknife,compassandmatchesareokay.

High-TechMinimalism:Istronglybelieveincarryingafewhigh-techgearitems(e.g.,stove,watch,headlamp),butkeepingthemtoaminimum.Whenindoubt,leaveitout.

EnhancesMyWildernessExperiences:AnythingthatdistractsmefromNatureIleaveathome.AnythingthathelpsmeenjoyNaturethatmuchmore,Itake.Anygadgetthatkeepsmefrombeingtotallypresentislefthome.IshutouttechnologythatwilldistractorisolatemefromthesightsandsoundsofNature.Forexample,allelectronicsdesignedforentertainmentareoutbecausetheyalwaysgetintheway.

MaintainingBasicSkills:IfIregularlycarrysomehigh-techstuff,Idolower-techtripsatleastonceayeartomaintainmybasicsurvivalandnavigationskills.Itisimportanttorememberhowtodoit"theold-fashionedway”(e.g.,whenthebatteriesfail).

SimplicityandReliability:Igowiththesimplestversionofselectedgearitemstominimizethechancetheitemwillfailandbecomeanuisance.Examplesofbigpotentialnuisanceitemsareinflatingpads,zippers,trekkingpoles,andstoves.Ifapieceofhigher-techgearislightandsimpletooperateandhighlyreliable,itusuallygoeswithme.Forthein-betweencomplexityandreliabilityitems,Iusemyjudgmentregardingmyabilitytodofieldrepairandmaintenance.Oneunknownwriterexpresseditthisway:“I'veconcludedthatthemoresimpleandconvenientmyroutine‘life-supporting’activitiesare,themoretheyfadeintothebackgroundofthetrip.Thisleavesmemoreopentotheexperiencesofthetrip.”

AdvancedFormsofBasicActivities:Itakehigher-techgearintothewildernessifitprovidesadifferentapproachtowhathasbeendone,prettymuch,forever.Basicactivitieslikewalking,sleeping,cookingandcarryingstuffarefairgameforhigh-tech.Forexample,Itakeatent—asmyancestorsmighthave—onlymineismadefromwaterproof,breathable,high-performancefabricwithcarbonfiberpoles.Ifitisnotanewapproachtoanoldproblembutanewkindofthing,itmeritsahighdegreeofskepticism.Ihavenoproblemwithnewtechnologywhenitisbetterthantheoldways,especiallyifitislighterweightandmoredurableanduseful.

BeingComfortable:Beingcomfortablewhileenjoyingnatureisimportant.Ifhighertechnologywillassistmeinthis,Iamwillingtocompromisemywildernessexperiencesabit(ifthereisatradeoff).Therewillbetimesofdiscomfort,butnottothepointthattheyintrudeonmyexperiencesofthewilderness(e.g.,beingcold,wetandmiserable).

DualPurposeTechnology:Takingthingsthathavemorethanonepurposeisimportant.Forexample,thelatestcellphonetechnologycannotonlycalloutincaseofemergencies,butoftenincludesaGPStopinpointmylocation.High-techcellphoneshaveanalarmfunction,takedecentpicturesandplaymyfavoritetunes.Thelatesthigh-techphonesfunctionaspersonaldigitalassistants(PDAs)withwhichIcantakenotesforthearticleIamcurrentlywriting.Dualpurposeismymantra.

WhateverAchievesMyGoals:Myprimarygoalswhenoutinthewildernessaretotravellight,besafeandhavefun.Igenerallywelcometechnologythatwilllightenmyload(e.g.lighterweighttent,bag,boots,clothing,etc.)orincreasemysafety(e.g.,wickingandquick-dryingsynthetics,personallocatorbeacon,customizedanddetailedcomputer-generatedmaps).Iusetechnologythatwillenablemetohikefarther,lingerlongerandexperienceNatureabitmore.

RelativetoTripObjectives:Thetripdictatesthegearlist.Sometripsdictatemoretechnology,someless,somenoneatall.AGPS,binocularsandaltimetercanbequiteusefulforoff-trailtripsintonewterrain.IfIamgoingsolo,asatellitephoneorpersonallocatorbeaconcanbeagoodemergencybackupandwillusuallymakemylovedonesresteasier.IfIamouttoobservethewildlife,binocularsandafieldguideareusuallyquitehelpful.IfIonlywanttogetawayforafewhoursonaneasydayhike,thenlittleornotechnologyisusuallytherule.Insummary,italldependsupontheweight,volumeandusefulnessofspecificgearforaspecifictrip.

BalanceandModeration:Myphilosophyoflifeisbalanceandmoderationineverything.Somehigher-techgearcananddoesenhancemyexperiences.However,Itrytobalanceitwithlower-techitems.Forexample,ifItakethelatestmodelofanLEDheadlamp,Imightbalanceitwithotherlower-technavigationgear(i.e.,onlymapandcompass).IfItakethelightesthigh-techshelter(e.g.,acatenarycut,silnylontarp-tentwithtitaniumpegs),Imightavoidtakingthelatesthigh-performanceandhigh-techclothing(e.g.,bicomponentandhybridmerinowoolandpolyesterbaselayers).IfItakeadigitalcamera,Iwillresisttakinganyhigh-techelectronicsforentertainment.Itissoeasytogetoffbalancewithabunchofhigh-techgear.Balanceandmoderation!Balanceandmoderation!

