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Wi-Fi in the wilderness

I am told there are places on this Earth, inaccessible to wireless airwaves and free of the radiation and radio frequency fields from electronic devices.

I am told there are places on this Earth, inaccessible to wireless airwaves and free of the radiation and radio frequency fields from electronic devices.

Some of these dead zones are in Northwestern Ontario and I will be heading for one wireless-free oasis later this month.

I am looking forward to a peaceful family picnic and camping trip at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

From what I understand, there is no Wi-Fi available in that particular corner of the wilderness.

We didn’t choose this location because of its wireless-free status – it just so happens that all areas of the park are Google-free and Internet intolerant.

But to a new generation of younger campers, pitching a tent without access to the World Wide Web is unthinkable, unadvisable and definitely not awesome.

Ontario has been trying Internet service in a select few locations since 2010 but has no immediate plans to turn our parks into Internet cafés.

This is a relief to the tree-hugging lobby but wired-in campers wouldn’t dream of sleeping in the boreal forest without an Internet connection.

But for those who prefer to live better electronically there is another recreational option where you can have your campfire and Google it, too.

Parks Canada plans to offer Wi-Fi at a few dozen hot spots in some key national parks this year.

This will eventually expand to 100 sites as they try to attract a younger, more connected group of outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether it’s the natural beauty of Gros Morne, N.L. (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or the snowy mountains of Banff, Googling is encouraged.

This is in response to specific customer requests and the reasoning seems to defy conventional camping logic.

Virtual campers say they need their Wi-Fi so they can keep in touch with work, friends and family while they are roughing it.

They’re missing the point – unless I’m mistaken, the great outdoors is supposed to be an escape from work and family and all the other irritations in life.

Haven’t these unhappy campers ever heard of getting away from it all?

How can they relax around the campfire when they are regularly disturbed by the obnoxious ring of an iPhone or some other vibrating pocket gizmo.

I don’t need electronic aids for peace of mind when I’m camping – I rely on the sunrise every morning, the wind in the trees and the call of the loon at night.

But I’m just an old-fashioned guy, unlike modern day geeks and wizards who feel the need to stream everything they do live on social media.

Some park patrons even said they need Wi-Fi to check a security camera they are using to secretly spy on their kids or their babysitters in their own homes.

If this trend is the way of the future, the good ol’ days of sittin’ around the fire singin’ songs and roastin’ weenies will never be the same.

In the shadows of every campsite, just beyond the flicker of the fire, you will see that eerie electronic glow of an iPhone as somebody tries to discretely check their calls.

In those calm, quiet moments when you are looking at the stars and contemplating life you will hear the incessant click, click, click of desperate texters.

How can they expect to get away from it all when they bring it all with them?

There is nothing virtual about our very real natural surroundings and Mother Nature doesn’t need those annoying electronic toys to keep us happy, healthy and entertained.

She still presides over the most amazing show on the planet.

How much Wi-Fi do you want in your wilderness?

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