[at-l] Digital Photos

[janl2 at mindspring.com (janl2@mindspring.com)]

>I have a question for those who use a digital camera while on the trail:  Do
>the computers at most of the libraries have CD burners?  I am just wondering
>if I would be able to download my photos without sending the media cards
>home.  I don't want to email the images because that would take hours or
>possibly days with my dial up modem.  I did buy four 256MB cards so I could
>ship them home and wait for their return but it would be nice to not have to
>do that.  How have others managed to handle this?
>Lwop

LWOP,
there may be CD burners out there, but I never saw them.

I kept a series of CF cards in rotation and mailed them home. You really don't have much time in libraries, folks are always waiting.

The mailer system worked surprisingly well. I would sent them Priority in the Tyvek envelopes, and inside that I would use a carboard Priority envelope because you can pre-pay those (apparently, you can't pre-pay the Tyveks.) . My CF card went into the unsealed cardboad envelope, which was pre-addressed by me to a PO up the AT. I knew my schedule and pace, so it was best that I addressed them myself.

That way my photo support person could download the CF card, drop in the cardboard envelope, and drop it in the mail. I wanted the volunteer/helper process to be as swift, hassle-free and financially painless as possible.

The only time I outran my film was in the Whites. I shot so many pictures! Hard not to. In Caratunk, it was looking like I might get to katahdin without "film!" That wouldn't do, not at all. I had to buy 2 extra 64 CF cards at Walmart, and did I pay! There are much better bargains on the web. But, I wouldn't trade those blue-sky, ear-split-grinning Katahdin photos for anything.

I think I carried 3 128s and a 16 CF card (it came with the camera). That was plenty until...sigh...Franconia Ridge. I also carried my (light) Canon battery charger and two batteries. On the AT, re-charge opportunities are frequent, and I don't think I used my second battery more than ten times. Just don't walk off down the road and forget your charger at the hostel or restaurant! I kept my charger baggie out, in plain sight, on my pack, to remind me.

It's a problem for digital users, how to download while hiking. I know some folks have other methods, bouncing ahead small devices to download into.  Perhaps in the future there will be a kinship network of photo "transcribers" just as old AT hands are turning out to transcribe for the newbies. 

And I echo Wench's words.
Have great walks, you '04 hikers. Fly, be free!
Nostalgic Shoe
AT '03