If you are the kind of person that lacks enthusiasm about high-tech gadgetry, I’m hoping you’ll at least appreciate this commentary about how dependence on technology can affect our lives. For this has to be the lowest tech article ever submitted for the RTC Tech Beat column – handwritten on a sunny log by a high mountain lake, during a recent backpacking trip.

I never expected that a recent backpacking trip with my wife, dog, a long-time friend and his family, would turn into technological enlightenment. Months before the trip, my wife put up a Wiki to plan the location, meal plans, etc. at Wikispaces.com (a Wiki is a collaborative website where everybody can add their two cents). In response to the Wiki, my friend built a bulletin board site with packing lists and weather updates. Next came a flurry of email exchanges with large image attachments of maps printed from National Geographic’s Topo software (www.ngmapstore.com). Not until much later when we were ready to hit the trail, would we realize: what good are pre-printed map quadrants if they are of a different area than where you’re headed?

Low Tech Tip #1
When it comes to early summer backcountry camping, no matter how much technology went into planning, always trust the locals for advice about conditions before you head out.

In our case, the local was a mule stock driver clearing trails with volunteers from the Pacific Crest Trail Association (www.PCTA.org). Had we not met John and sought his advice about our planned destination, we may have ended up in trouble. Or as John put it, we “might make it there, but Search and Rescue will need to get you out.” Despite all of the technology we used to plan the trip, the one thing it couldn’t tell us was that the ridge we were about to hike over was still covered with deep snow.

When John kindly directed us to another set of lakes at a lower elevation, a look of alarm came over my friend’s face. What about his maps and detailed elevation charts? The look of alarm on his face might have been even worse, if it wasn’t for his trusty Garmin GPS (global positioning device) unit. I remained calm. I had a forest service map and a Boy Scout compass I have trusted for years.

Hiking to the first lake with Garmin in hand, my friend became frustrated as the unit lost its satellite signal. The internal antenna was too weak amidst the mountain peaks and trees. We couldn’t constantly know our precise location on earth to within 15 feet! And forget tracking our mileage-per-hour speed and elevation gains! Me? I could tell enough from my aching feet and back.

Later at camp, my friend pulled out his Treo cell phone/PDA. I wondered why he would carry the extra weight when he had to have known phone service didn’t exist out in the wild. But the quirkiest thing about my friend’s gadgetry addiction was how he faithfully consulted Garmin for the daily fishing report. Yes, through complicated formulas, a GPS can tell you whether or not it is an average day for fishing and what time is best to try – 10:00 p.m. to midnight in our case.

Low Tech Tip #2
When fishing in the outback, trust the bats to tell you when the fishing is good – though this can get tricky when fly-fishing!

I didn’t shun technology completely during this trip. I did bring along our digital camera. But by bringing it, technology induced paranoia set in. Extra memory cards and a spare battery had to be purchased before the trip. What if we ran out of memory? What then?

Still, my paranoia was nothing like it used to be when I lived the frantic Silicon Valley lifestyle that my friend still does. His actions reminded me of my own before I walked away from my tech career. He feared that someone might siphon off his car’s gas while it was parked at the trailhead. And leaving camp unattended was a no-no, because he feared one of the few people we saw that week might break into his tent and steal his stuff. It took at least 5 days before a look of calm came over his face, and relaxation took hold. Which brings me to …

Low-Tech Tip #3
Let it go. Like one of my favorite Chinese fortune cookie says – if you are going to do it, don’t worry; if you are going to worry, don’t do it. This applies to everything from switching jobs to bringing expensive gadgets into the wild.

I must admit, that after a long quiet week in the woods, I started to dread the onslaught of email and computer work waiting for me at home. But I have also gained a deep appreciation for technology such as running water and municipal electricity.

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Jim Nelson is co-owner of Agreda Communications, which delivers total marketing communications and point of purchase graphic solutions through their website at MarcomAndPOP.com. Agreda Communications is a business member of the Redwood Technology Consortium (www.redwoodtech.org).