[pct-l] device advice

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

Matt Wrote:

"Navigation on the PCT is easy and quite frankly could be done without 
aide of a map, compass, or GPS.

There is no substitute for "common sense"."

---------------------------

I agree completely with the second statement, but not at all with the first, Matt.

Maybe you can get away without map and compass on the vast majority of the trail, but there was little or no trail tread visible around the passes in the Sierras in JULY last year (granted a big snow year).  I used map and compass often to determine where the trail ought to be when the footprints in the snow were inconsistent, or when I came off the snow and the trail was no where to be seen.   Also, I can't imagine people going into the San Jacintos when the trail is still covered in snow without map and compass AND KNOWING HOW TO USE THEM.  An absence of both led to Seabreeze's death in '05.

L-Rod




-----Original Message-----
>From: matt maxon <matt at mattmaxon.com>
>Sent: Mar 6, 2007 11:58 AM
>To: Catherine Worth <ceworth at earthlink.net>
>Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] device advice
>
>Katie
>You can get just as lost, or even more so with a GPS.
>
>Navigation on the PCT is easy and quite frankly could be done without 
>aide of a map, compass, or GPS.
>
>There is no substitute for "common sense".
>
>All that aside you need a map to locate yourself, after determining your 
>location with a GPS.
>
>Some GPS units are "mapping" GPS while others are not. Mapping means 
>there is software with some sort of map to help locate you.
>
>Garmin has several different models, I'd go with a Etrex Vista CSx & 
>Mapsource TOPO USA and a 1 GB micro Sd memory card
>
>You can download the entire western US Cd to the unit then
>
>Just remember to have extra batteries
>
>Have Fun - Be safe
>Trail90
>
>
>
>Catherine Worth wrote:
>> Hi hikers,
>> I had been planning to hike the old-fashioned map-and-compas way, but my grandmother seems to feel I'll be much less likely to get lost and be eaten by a bear if I carry a gps device. She is insisting on buying me one for her own peace of mind. Any advice on what device might be best for a thru-hike?
>> Thank you mucho mucho mucho,
>> Katie
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