[pct-l] GPS

[Scott Williams]

And just to dovetail with you Trail Hacker, I'm one of those who really
like the Garmin Etrex 20.  It's small and light and with some help from Why
Not and HalfMile, I even got it going and learned to use it.  On the CDT
last year it was invaluable for minimizing the amount of backtracking I had
to do.  I'd never used one before, and don't think I'd take it on the PCT,
should I hike it again, unless it was a big snow year.  It would be
invaluable then.

Shroomer

On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 7:07 PM, Anthony Biegen <ajbiegen at gmail.com> wrote:

> Michele wrote:
>
> >What is the best gps to take on the PCT
>
> Well you're going to be overwhelmed by the nay-sayers on GPS. On my first
> time hiking the PCT (interrupted) some carried GPS, some did not. Those
> that did often complained about those that did not glommed on to their
> group once they found out they had a GPS while going through areas with
> snow. They didn't mind so much that they were following them but that they
> often pushed ahead of them thinking that they knew where they were going,
> only to go off trail and have to be called back on. Very annoying. Kind of
> like those drivers on the freeway who insist on being right on your rear
> bumper, then switch lanes trying to pass you so they are "winning", only to
> find themselves behind you breathing down your exhaust pipe again.
>
> That said, I brought my GPS but rarely had to look at it. Had it turned off
> most of the time. Marked where I camped for my own interest.  A few times I
> did look at it where there was a confusing intersection, often at a road
> crossing. I was never more than 20 feet off the trail. My SO does not carry
> a GPS and although she was at times miles off the trail, prefers that to
> knowing exactly where to place every step.
>
> And since, once again, no one really answered your question, here's my
> take. I have a Delorme PN-40 that I got because it is the easiest to read
> in the sunshine; and you will be reading it in the sunshine so that is
> important. It also allows more waypoints than other units. Unfortunately
> they use their own maps which makes it difficult to use with paper maps
> like HalfMile's maps. Many people like the Garmin units. I find them too
> hard to read in daylight but they do use standard maps.
>
> Full disclosure - on my last section of the PCT I sent my GPS home at the
> first opportunity and used Guthook's app on my iphone along with HalfMile's
> printed maps. I also had the first edition of Half Mile's app on my phone.
> I was very happy with the way it worked out.
> --
> Best,
>
> TrailHacker
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.
>