bob dylan...

[cliffordbarnabus]

...and the times, they are a' changin'

i am a caretaker near lake santeetlah, nc. i have thru-hiked the AT twice. PCT once. also, i'm an avid cyclist.

i do loops that cross the AT several times. i always carry trail magic. the other day, i was at fontana dam shelter. i had cookies. but it took a while to get thru to the thru'er's. why? they were huddled in the shelter. huddled together. around a small screen. watching a movie. finally, they paused it to accept my offerings.

i don't own a cell phone.

i ain't some luddite. i just don't like things beeping at me.

anyhow, technology....they were watching a movie. it was 65 degrees and sunny. i was watching the mountains.

[One Half]

that much effort I would have said "screw 'em" and taken the cookies to someone more appreciative

[Stone1984]

I have to carry 2 phones in everyday life right now. When I am in the woods one of the things I look forward to most is not having service and not having to look at it.

[Patriot76]

Technology is like a leash. It is great for raising kids and keeping track of their activities, but I hate when it is keeping track of me.

[Busky2]

I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile to "save money" but with less coverage back then I could go days without checking in if I wanted to and just blame it on T, not so much anymore.

[Rex Clifton]

...and the times, they are a' changin'

i am a caretaker near lake santeetlah, nc. i have thru-hiked the AT twice. PCT once. also, i'm an avid cyclist.

i do loops that cross the AT several times. i always carry trail magic. the other day, i was at fontana dam shelter. i had cookies. but it took a while to get thru to the thru'er's. why? they were huddled in the shelter. huddled together. around a small screen. watching a movie. finally, they paused it to accept my offerings.

i don't own a cell phone.

i ain't some luddite. i just don't like things beeping at me.

anyhow, technology....they were watching a movie. it was 65 degrees and sunny. i was watching the mountains.

Bobby, you gotta get with the times cause "you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone". Despite the rhetoric about it being a zen experience, it can get pretty boring out in the bush.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Odd Man Out]

It doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

[cliffordbarnabus]

i get it. hyoh. to each, his/her own. it was just an interesting experience.

also, when i went into the men's bathroom at the fontana dam shelter, i felt like i was back in india. there were all sorts of extension cords and socket multipliers and a spider web of usb cables charging everyone's phone.

[rocketsocks]

Haven't you heard of cosmic radiation, solar flares, maybe they were just seeking shelter from the storm.

[Old Hiker]

that much effort I would have said "screw 'em" and taken the cookies to someone more appreciative

We seriously need "like" - "dislike" buttons on WhiteBlaze. A quick "like" for this one.

[Old Hiker]

that much effort I would have said "screw 'em" and taken the cookies to someone more appreciative

We seriously need "like" - "dislike" buttons on WhiteBlaze. A quick "like" for this one.

[August W.]

I'm just relieved to find this thread isn't about Dylan going on another bear mountain picnic...or worse.

[Puddlefish]

This comes down to "Stop liking what I don't like." This isn't a times have changed concern, this has always been the case.

I ran into two cranky trail angels on my hike, one of whom yelled at me because I politely declined their "hiker hospitality." In my case, I was trying to commune with nature, not hang out at a smelly loud intersection to chat with them.

You might think that you were providing something of value to them. They didn't see it that way. That's hardly their fault.

[jfarrell04]

Take care of your memories, for you cannot relive them.

[Uncle Joe]

"Chump don't want da help chump don't git da help!" :D

[FrogLevel]

Not owning a cell phone in 2017 doesn't make you deeply connected to nature or above anyone. It literally does make you a Luddite.

[Dogwood]

...and the times, they are a' changin'

i am a caretaker near lake santeetlah, nc. i have thru-hiked the AT twice. PCT once. also, i'm an avid cyclist.

i do loops that cross the AT several times. i always carry trail magic. the other day, i was at fontana dam shelter. i had cookies. but it took a while to get thru to the thru'er's. why? they were huddled in the shelter. huddled together. around a small screen. watching a movie. finally, they paused it to accept my offerings.

i don't own a cell phone.

i ain't some luddite. i just don't like things beeping at me.

anyhow, technology....they were watching a movie. it was 65 degrees and sunny. i was watching the mountains.

Hey you're cookies were beaten out by the desire to watch final episode of The Bitchelorette... was it it free internet porn they were watching?

