Originally Posted By: hikermor
Actually, the face of wilderness communications apparently is already changing forever. This is an interesting take: [url=http://http://blog.oplopanax.ca/2011/05/why-you-shouldnt-use-smart-phones-for.html][/url].

Certainly one of her main points, that the pattern of calling for assistance has changed due to cell phone usage, seems to be quite valid. I have read of several instances where confused hikers were asked to take a picture of their surroundings, thereby identifying the locality to searchers. This we could definitely not do in the old days...

As I get dragged kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century, dragging knuckles and all, I admit somewhat reluctantly that my phone is becoming part of my EDC, both in town and in the woods. After all, I go to the wilderness to seek solitude. What would Natty Bumpo or Nessmuk say?


One of the single most important steps (IMHO) in making cellphones more ubiquitous is the inclusion of a decent camera. I never carry my Nikon digital camera anymore, and I shoot a lot more pictures than I ever did. If they included a decent camera in that Delorme thing, I think it wouldn't be a bad marketing move.