unnecessary distraction or essential boredom reduction device?

[casanoah]

So who here brings an mp3 player, cd player, or radio sort of music device with them (excluding guitars and banjos and such)? Why do you or dont you take this said device of your choosing?

Personally, I'm against bringing anything along. I feel that it takes away from the experience. It dilutes the immersion experience, that exposure to extended silence and aloneness is an integral part of the adventure whether good or bad. What do ya'll think?

[gargamel]

I'll carry a tiny little mp3 player and a radio with me. I really dont know if and how often I will use them, but to have some distraction from time to time (e.g. if it's raining the whole day) could be helpful. The radio is mainly to check weather reports and serves as a watch and alarm-bell as well.
Extended silence is something I wont experience and therefore can't damage as I have tinnitus. So there's always a certain amount of "noise" with me.

[snowhoe]

I am bringing a mp3 player with a fm radio that only takes one aaa battery. I will probably listen to it for the weather or maybe before bed. I once was going on a three day trip to hike mt. harvard and I brought a dvd player it was actually pretty cool to watch a movie while laying in your tent. The best thing I have brought was a mini watermelon. You should have seen the guys faces when I pulled out a watermelon when it was time to eat supper. After we had hiked about 13 miles.

[Tha Wookie]

people who plug their ears with distractions don't know what they're missing.

[Mother Nature]

I carry a little radio that runs on a single AAA battery. Some days the pain in my back and hips gets a little in the way of my fun so I tune in some inane thing on the radio and it distracts me from my internal grinding and I get up the big hills.



I also like the weather band on it and listen for the weather for the day ahead.

Mother Nature

[smokymtnsteve]

people plug their ears with distractions don't know what they're missing.

U got dat right....I don't even know what a PM3 player is...and I certianly don't know why someone thinks they may need something like that on the trail.....

[mweinstone]

i bring no music ,pen,paper,camera,town clothes,change for soda,keys to apt.,cup,bowl,coffie maker or filter,no watch ,wallet,camp footware,extra anything. no first aid,no maps,matchsafe ,liner sox,no booze,no toothpaste,no nail clipper, and no worries.no walking poles,no fanny or day pack,no pants,no no no no!

[Pennsylvania Rose]

I don't even own an MP3 player - or anything with headphones. I love music, but can't stand anything playing directly in my ears. My life is so noisy I crave the solitude and silence that I find in the woods.

I've hiked with people who carry little radios to catch the weather, but I figure when it rains, I'll put on rain gear; when it gets cold, I'll bundle up; does it really matter if I know 12 hours ahead of time?

[Deerleg]

I've never gone for more than a week at a time and don't take portable music. I like the time to hatch ideas. On my hike in July, thru the smokies, I planed a surprise party for my wife for our 25th anniversary. I don't know though...4 months on the trail, I think I might steel my son's MP3 player. A novel device for us over 40 gang...very cool though, only a couple of oz. hundreds of songs... might help you dance up a couple gaps...my sons 18 TAKE THE MUSIC and enjoy it your way!

[mweinstone]

i dont own music but for my harps and my ax.i dont know why people bombard their minds with stimulation all day and night. ill pay cash money for quiet. im in love with you thinking you love quiet. im goin hikin to talk to god. cause i cant hear him in the city.

[digger51]

I enjoy music every now and then so I will carry an ipod. The earplugs dont let the sounds leave my ears and it is often more pleasurable than listening to some gearhead rattle on for hours at night about the latest piece of equipment they bought.

[Seeker]

nature's sounds are best, but good classical music can add to a sunset like the right wine complements a meal... and too much of it can ruin it... and a little ac/dc, motley crue, or def leppard can make the wet miles roll by a little faster and less painfully... news is good too, but that's just me...

hyoh... just don't make me hear your music...

[Bassline]

I got an MP3 player delivered to me at Trail Days last year, and I really enjoyed it. There were many days when I didnt listen to it, but it was a good way to get through some of the rainy days.

[Left Hand]

I like the sound of nothing; if I could I would bottle it!

[KirkMcquest]

Bringing mp3's and such definitely reduces the whole experience. Not my bag. I DO bring a nice paperback for my bivy

[TrailReverend]

I recite poetry out loud that I've memorized or compose poetry. This way the only added weight is in my head not my pack.

[Sly]

I've hiked with and without music and have never felt having music disturbs my wilderness experience. On the AT there are plenty of days when you can hear highway traffic or lawn mowers going. No one can tell me I'm missing something, especially if at those times, I'm hiking to some good tunes.

Also there's something about listening to Car Talk on Saturday mornings that makes my day.

[brz]

The most exciting, most spectacular thing you will EVER hear is the wilderness' creshendo of silence.

One of the problems with folks that bring along artificial noise is that they have yet to learn how to LOOK AND SEE with their ears.

A thru-hike is a marvelous opportunity to acquire this skill. You'll be AMAZED what you 'see.'

[Zzzzdyd]

a Grundig mini world, short-wave radio. I got it from Campmor a few
years back. I sometimes take it on short hiking and canoe trips. At 7 oz.
though I do not think I will be bringing it on my thru-hike. It has been
interesting at times listening to folks from around the world while I wait out
a thunder-buster etc...............

[gargamel]

One of the problems with folks that bring along artificial noise is that they have yet to learn how to LOOK AND SEE with their ears.

.................................................. ......

Isn't it USUALLY the case that those that preach the most are the ones that need to learn the most?

One of the best pieces of wisdom that I have learned as a Teacher, Instructor is that the "We teach best what we need to learn most."(i.e. Everyone still has a lot to learn.)

I've found that those that usually pro-offer unsolicited advise are usually scared/ignorant (which is usually why they are so arrogant as arrogance is a cover for ingnorance and fear).

The process of "convincing" you is really an excercise in convincing themselves.

If you missed the "how to get along with people lecture," its rude to go around judging and critizing strangers. Its also quite dangerous - especially out in the wilderness where it's unlikely anyones going to ever find the body.