Hacker News Reader

I'm not trying to be gatekeepy or anything, but in 2009 (not so long ago), I did an "ultralight" 40-day on-and-off-road motorcycle trip without any electronics. A few years before that, I did a 10 week "backpacker without a backpack" trip with no electronics. This is still very possible.

The weight savings, the "escape from electronics" bonus... It's not nothing.

View on HN

> in 2009 (not so long ago)

That's 16 years ago...

In some places it's no longer possible to travel without a smartphone. For example, where I live you can't buy a ferry ticket without an app. So if I want to travel to another island with a motorcycle, I'll have to bring a smartphone.

I think that it's a bad trade-off. A cell phone is a literal lifeline.

Cell phones are a crutch. Us real hikers/backpackers/outdoorians don't need such hand holding as "doing it on easy mode". You look danger in the face and call for help, I look danger in in the face and I say "you ready?". We are not the same.

Why do you need to ask if you're ready? You should always be ready. Not being ready is a sign of weakness. We are not the same.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com