Backpacking in the Technological Era: Free technologies which will further the planning and enjoyment of your next backpacking trip
About this ebook
Technology is all around us. The development of GPS and increasingly advanced software applications motivates you and me to explore and travel to remote places with greater confidence. While you should always bring the trusty and forever reliable ten essentials and follow general outdoor ethics principles (like Leave No Trace!), the value in these applications is undeniable, making them a smart addition to your trip preparation and smartphone. Use of a mobile phone should be limited to conserve battery and minimize distractions, so I only discuss worthwhile applications that add educational and safety utility.
In this forever evolving market for outdoor applications, I summarize and guide you through the most relevant software from my experiences out on trail. For each application recommended, from gear lists to smartphone GPS navigation, I provide an introduction and a fundamental guide to get started with screenshots and examples. I made sure that all the technologies are free, promoting the principle that just like technology, the outdoors should be accessible by all.
This eBook is broken down into three major parts. The first part presents technologies to facilitate the preparation for a trip, including resources used to organize gear which can also help in terms of mental preparation and streamlining your pack weight. It also contains navigation tools used to devise a route and calculate statistics, such as distance and elevation. The second section includes applications that are used while out on the trail. These include mobile maps with GPS tracking that do not need an internet connection to operate and the highly informative but optional applications used to educate yourself about the outdoors and wildlife. Finally, I cover advanced settings to minimize battery drain since I notice a lot of hikers pack unnecessarily bulky power banks to supply minimal phone use. A dead phone is a safety hazard since you might end up needing to make an emergency call or SMS.
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About the author
Joseph Zhang is an avid long-distance hiker from the Bay Area. As a Boy Scout since the sixth grade, he goes on regular camping and biking trips with his troop and friends. He first became fascinated with backpacking after he led a week-long backpacking trip in Yosemite’s backcountry with a group of other scouts. Throughout the week of breathtaking views of the Sierras, he became motivated to streamline his pack weight to walk further with less fatigue and risk of injury. Since that trip, he has hiked on several local long-distance trails, including the John Muir Trail. He wishes to share the knowledge he picked up over the years about using technology to further the planning and enjoyments of trips.
Joseph has always been driven to help introduce technology to traditionally isolated demographics. He cofounded the nonprofit organization The Human Tech Project to further impact underprivileged children and the elderly in local communities through technology education. He has organized technology courses used across the world and is currently working with Assisting Children in Need to raise funds for computer resource centers in developing countries. He has witnessed technology’s potential to bring immense efficiency and convenience to everyday life at a low cost.
Outside of backpacking, he enjoys exploring competitive programming, website design, and computer security. He conducts research in memory forensics and malware analysis, intending to specialize in this field. Beyond academics, he likes running cross-country and playing music with his chamber orchestra. After graduation, he strives to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
Find out more about him at https://joezbub.github.io!
