Technology is very hard to hide from, even on the Gunflint Trail. You might remember me registering my disgust of the I-phones and I-pods we were subjected to in Chicago a few weeks ago. I fear it will not be long before we are seeing the same thing up here. A friend of mine was visiting us this weekend and began calling people via Skype from his I-phone. It was pretty cool to see, but it gave me a startling realization of technology and avoidance.
We love the Internet. Who doesn’t? I mean you can research a subject without having to remember the Dewey Decimal System or face those nasty late fees from the library. I can search on Craig’s List for a desperately needed fishing boat to guide out of next year or even check out new recipes for fishcakes without ever leaving the kitchen table. I get it; technology is very useful.
My fear is that much like e-mail accounts and text messaging have slaughtered the English language, I-phones will ruin personal communication skills. In Chicago, many people did not talk to each other face-to-face because they were busy “texting” someone on their phones. Silently communicating with each other and constantly updating their Facebook accounts or tweets or blogs or whatever. What could they possibly be saying? “I am sitting on a bus.” “I am walking down the street.” “You should see these two hicks from Northern Minnesota sitting next to me.”
I guess I can sort of relate to this craziness. Sometimes I call people even though I know they are not going to answer the phone, because I would rather leave them a message than get stuck in a long conversation that can easily be summed up in a few seconds. This could amplify into a world of non-communicators, caused by advances in communication. Ironic huh?
I had a customer of mine talking on his satellite phone while fishing on Saganaga Lake this summer, and it was a little bit annoying. We got nasty looks from some paddlers cruising by in a canoe and I do not really blame them. Usually their nasty looks are because we are in a motorboat, but this time it was actually justified.
I asked the extremely wealthy gentleman if he absolutely had to be using his phone right now, and he replied that in his business he is always on vacation and never on vacation at the same time.
Good enough for me, we just avoided any other people the rest of the day and at least he was actually talking to the person on the other end of the line.
I know there has been a lot of talk about cell phones on the Gunflint Trail and surrounding rural areas lately, and I have to admit that my feelings are very mixed. From an emergency standpoint, there is an enormous convenience factor. Unfortunately people have an inherent ability to abuse privileges and it would eventually allow other technologies to infiltrate the wilderness as well. Time will tell.
Cory Christianson, a graduate of the University of Iowa, has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218-388-0315.
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