[pct-l] GPS?

[Eric Lee]

Daniel wrote:
>
Is it necessary to have a GPS on the trail or is it just extra?
>

Mostly just extra, with the exception of hiking in extended snow conditions.
A GPS can sometimes be handy in the early-season Sierra, though the
sight-lines are usually pretty open there so it's easy to shoot headings
with a map and compass.  It can be much more handy in places like Northern
California or Oregon if you're slogging through a lot of snow because heavy
tree cover can mostly prevent the use of map and compass to figure out where
you are and where you need to go.  If there's no snow then a GPS is going to
be mostly dead weight because the trail is usually well-marked and easy to
follow.

Bottom line: it all depends on the snow situation.

Eric