Tuesday 31 March 2015

Smartphones & Distractions In The Hills



It’s two and a half years ago since I last wrote about using smartphones in the hills in one of my most popular posts. Then my aim was to counter the arguments against using smartphones and tablets as GPS units. The same arguments still surface today and I think my piece is still valid. I’m not returning to that here however but to the question of how appropriate such technology is in the hills and whether it can be a distraction.  I’ve been thinking about this since reading a fascinating blog piece by author Alex Roddie entitled Ditching the infinity machine– five months later in which he describes swapping his smartphone for a basic phone after becoming concerned that the former was spoiling his enjoyment of the wilds. After this experiment Alex has returned to his smartphone but he now uses it in a different way so it’s far less intrusive.

Most of my walking having been done before smartphones existed (and much of it before mobile phones) the options for distraction from the wilds came down to just one – a book. And I carried plenty, often several at a time. Mostly I read in camp in the evening, especially when the weather meant staying in my tent was wise, (and I sometimes left rather late in the morning because I spent too long reading over breakfast). But sometimes a book gripped me enough that reading it became more important than where I was and I read while walking, my mind far away from my surroundings. Often though I was reading because where I was walking wasn’t that wild or interesting. I was still cut off from the world around me though and probably missed much. Alex Roddie in his earlier piece on smartphones describes the problem of battery failure with smartphones. Books don’t run out of power. Instead they run out of words. I can remember hoarding the last pages of a book, only reading a few at a time, because I was so concerned about finishing it before I reached somewhere I could buy another. Occasionally I’ve arrived in a town with finding books my main concern above food, showers, resupply or somewhere to stay. I couldn’t imagine doing a long walk or even an overnight trip without something to read. I still can’t but now I take a Kindle loaded with dozens of books for the same weight as one small paperback. Of course the Kindle can run out of power too but it’s not happened yet, even when I’ve been out for a week at a time. In fact I’ve not yet needed to recharge it from my back-up battery. And with the Kindle in a waterproof case I can read in the rain, as I did on a crossing of the Coirrieyairick Pass on a TGO Challenge walk. That’s the roughest terrain I’ve read myself across. Some people go further. Hamish Brown describes reading a paperback along the South Glen Shiel Ridge in Hamish’s Mountain Walk
Reading my way along a Mohave Desert road on the Pacific Crest Trail

Alex Roddie mentions using his smartphone as an e-reader, saving the weight of a Kindle. I did this on the Pacific Northwest Trail, before I had a Kindle, but found that it drained the battery too quickly. Given the weights of back-up batteries I reckon it’s lighter to carry the Kindle. Reading on a Kindle is a much more pleasant experience too as the screen is larger and there’s no glare.

My main use of my smartphone – currently a mid-range Sony Xperia SP, which does everything I need, is quite light (174 grams with protective rear case) and is still small enough to be used comfortably for actual phone calls – is for navigation with ViewRanger. Usually this just means locating my position and maybe walking a short distance to check I’m going the right way so the phone doesn’t need to be on all the time. A secondary use is for photos that I can send to social media before I get home and can download the images from my cameras onto the PC (I don’t have one of the latest cameras that links easily to a smartphone). I also send texts to my partner sometimes during a trip and always as soon as I’ve finished for the day. As I’m usually in places where a phone signal is a rarity (still the case in much of the Scottish Highlands) I’ll upload a photo or send a text and then put the phone back in the pack still switched on, as long as I have enough power. Generally at some point over the next few hours it’ll pick up enough of a signal to send the text and, less often, the photo. I don’t have any notifications or sound switched on so I don’t hear any bings or beeps and can forget about the phone. 

In camp I rarely look at the phone except to locate exactly where I am if I’ve camped after dark and am uncertain. The Kindle books and writing in my journal are enough distractions if needed. If I've enough power and there's a connection I might check the weather forecast. Occasionally I'll listen to the radio. However on long walks the phone always comes into use anytime I reach a town as then I can update my blog, answer emails, check social media and even submit reports to The Great Outdoors, something I did on both my Pacific Northwest Trail and Scottish Watershed walks. 