Funny thing is according to various Grand Canyon NP stats more time is spent in the trinket shops buying pictures of the Grand Canyon on tee shirts, coffee cups, calendars, postcards, key chains, and on New Agey/"Native American" CD's than actually at the North or South Rim. Gotta shop, shop, shop and consume, consume, consume. We might joke about it but George Carlin was right. Americas's favorite past time is not baseball. It's consumption and shopping...shopping...shopping

[cliffordbarnabus]

This comes down to "Stop liking what I don't like." This isn't a times have changed concern, this has always been the case.

I ran into two cranky trail angels on my hike, one of whom yelled at me because I politely declined their "hiker hospitality." In my case, I was trying to commune with nature, not hang out at a smelly loud intersection to chat with them.

You might think that you were providing something of value to them. They didn't see it that way. That's hardly their fault.

never blamed 'em or thought less of them....it's just the whole experience made me think!! also, i don't think movies in shelters have "always been the case". at least not on my thru's!

[cliffordbarnabus]

Not owning a cell phone in 2017 doesn't make you deeply connected to nature or above anyone. It literally does make you a Luddite.

never said it made me deeply "connected" with anything....my point is, i don't want to "connect" via cell phones!

[cliffordbarnabus]

Hey you're cookies were beaten out by the desire to watch final episode of The Bitchelorette... was it it free internet porn they were watching?

Funny thing is according to various Grand Canyon NP stats more time is spent in the trinket shops buying pictures of the Grand Canyon on tee shirts, coffee cups, calendars, postcards, key chains, and on New Agey/"Native American" CD's than actually at the North or South Rim. Gotta shop, shop, shop and consume, consume, consume. We might joke about it but George Carlin was right. Americas's favorite past time is not baseball. It's consumption and shopping...shopping...shopping

consume! and be consumed by consumption!

i live a strange life. i get paid nothing. i don't deal with money. people won't believe me, but i live entirely off dumpster dived food. and for dinner tonight (i only eat one meal a day) i'll have a kale salad, vegetarian lasagna, raisin bran and bananas with coconut milk, blueberry greek yogurt, gorp, and protein bars. BURP!

[cliffordbarnabus]

update : today i cycled the roads. crossed the AT on yellow creek road. perfectly timed. 2 thrus. i styled 'em out with cinnamon rolls and potato chips. money!

stecoah gap. an old fella from maine. he was weary. cookies and chips hopefully reduced the weariness. hell yeah!

i wish they all had been watching "titanic". that's like the greatest movie ever! i always cry at that one part...

[Francis Sawyer]

I had a cell phone back in he day when they first came out. Don't have one now. The people who matter know how to get hold of me . The rest don't matter. A lot of the folks who own them now are slaves. The corporations have you all by the cajones and you're terrified to not be connected because you might miss something. I feel bad for you.

[Lone Wolf]

A lot of the folks who own them now are slaves. The corporations have you all by the cajones and you're terrified to not be connected because you might miss something. I feel bad for you.yup. spent the weekend in a college town. seemed anyone under 40 had a device in their hand totally glued to it. same with AT hikers in damascus. every one of them walk around glued to them. pathetic

[rocketsocks]

I had a cell phone back in he day when they first came out. Don't have one now. The people who matter know how to get hold of me . The rest don't matter. A lot of the folks who own them now are slaves. The corporations have you all by the cajones and you're terrified to not be connected because you might miss something. I feel bad for you.this^^^^ :D

Posted; from my Samsung android

[soilman]

I was on a trail crew two years ago with a dominantly 20 something crew. They spent their evenings playing with their phones and clamoring over the only charging port in the pickup. I don't know what they were doing since we had no cell coverage. Last year on trail crew we worked on the same project. Before we left base camp the crew leader said "no cell coverage so leave your phones behind." He wanted to interact with the crew and not compete with their electronics. I have a 7 year old flip phone with a pay-as-you-go plan. I rarely use it and have over 30 hours of phone time on it since I don't have coverage at my house. I bought it for my thru hike to call home. I don't need a phone for entertainment when I am in the woods. Can't see any reason to upgrade to "smart phone" since I only use it for emergencies or when I am in town.

