computer access along trail???help

[bewildered]

This question is geared toured past thru hikers of the past 3 years. I guess yogi’s guidebook could help me answer these questions, but I figured that this would be a great place to seek more then just the normal written answer.

Sadly succumbing to the digital age, I find myself rethinking the products that I am bringing on my 08 NOBO hike. I have a digital camera and a cell phone now, both require computers (USB hookups) to recharge them. So what towns have public computer access, or hostels, and what sections of the trail don’t have public computer access for long durations of time?

Thanks for any and all help.

Pease, love, & Johnny cash
Bewildered SOBO AT 05

[chai guy]

Hey There,

I actually started to compile a list of towns with computers in my notebook as I hiked in 2006 but eventually gave up because of the differences in what those computers would actually allow someone to do. What I mean is, that while a town might have a public computer available to you, that computer might not (and frequently WILL NOT) allow you to do such things as download information to it via a usb device. (for security and virus protection reasons, naturally).

Also, I often found that when a computer would allow me to offload my photos from my digital camera, actually transferring those photos to my flickr page or emailing to a friend took a prohibitive amount of time (keeping in mind that you often be accessing a public computer in a library which restricts usage time from anywhere to from 15 minutes to an hour if you're lucky).

So what to do?

Well, fortunately digital camera cards are incredibly affordable these days. You should be able to purchase enough cards for your entire trip, and they don't really weigh anything.

But what if you want to share photos while you're still on your hike?

I just mailed my full cards to a friend who would then upload my photos to my flickr page and to my blog for everyone to see. I mailed them priority mail with receipt and never lost one. I wouldn't mail multiple cards in the same package to guard against potential lost (if a package does get lost, it would just be one card).

I also mailed my friend my hand written journal pages which she then scanned and uploaded to my blog as well.

Ok, but what if you're paranoid? Some friends on my PCT hike took one of these devices, a DM220-Plus
http://webbuilder2.asiannet.com/1628/comm/upimage/p_070622_05086.jpg
http://webbuilder2.asiannet.com/1628/comm/upimage/p_070622_05086.jpgthem
It's a portable DVD backup device, just plug in your digital camera's memory card and a blank DVD, press the button and it copies the information on the card directly to the DVD no computer needed. You can then mail that DVD to a friend to be uploaded on your blog/Flickr page or just have them keep it as a back-up. You can lug the whole device or just keep it in a bounce bucket, or have that friend mail it to you when your memory cards get full.

Finally, how to recharge those devices that require a USB? Get one of these for only $20.00
http://store.makezine.com/v/vspfiles/photos/MKMINTY-2.jpg
http://store.makezine.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKMINTY&Show=ExtInfo


Trail Towns where I used a computer:
Warner Springs- Free Computer inside the resort
Big Bear City- Inside coffee Shop $$
Wrightwood- Free Computer inside Library
Agua Dulce- Free Computer @ Hiker Heaven
Mojave- Free Computer @ Library & Computer available for guests of the Best Western Motel.
Independence- Free Computer in Library & pay computer in coffee shop $$
Mammoth- Free Computer inside Library
Lake Tahoe- Free Computer inside Library
Old Station- Free Computer @ Trail Angels
Ashland Oregon- Free Computer inside busy Library, very limited time, but you can get back in line if and go again if needed.

hope this helps.