How communication technology is used in the hills is up to the individual of course. There are no rights or wrongs. I see no reason not to check emails and social media or even make phone calls if you find it satisfying any more than I can see a reason not to read in the hills (and I have been told at times that it’s ‘wrong’ to carry a book). The key is for you to control it and not the other way round. If it becomes intrusive and you think it’s spoiling your enjoyment the answer is simple. Switch the damn thing off!

17 comments:

  1. Great post Chris.

    One other point. I get very irritated by people who make phone calls from the top of some hills when there is a signal. "We're there. We've done it...!" Eg from the top of Scafell Pike. Probably I'm just getting crabbier in my old age.

    On a related point. Whilst I currently carry spare batteries for my android Samsung phone is there a particular powerpack to recharge you would recommend?

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    1. Hi, I have a PowerGen 13,000 mAh model that has served me very well, but I don't think you can get them any more. The best one on the market currently available seems to be this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet-PowerZen-15000mAh-Technology-Lightning/dp/B00FAU7ZB2

      You can, of course, get lighter battery packs with smaller cells. TeckNet and Anker seem to be the best brands at the moment.

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    2. I agree with you on phone calls. They shouldn't disturb other people. That applies in many places, not just the top of mountains!

      I use a couple of powerpacks. For long trips a 13,000 mAh Anker one - current equivalent seems to be the Anker Astra E4 13,000 mAh. My Anker one weighs 307 grams. For day trips and overnights I have a ProPorta 7000 mAh Turbo Charger that weighs 181 grams. Both work fine.

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    3. I must admit to being occasionally piqued when phone calls are made in seemingly inappropriate settings. I do think it is a bit irrational though. If someone is talking to someone else on a phone, then is it really that different compared to them talking to someone standing next to them. I suppose it all depends on what they are saying and how loud they are. Nobody likes a noisy blowhard in any situation. Discretion is the key.

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  2. I only use my Sony Xperia z2 to make calls at night from camp to reassure the Mrs. I have a dedicated GPS the Garmin 62s I use when needed it can be a good learning tool for navigation using map and compass then double checking the GPS. It always stays in my pack. My reading material is stored on my Nexus 7 tablet and occasionally I will download an adventure film from Steep Edge

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  3. I always knew Alex would return to his smartphone,at the time i thought he must have been short of something to write about, my smartphone is in aircraft mode most of the time on a walk, occasionally used to check my position via Viewranger.As well as reading books on it,i sometimes watch programmes on my Kindle Fire downloaded from BBC iplayer too on wild camps & bivys, you can't beat getting away from it all !

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  4. Adrian ... I think I always knew I'd return to it eventually too. ;-) I've been a mobile tech user since the late 90s, and (for good or ill) I guess it's in my blood now — just as much as reading on the trail, as Chris describes so well here. But sometimes we all need a break from technology, and it's been a useful experiment.

    Ultimately I would like to echo Chris's remarks that everyone must find their own happy balance of tech use, both on the trail and in everyday life. For some people that will mean unplugging almost completely, but others might want or need a greater level of connection. I had started to allow my devices to control me a little too much — all you need to do is make sure you remain in control. Disabling notifications is a convenient way of doing that, if you want to.

    For most of us, smartphones are now a fact of life ... and that's ok. They bring many benefits and comparatively few drawbacks.

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  5. If you want to connect your camera to your phone it might be possible with a WiFi SD card. http://www.eyefi.com/ is the one I've come across, I've not used them, bit might be with a look.

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  6. I agree that using tech when we're hiking is personal choice - it can be very beneficial and the fact that phone cameras are so good these days means I always have mine in my pocket ready to take a snap at a moment's notice. At the same time, my problem with those who use phones on the hills is the same as with those who speak loudly on them on the train, or have the music turned up so loud I can hear every word through their headphones. Yes use your tech, I certainly use mine, but don't spoil the scene or the mood for other people.