[Harrison Bergeron]

...and the times, they are a' changin'

i am a caretaker near lake santeetlah, nc. i have thru-hiked the AT twice. PCT once. also, i'm an avid cyclist.

i do loops that cross the AT several times. i always carry trail magic. the other day, i was at fontana dam shelter. i had cookies. but it took a while to get thru to the thru'er's. why? they were huddled in the shelter. huddled together. around a small screen. watching a movie. finally, they paused it to accept my offerings.

i don't own a cell phone.

i ain't some luddite. i just don't like things beeping at me.

anyhow, technology....they were watching a movie. it was 65 degrees and sunny. i was watching the mountains.

It takes about a month to get to the Fontana Hilton. By that time most folks are ready to enjoy the minor luxuries they find there, like hot showers, running water, four walls, no mice, and the ability to waste two hours of phone charge just to share a movie with your trail buddies.

Cliff, ole buddy, if you've hiked the trail twice, seems like you might remember the ultimate trail magic that the Fontana Hilton represents. Cookies can't compare. But I bet they'd have been happy to share your cookies, if you had just sat down and enjoyed the show.

[HighlandsHiker]

consume! and be consumed by consumption!

. . . . i live entirely off dumpster dived food . . . . BURP!


Maybe the hikers simply knew where your trail magic food came from . . . . :)

[rafe]

It takes about a month to get to the Fontana Hilton.

How do you figure? It's 164 miles from Springer.

[cliffordbarnabus]

It takes about a month to get to the Fontana Hilton. By that time most folks are ready to enjoy the minor luxuries they find there, like hot showers, running water, four walls, no mice, and the ability to waste two hours of phone charge just to share a movie with your trail buddies.

Cliff, ole buddy, if you've hiked the trail twice, seems like you might remember the ultimate trail magic that the Fontana Hilton represents. Cookies can't compare. But I bet they'd have been happy to share your cookies, if you had just sat down and enjoyed the show.


we all have different and non-exclusive definitions of what "enjoy"ment is. no worries. they paused. they partook. and i pedaled off (didn't think they needed 13 rather than 12 people perusing peliculas on a 7X4 inch screen!). all good. people are out there. walking. in the woods. with blockbusters. and cookies (not the website version, i'm talking calories!!).

[BuckeyeBill]

I always wondered what the gen Y crowd would do without their cellphones? I see it everywhere I go. I have also seen many a hiker with their ear buds in and the music blasting to the point I could hear it when we passed. I am one that enjoys the sounds of nature. But I am also listening for the sounds of those animals that I don't want to get up close and personal with not to mention the sounds of another hiker who is injured and signaling or yelling for help. They are off in their own little world.

[Dan Roper]

If not owning a cell phone makes one a Luddite, I'm a Luddite. I don't own one, I've never owned one, I'll never own one.

For the 99.5% out there that do, I do not look down on you; I am not trying to persuade you that your way is wrong and that mine is right; so I hope you won't get all White Blaze-huffy and snap. I'm just speaking a word of encouragement to the OP.

A gentleman up above commented that the woods can get kinda boring, or words to those effect. I cannot fathom that. The woods are the least boring place I know. Partly that's because I know trees and flowers and birds. Partly because I enjoy time in my own head thinking. I can't imagine having earbuds or other electronic diversions occupy my time during a hike or canoeing trip. I want to hear or I want to think. For me, that's a big part of the outdoors experience.

I don't begrudge folks that do prefer technology. I know that some truly have to be connected due to work or family considerations. Others simply prefer or can't imagine any other way of living. But for those few of us who don't have to and don't want to, the cell phone can represent the tyranny of instant and perpetual availability.

When people find out I don't have a cell phone (when they ask for my cell number at work, etc.), most of them almost immediately respond, "I wish I could do that!" They don't really mean it. They really do prefer or require the connectivity. But there is a part of them that recognizes there is a trade off, convenience (or necessity) in exchange for a little bit of freedom or relaxation.

I don't begrudge you your cell phone. I'm just glad there's not a law that requires me to have one.

See ya in the woods.

