I woke up before dawn this morning. Snow is falling, the town is quiet, the dog is snoring.

These early mornings are when I spend time with my soul in deep thought, asking questions that get pushed down once the routines of the day take over.

The question I asked this morning was this:

How can we effectively use the internet to deepen our connection to the natural world?

This is a very strange question to me because of the dichotomy represented by the "internet" and "nature". There's no such thing as Thoreau's internet. And we hope, there will never be time where nature is solely experienced through a technological framework.

For all that the internet can do for us, it's also problematic:

Trying to find information online you can trust is complicated by commercial bias and conflicts of interest.

Google "best tents of 2022" and every search result appearing on the first 5 pages is either a retailer or affiliate marketer trying to get you to buy a tent through one of their links.

Who has any authority to tell you what tent is best for you?

That's why Backpacking Light is in the business of consumer advocacy, not discretionary consumer spending on outdoor gear.

I'd rather spend my energy helping you be a smarter consumer - one who has some spending discipline, combined with knowledge of product design and materials and technology - so you can figure out for yourself what is the best tent (pack, stove, water filter, etc.) for you.

It would make me a lot happier to see you buy less stuff, use the stuff you already have, and spend your time, energy and money on developing your outdoor skills, planning trips, and walking miles.

Your awareness as a consumer, and your ability to be a wise steward of your time, money, and energy is a deep issue to consider - it has a profound impact on how you use the internet - and ultimately - how you enjoy the natural world.

I explored these issues on The Pursuit of Something Podcast with my friend Ali, where we talk about our connection to nature, the ethics of running businesses online, and our hopes and dreams for the world.

What's new this week?
 

1. We're asking our community: what have been your favorite articles from the past 5 years or so?
2. Learn how to use Gaia GPS for trip planning, navigation, and tracking in our new Gaia GPS Masterclass.
3. Shopping for backpacks anytime soon, or trying to figure out what pack to use on an upcoming trip? Check out new Backpacks Trailhead and watch the new Backpacks Q&A keynote & video event. (full disclosure: these are consumer educational resources, not shopping guides - we're not going to tell you what pack to buy...!)

Happy Trails,
Ryan J
owner/founder