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Ask HN: How to combine my passion for backpacking and coding?
I have been coding in c++ for over 20 years. I have been backpacking for almost as long. I love to go out on hikes for months at a time. I also love coding. Recently writing video games in c++ and OpenGL.
I'd like to be able to combine my passion for extreme backpacking and coding but the ideas I have thought about don't seem interesting to me.
Anyone have any ideas they might want to throw out?
- azeirah 9y agoI've been thinking about traveling for a few months, while just coding random stuff on the go, making some art, work on my personal projects and perform research. Poor internet access would be an advantage for my focus as well. Sounds really fun! I believe someone who's on HN made something called "digitalnomads", IT people who maintain a travel-lifestyle long-term. You could check that out as well
- billconan 9y agoI love both too. one of my ideas was writing a social app for hikers. leave messages on map.
- jason_slack 9y agoI thought about this, but cell signal is normally not existent. I am planning an end-to-end hike of the Finger Lakes Trail (580 miles, 5-6 weeks) and there isn't cell signal for 90% of the trail. GPS signal works from a Garmin emergency device that I own. Edit: This is the device I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MY03CZP/ref=ox_sc_act_title_15?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MY03CZP/ref=ox_sc_act_t...
- Mz 9y agoTrail reviews? Trail maps? Apps that work offline and auto-update when you get back online that might be useful out on the trail? (Mileage tracker or something like that?)
- jason_slack 9y agoThis could be an interesting idea. Since cell signal is usually not available, I wonder if I can use a GPS signal? I don't know how the GPS in my phone really works. I think it must use cellular data and not a true GPS signal.
- maxerickson 9y agoMost cell phones can position just using GPS. There's a wide assortment of mapping applications that store data on the device. The cellular network is mostly used to speed up finding the first position (Assisted GPS).
- jason_slack 9y agoI'll check out apis for this. I do have a few ideas if I can position via a GPS signal only.
- ahartman00 9y agoDon't know how feasible this is, but can you get satellite internet and a hotspot? Code while you rest, hike while you think/brainstorm :)