The (Lost) Art of Exploration
Exploration by bike
I realize this post is going to sound like old man talk and not everyone will agree, but I’ve been thinking about this topic quite a bit recently. First, a little old-man background for context. I grew up in an era before smart phones and it was a pretty huge deal when we got our first personal computer in our home. I’m so old that I even started out without the internet when I was young, running programs off floppy disks (yikes!). It’s almost unimaginable to think about functioning in an era before smart phones. I was also a die-hard distance runner and it was rare for me to go a day without running in my teens and especially my college years. These experiences have shaped my perspective on this topic of exploration.
Exploration, what am I talking about? I’m not talking about first ascents of mountains or first discoveries in the classic sense of the term exploration that are often associated with super-human people. I’m talking about everyday spontaneous exploration where very little, if anything is planned out in advance. Stepping out a front door with running/walking gear on and just deciding where to go on the fly. Maybe there are streets or trails that you have never explored so you decide to check them out. That is everyday exploration and I think it has been lost with the advent of portable technology. These days people research everything in advance, looking at pictures on social media and planning routes and itineraries ahead of time.
I’m not saying that all technology is bad. It’s pretty amazing that we have so many tools available to help plan outdoor recreation. We have weather apps that help us prepare for conditions. We have route planning apps that help us plan where to go for a bike ride or run/walk. We have navigation apps to keep us staying on the route. We have fitness trackers to help track heart rate, speed, elevation etc. We have emergency communication devices that can help save lives. These are all amazing tools to have in the tool-kit, but I’m wondering if people loose sight of the forest through the trees with all of this technology? When was the last time you just turned all of that stuff off and just went for a run/walk or bike ride? I’ve heard people say things to the effect of “I feel naked without my phone/GPS”. We loose the art of raw exploration surrounded by technology.
I sometimes like to poke fun at folks who blindly follow a GPS (and they reciprocate when I pull out my paper maps), but the reality is that GPS has made our world much easier to get around in. Is there a down-side though? By not engaging our brains as much for navigational tasks do we risk loosing some important skills? In January of 2023 a study was published https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/finding-a-new-way-to-train-the-brain-orienteering/ about brain health and the sport of orienteering. This article is worth the quick read. Orienteering is a navigation racing sport most similar to cross country running races with the difference being that there is no marked course to follow, only checkpoints in the terrain and each competitor must navigate with paper map and compass visiting all checkpoints marked on the map in the quickest time possible. It’s a sport that I’ve participated in since 2004 and I really enjoy the challenge of it. It really is exploration without technology at the core of it.
So what are some steps to take to regain this lost art of exploration?
The first step might be to go outside and explore and leave the tech at home. This is especially good for areas that you are familiar with already such as near home or work.
Another step could be to do all driving without GPS. I like to look up destinations in advance and try to memorize my driving route so that I don’t use turn-by-turn navigation.
If you are going into unfamiliar terrain such as on a hike or bike ride, maybe try navigation with a paper map and keep the phone/GPS as a backup?
Look into finding an orienteering event near you. Start here for more information about the sport in the US: https://orienteeringusa.org/
We have turned the clock onto another year and have 2025 ahead of us. It’s a good opportunity to learn something new. Why not reengage those brain muscles and try some good old fashion exploration for a change? Happy New Year and may 2025 be filled with new adventures!
Challenge yourself to learn map and compass navigation skills in 2025
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