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Living better electronically

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I just bought a Z Fold 7, which opens up to the size of a mini tablet. The thing is great for tripping. With careful use, a 20K mAh will last a couple of weeks. This means it's on airplane mode continuously and generally turned off completely. It's waterproof to a half meter for 30 minutes. And honestly, if I dropped it in 2 meters of water, I'd probably never find it anyway. So:
1. I use Gaia maps with the basic plan, which cost me $50 for 5 years. This has a wealth of different map layers. I trade waypoints and routes with my friends, and these .gpx files work with Garmin too, minimizing the time spent on that horrendous Basecamp software.
2. I just found a free website called POI Factory and downloaded 180 Points Of Interest along the Allagash River. Each campsite has a lengthy description about the amenities. It also has airstrips and portages and other interesting stops.
3. I paired it with my Olympus TG-7 waterproof camera. So now my phone is like a remote; I can start and stop recordings remotely, take selfies and group photos from across the camp, and download pix to my phone immediately for better viewing.
4. For navigating, I only turn it on to check my position and upcoming points, or add a waypoint. If I want to record tracks or use a trip computer, I dust off the old Garmin.
5. The most battery intensive use is my Kindle app. But it's nice having a library of books to read now and again.
6. Back to charging: I read somewhere that solar chargers are excess weight unless you are on a trip of more than 30 days. You should do alright with a couple of power banks.
7. So what about dropping it? When I'm out on a windy lake and want to check the map, I get very nervous. But I just ordered an accessory D-ring so I can add a lanyard.
8. All these features in one easy- to-lose package. I think about that all the time.
 
I've been doing pretty much the same for several years now with my Fuji waterproof camera, cellphone carried in a dry pouch, and Inreach for backup. I've been pleasantly surprised by how robust all this tech has been so far, but won't stop carrying printed maps and compass.

What the tech does though is save time spent navigating and keeping records. Recorded tracks also tell a tale of channel shifts in meandering streams. Maybe of interest only to me but you never know, and it doesn't cost anything.

Having books on the Kindle app is a bonus - especially with early darkness in shoulder seasons.
 
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