Is Technology Good for Your Chances at Outdoor Survival?
The New York Times recently reported that having technology in the wilderness does not guarantee you success in a survival situation. This is true. Technology can instill a false sense of confidence or security in you, which can lead you to serious injury or death in the case of malfunction, loss, or overconfidence. While having the right advanced technology can be highly effective when it is functional and used properly (an avalanche beacon is a Good example), what is even more important is ensuring that you have the right knowledge to be prepared for the worst, to avoid accidents before they happen, and to know what to do when and if an accident does take place.
Books like this one can save your life.
Always do your best to prepare yourself so that you don’t need fancy technology to get you out of a bind. Build your skill set by studying books on your activity as you get more and more advanced (the eighth edition [50th anniversary!] of the classic mountaineering text Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, now available for pre-order, is a great reference for mountaineers of all ability levels). Surround yourself with those who are highly experienced and trained at what you are doing, and use every opportunity to learn from them. If you don’t know people who are highly skilled at survival, rescue, or the basics of how to do your activity of choice safely, take a course.
REI offers free excellent programming that, while not as in-depth as a course, help prepare you to be safe in the outdoors. The REI website has a list of all of the upcoming Denver programs here and the Boulder ones here. Three notable programs happening in September include:
- Maps, Compasses, & Orienteering: Denver, 1PM 9/3/10 & 1PM 9/17/10 (FREE)
- How to Climb a 14er/High Altitude Hikes: Boulder, 7PM 9/14/10 & Denver, 7PM 9/16/10 (FREE)
- 3-Season Survival Skills: Denver, 7PM 9/15/10 (FREE)
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is renowned for its wilderness education courses. NOLS offers courses in rock climbing, mountaineering, skiing, backpacking, wilderness medicine, and more on trips all over the world. The average age of NOLS students is 19-20, but there is no maximum age limit for taking a course. For a full list of NOLS courses, click here.
If you want a truly hardcore survival course, look into the Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS). BOSS specifically rejects technology, taking you into the wilderness “with little more than a knife, a water bottle, a blanket, and a poncho.” Based out of Boulder, CO, BOSS offers its 7, 14, and 28-day courses on outdoor survival in the similarly-named Boulder, UT.
Whether you’re a hiker or a biker, climber or kayaker, educate yourself and be prepared so you stay safe, have fun, and keep on living the Good life!
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For a Good book about how more technology is not always better in life, check out Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology.