RelativetoAge,CultureandPoliticalBackground:Beingmodernandtryingtofitintoahigh-techcultureseemsrelativetoone’sageandculturalbackground.Iamconservativeandoldschoolanddonotlikechangeforitsownsake.Iliketolivesimply;Ihavelittleinterestintryingoutthelatesttechnologies.IamcomfortablewiththesameoutdoorgearIhavefoundusefulovertheyears.Ioftenhavetoshopatgaragesalesandsecondhandgearstorestoreplacewornoutitems.Livingmybasicvalues(whichdonotincludetechnology)ismycentralfocus.Mygettingoutregularlyinthewildernessandawayfromtechnologyfitsquitewellwiththesevalues.

ConfessionsofaTechnophile:Incontrasttotheabovephilosophy,Iamtheproductofahigh-techorientedsociety.Ilovechangeandtryingnewthings.IlovegadgetsandIliketohavefunplayingwiththeminthebackcountry.Gadgetsgreatlyenhancemyfun.Iamaconfirmedgadget-oholicandtechnophile.Ilovetoexperimentwithnewgear.Iessentiallyrejectoneofthestartingassumptionsgivenatthebeginningofthearticlethatqualitywildernessexperiencesaremoreimportantthanplayingwithmyhigh-techgadgets.Ilovetobeoutinthewild,butwhenthereisaconflict,technologywinsouteverytime.

ReaderParticipation:AcknowledgingPhilosophiesaboutTechnologyandWildernessExperiences

Theabovethumbnailsaredesignedtoassistinsortingoutthecentralissuesofthistopicandcomingtosomeconclusions.Doanythumbnailsketchesjumpoutatyou?Arethereanythatyourejectoutofhand?First,considergoingbackandcirclingthephilosophiesthatcometheclosesttoyourownposition.Second,ifapreferredphilosophyistoobiased,distortedorincomplete,considerrewritingit.Third,ifnonecapturesyourownthinkingonthissubject,considerwritingoutyourindividualphilosophyabouttheidealrelationshipoftechnologytoqualitywildernessexperiences.Fourth,ifyourphilosophyiscomplexandmultifaceted,considersynthesizingthemanyideasintoonewrittenessay.

SpecialCase:EmergencyCommunicationDevices

Iseethefollowingdevicesasspecialcasesoftechnologyinthebackcountry:cellphones,personallocatorbeacons,personaltrackingdevices,satellitephones.Asemergencydevices,theydeservetheirownanalysis.Consequently,Ihavewrittenanentirearticleonthesubject:“

EmergencyCommunicationDevicesAnalyzed

.”Inthatarticle,Itakethepositionthattherearemanyfactorstoconsiderwhendecidingwhetherornottotakethesedevicesintothewilderness.Sometimesitisimportantnottocarrysuchadevice;sometimesitisimportanttocarrytwoormore.Inmanycases,Iconcludethatitisyourmoralobligationtocarryoneormoreoftheseemergencycommunicationdevicesintothewilderness.

Author’sPhilosophyofTechnologyRelatedtoWildernessExperiences

Withoutadoubt,beingobsessedwithanynumberofthingswhileinthebackcountry(e.g.,useoftechnology,properetiquette,techniques,safety,achievingspecificgoals,personalities,weather)willintrudeonthequalityofwildernessexperiences.Goingoverboardontechnologyisonlyonemanifestationofalargerproblem.Forexample,takingandusingseveralelectronicdevices(foremergencies,fornavigation,forentertainment)willalmostalwaysintrude.Thebestsolution,forthehighestqualitywildernessexperience,istokeeptheseelectronicdevicesinthebottomofthepack.Whentheycometothefore,temperuseofthemwithrestraintandmoderation.

Havingsaidthis,otherfactors(otherthanuseornon-useofhigh-techgadgets)aremuchmoreimportantforproducingqualitywildernessexperiences.Hereisasummaryofthemoreimportantelements:

thedistanceandthelengthoftimeawayfromcitiesandthetrailhead

theamountoftimespenttravelingthroughpreviouslyunexploredareas

thenumberofman-madeimprovementsandsignsofcivilization

thenumberofpeopleinthepartyandtheirattentivenesstothewildernessenvironment

thecommitmenttojustbeinginthewildernesswithoutalwayshavingtobedoingsomethingandachievingsomething

Inaddition,tomaximizesuchwildernessexperiences,Ineedto:

spendweeksormonthsinpristineandisolatedenvironmentswithminimalinterruptionbyresupply

spendtimeinenvironmentsnotoftenfrequentedbyothers

traveloff-trailbymyselforwithasmall,likemindedparty

nothaverigidagendas

Author’sPhilosophyofTechnologyRelatedtoBackpacking

Sincetheleveloftechnologytakenintothebackcountry,byitself,haslittletodowiththequalityofwildernessexperiences(asexpressedintheprevioussection),thereisstillanunansweredquestion:Whatismychosenstyleregardingtechnologyinthebackcountry?

Twocloselyrelatedphilosophiessketchedearlierinthisarticle(“WhateverAchievesMyGoals”and“RelativetoTripObjectives)”cometheclosesttostatingmypersonalphilosophy.Morespecifically,myprimarygoalsonmostbackpackingtripsaretotravellightlyandsafelyandhavefun.Iwelcometechnologythatwillassistmeinaccomplishingtheseobjectives.Selectionofgearisrelativetothespecificobjectivesofspecifictrips.Forexample,Iespeciallyenjoytravelingoff-trailintonewterrain.Withthistypeoftrip,thefollowinghigh-techoptionsareseriouslyconsidered:altimeter,GPS,printingcustomizedmapsfromacomputerizedmappingprogramanddoingInternetresearchtoresearchandlearneverythingIcanaboutanarea.Igenerallygooff-trailwithothersofsimilarminds,butifIgosolo,Iwillusuallytakeapersonallocatorbeacon(PLB)orasatellitephone.

FinalThoug