It used to be so easy.

Load up the camper or the backpack. Hike or drive to a beautiful spot. Pitch a tent, paddle a canoe and enjoy that feeling of being beyond the reach of all technology.

Now, you’re likely to hear the roar of a jet ski or the noise of somebody’s in-car DVD player. At the very least, someone will be nattering on a cellphone if your campground is within the ever-growing cellular service areas.

While technology has certainly diminished some aspects of the outdoor experience, there’s no doubt that it’s also making it much safer to venture off the beaten path.

GPS receivers have now come down to under $250. The Garmin GPS 12, for example, can log 500 waypoints, and 12 reversible routes. What this means is that you will never be lost, if you have the right maps and the sense to use this gear properly.

Even if you do get lost, or separated from your party, your Family Radio Service (FRS) radio might come to your rescue. These little babies, which can be had for $50-$150 each, have a range of more than three kilometres.

Out in the backcountry, you’ll probably have the 14 channels all to yourself. We used them last winter to keep in touch at the ski areas, but the channels there are getting pretty crowded. So if you’re going into a busy environment like that, spend the extra few bucks and get radios with Privacy Codes. Then you’ll only be bothered by other radios set on the same code.

Typically there are 38 codes for each of the channels, so you’re not likely to have too many false alarms. Then again, half the fun can be eavesdropping on the rest of the world and even getting into their conversations.

My son and his teen friends discovered that you can even “make arrangements” to meet people (girls) from the FRS channels “in real life.”

Even the time-honored summer activity of stargazing has taken on a high-tech spin. Want to impress the kids with your ability to find stars and planets?

The Northstar Digital Starfinder Telescope has an onboard computer that helps you locate more than 20,000 astronomical objects, and zoom right in on them.

Canadian Tire has it for about $300.

It’s a bad time to be a fish. They’re smack in the sights of techno-weapons like the Fish Easy Fishfinder (under $200). This thing features “excellent target detail and visibility” and can track the little beasts down to 600 feet.

For the lazy or intoxicated fisherman, high-end fish finders even have alarms to wake you when the action begins.

And if there’s extra salmon around, a number of Electric Food Smokers (under $200) should do the job quite nicely. I haven’t tested any of these but the high-tech reviews are good. I know, because I checked them out at that wonderful and down-to-earth source of consumer knowledge, the Web site called Epinions.com

Perhaps the sport that has been most affected by advanced technology is high-altitude mountain climbing.

Climbs, such as the July 30, 2000, ascent of K2 by Canadian Andrew Evans, rely heavily on technology ranging from satellite phones to laptop computers and live uplinks.

“Communications technology has made it so much easier to stay in touch with home and created a lot more comfort at headquarters,” he says.

The other area he cites as being a great help is newer, lighter camping and climbing equipment such as Goretex and stronger aluminum alloys. These advances increase both the safety and efficiency of climbing teams.

Speaking of Evans, you’ll have the chance to hear him speak about his climb, which made him the third Canadian to reach the top of K2, at a breakfast on June 12. Organized by Scouts Canada, the annual Gardner Club breakfast is a major fund-raiser for the scouts, who are helping to raise the next generation of Canadians with a real appreciation of the outdoors. Tickets are available from Val Jones at 283-4993, they cost $100, and it’s a great cause.

Perhaps you’re wondering why I put so many prices into this roundup of high-tech outdoor gear.

Well, need I remind you all (and my son in particular) that June 17 is Father’s Day, and there are lots of dads just itching to have some of this gear, or a ticket to hear Andrew Evans.

So, gear up, shop up, but most of all enjoy those precious few months of summer we have here in Alberta. And do us all a favor, leave the cellphone at home.

Web Watch:
www.epinions.com