[Traveler]

...and the times, they are a' changin'

i am a caretaker near lake santeetlah, nc. i have thru-hiked the AT twice. PCT once. also, i'm an avid cyclist.

i do loops that cross the AT several times. i always carry trail magic. the other day, i was at fontana dam shelter. i had cookies. but it took a while to get thru to the thru'er's. why? they were huddled in the shelter. huddled together. around a small screen. watching a movie. finally, they paused it to accept my offerings.

i don't own a cell phone.

i ain't some luddite. i just don't like things beeping at me.

anyhow, technology....they were watching a movie. it was 65 degrees and sunny. i was watching the mountains.

Hard to say who was enjoying themselves more, you on a bike watching the mountains or them sitting and watching a movie during an extended vacation walk.

[cliffordbarnabus]

If not owning a cell phone makes one a Luddite, I'm a Luddite. I don't own one, I've never owned one, I'll never own one.

For the 99.5% out there that do, I do not look down on you; I am not trying to persuade you that your way is wrong and that mine is right; so I hope you won't get all White Blaze-huffy and snap. I'm just speaking a word of encouragement to the OP.

...


yes man! YES!!

i like hiking. i like cycling. i like running. etc.

...and...i like movies!

but each of those things ~for me~ has its own venue.

the main reason i posted my OP was that when i walked into the shelter and saw everyone sort of huddled, i thought they may be napping or maybe smoking some wacky tobaccy or whatever.

but when i saw they were watching a movie, it caught me off guard...as much as a crazy cyclist donating cookies caught them off guard.

it's good to be off your guard. keeps life interesting.

[JC13]

I look at it like this, people are used to being distracted. I tossed the radio out of my car because I only used it to distract me from the discourse in my own head. I do own a cell phone but I seldom use it to listen to music, I used to in the gym more to drown out the terrible music they played. In the woods though, I want to hear the woods. Same as when I run the lake at lunch, I want to hear the hawks and the birds, not the geese so much but, I take what I can get.

I do bring my phone on the trail, I use it as a camera, gps and a video recorder. Very seldom do I use it as a phone or to text anyone.

To each their own.

[Harrison Bergeron]

How do you figure? It's 164 miles from Springer.

Well, I'm just an old man, but it took me 4 weeks and the faces were all familiar when I got there, so I must not have been that slow. Most people are barely making 8-10 miles a day until they get past the Smokies, and with a zero every 4-5 days, I'd guess most people take close to a month. Why, do 20-milers not watch TV when they take a day off?

[dudeijuststarted]

on-demand video is the new cookie.

[tour-kid]

this board is really quick to judge...kinda gross actually
Can someone own a phone and not be glued to it 24/7? Yes
Can I listen to music sometimes to get through a difficult section? Yes
Can I turn it off and enjoy the sounds of the woods? Yes

[dudeijuststarted]

this board is really quick to judge...kinda gross actually

i see what you did there!

[JC13]

this board is really quick to judge...kinda gross actually
Can someone own a phone and not be glued to it 24/7? Yes
Can I listen to music sometimes to get through a difficult section? Yes
Can I turn it off and enjoy the sounds of the woods? YesJumping to conclusions might be the only exercise some people ever get!

[rafe]

Well, I'm just an old man, but it took me 4 weeks and the faces were all familiar when I got there, so I must not have been that slow. Most people are barely making 8-10 miles a day until they get past the Smokies, and with a zero every 4-5 days, I'd guess most people take close to a month. Why, do 20-milers not watch TV when they take a day off?

Being the terrapin I'm no speedster. I was doing 11 mpd, average, and by no means the head of the pack. 11 mpd gets you to Fontana in 15 days. No zeros those first two weeks though. Maybe I should have...

In my years of hiking I can count the 20 (or 20+) mile days on one or two hands. ;)

[soilman]

this board is really quick to judge...kinda gross actually
Can someone own a phone and not be glued to it 24/7? Yes
Can I listen to music sometimes to get through a difficult section? Yes
Can I turn it off and enjoy the sounds of the woods? Yes
I don't think anyone was being judgemental in their posts. What I read are personal observations. Even though the term "generation gap" was coined in the 60's I think differences between generations have existed for a long time. A study has shown a generation gap exists between baby boomers and those groups that followed when it comes to technology. I think that is what we are seeing here. I admit I don't understand the fascination with technology that some exhibit. Maybe it is because I didn't grow up playing with a game boy, x-box, and cell phone. But then again my parents didn't understand rock and roll.