Ah, hiking. There’s nothing like being out in the great outdoors, enjoying the fresh air, taking in the scenery and getting away from it all. The downside is that “getting away from it all” can often mean the inconvenice of doing without an internet connection. Technophobes may roll their eyes but having internet access in the wilderness can be extremely useful.
You can check weather reports, view maps and keep friends and family updated on your progress. Workaholics may want to stay on top of a pet project or be available via email. The internet also provides engaging passtimes for when you’re done walking and just want to relax: imagine joining your regular online poker tournament from your seat by the campfire. Fortunately, there are plenty of options if you want to stay connected in the wilderness.
First of all, you may still be able to jump onto public wifi. As long as you’re not too far removed from civilisation, you might just be able to pick up a signal from that pub back down in the valley. Next there’s your mobile phone; this can be set up as a mobile wifi hotspot. Once upon a time this might have required a lot of complicated jailbreaking shenanigans but nowadays many smartphones come with a hotspot function that makes it easy to get online.
Keep an eye on your data, though — using your phone as a hotspot can be expensive. For those who want to take their broadband internet with them on their adventures, a WiMAX device may be the answer. If you’re really planning to go off the beaten track, a cellphone signal may simply not be available. That’s when you need to switch to satellite internet. These systems aren’t cheap; expect to pay upwards of £300 for the hardware alone. Come on, though — how else are you going to play online poker in the rainforest?