    On the subject of power packs I have just bought the Tecknet PowerGen 1500 on recommendation from someone else (less than £30 on Amazon). Excellent value and will apparently charge an iPhone a few times before needing charging itself.

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  7. Alex's post hit a nerve with me when I read it last week, so I followed his lead and have turned most of the notifications off. Life is much more peaceful now!
    I also caught sight of this on indiegogo.com the other day: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/crankcase-power-your-devices-from-your-motion.
    I don't know how much it weighs but it might be something to look out for in the future.

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  8. With regards to a usb charger, I got this via Amazon for just over a tenner, it is a camping lantern and a USB phone charger and it can be charged up by USB or hand cranked. I have still to use it in anger though.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KPVA824/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_GOVgvb0ZTWRA8

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  10. I'm disappointed Chris that you have been told that you are 'wrong' to carry a book with you on your walks. I can't understand why anyone should say such a thing but obviously they are in the wrong! Back in 2005 I walked the Alpine pass route and my attempts at speaking Swiss-German are not praiseworthy and my paperback books were valuable companions when I didn't have people to talk to or just wanted to the immerse myself in another world. I don't care about the weight as those books were invaluable for the pleasure I gained from them. In fact I would often hope the days walking would finish sooner so I could pick up from the previous chapter. And paper back books age through a long trek with thumb stains, notes, folds and creases . But a smartphone just remains a smartphone, perhaps with a flat battery. Books can be souvenirs of a walk with associated memories too.

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    1. Thanks Jay. Over the years I've been told I'm wrong about lots of things! Wearing trail shoes, wearing sandals, using trekking poles, using a tarp, liking a long ice axe, putting crampons on bendy boots and more. With books I've had objections on two grounds - that nothing should be carried that distracts in any way from the outdoors and that nothing superfluous should ever be carried. I happily ignore both.

      Books do age well. However on long walks most of mine ended up being swapped for other books or else left in secondhand stores. I only have a few that were so special I kept them.

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  11. Interesting comment Chris about others saying that you shouldn't carry anything that detracts from the walk. The fact that they are carrying that mentality in itself is surely detracting from their walk? Never mind a book. As they say, hike your own hike. And well done you for your way of marching to the beat of your own drum! Trail shoes, tarps, crampons on more flexible footwear? Thanks to your way, I enjoy my walking more.

    I'm considering starting my own blog to raise such subjects/issues and maybe have a little rant occasionally. As someone who basically lives on the trail, rents out his home etc. I must admit I would be lost without my tablet. So technology perhaps has a place for some on the hills for some. I have all travel plans, tickets, timetables, correspondance, books, newspapers, magazine subscriptions, music downloads, email and sending photos to friends all from my tablet, but sometimes I hanker for just being a chap on a walk with a book. However, when backpacking, in Europe or wherever, my tablet is an essential piece of kit and ironically my packweight is lower because of it and as it remains turned off during the journey until necessary, it doesn't detract at all from the walk.

    I hope I don't bump into one of those folks who suggested to you that you shouldn't carry a book when I'm out next.

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  12. Thanks Jay. A blog sounds a good idea. I'd read it! Most of the criticism I've had comes in the form of emails and social meadia comment. And before the internet letters. On the hills two episodes stand out. When I was on my Land's End to John O'Groats walk I met a father and son pair on the Pennine Way close to Hadrian's Wall. I walked with them to the Wall and then veered off from the Pennine Way to see some of the other features of the Wall. They were horrified! They told me that iI musn't leavet the Way at any point or I wouldn't count as having done it. Astonishing. Mind you, in his book on walking John O'Groats to Land's End Hamish Hillaby met someone on the Pennine way who told him his walk wouldn't count as doing the Pennine Way because he was going the wrong way!

    The other occasion was on the TGO Challenge. I met a Challenger on Mount Keen who told me I was wrong to be wearing lightweight footwear (Brasher Boots back then, I hate to think what he'd think of Inov8s). He went on to say that if I wrote about the walk I must recommend heavy stiff footwear and not mention I'd worn lightweight ones!

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