[pct-l] GPS?

[Ned Tibbits]

As Mango illustrates through his experiences along the trail, even when 
following tracks of others in the snow ahead of them, it is easy to get 
"off-track" and waste a lot of time wandering around looking for it.

Unless you are sufficiently far enough back in the herd to have a clear and 
deep trough to follow, a lot of the people in the forefront wander a bit 
while hiking over snow in the general direction they think they're to go.

The problem through the sierra is that below timberline, when you're hiking 
through dense or even sparse trees, the trees block your view of high 
landmarks by which you need to navigate, so it can be really easy to get 
turned around or at least head up the wrong canyon or creek fork.

Yes, a topo along with a keen awareness of your surroundings can get you 
where you want to go over snow, but you need to know how to "read" the topo, 
translating the one-dimension on paper to compare it to the three-dimension 
in front of you and you need to be attentive to the geography around you. If 
you're too busy talking in a group or just flying along not paying much 
attention, it is very easy to become "temporarily misplaced."

Above timberline, as many have said, it is easier to navigate by 
line-of-sight because you can see those high landmarks, peaks, and passes, 
identify they with the topo, and simply head toward them.

The need for the GPS comes in handy, therefore, down in the trees. Now, even 
when you're truckin' right along from Pass to Pass, mostly above timberline, 
between those passes your route will descend down into the trees, then 
further down to some big creek that you'll have to wade through, only to 
abruptly ascend back up through trees to snowline again. It is down in these 
tree-filled creek drainages that most folks get lost for a period of time. 
This is where the GPS rules. And the trees only become more numerous as your 
average elevation drops the further north you go, so if you think you can 
get by without one in the sierra, you may still need one the closer you get 
to Tahoe.

I'll never forget the day just south of Richardson Lake on the PCT/TRT west 
of Tahoe two years ago when three PCT thru hikers flew by Lady J and I as we 
were following the trail on 6 to 8 feet of snow (in late June). We were 
navigating through dense trees while traversing along a broad ridge, we 
couldn't see more than 80 feet in front of us, we had our GPS out so we 
could "see" whether the trail was to our right or left, we couldn't move 
very fast because of these situations, and we could hear these guys coming 
up through the forest behind us, crashing through branches as they came,

They needed to make the miles, so they were in a hurry. We talked briefly 
when they met us, but they didn't have it in them to stop for long. So, off 
they went, first the leader, then the followers. First they went along the 
traverse, then turned right and went toward the ridgeline. The trail didn't 
go that way, but they did. Pretty soon they came back toward us searching 
for the route, only to bisect it and drop below the trail. Pretty soon they 
came back up the slope and crossed the "trail" again and headed back up to 
the ridge. We never saw their tracks again even though we deliberately 
stayed on top of the summer trail (we were practicing how to do this) for 
the next several days!

There are several lessons to be learned from all this,
- people wander when trying to figure out where the trail is when beneath 
snow.
- haste burns a lot of energy and isn't worth it when snow-hiking.
- the old adage still applies, "Go slow to go fast."
- a GPS unit is invaluable for knowing where you are in relation to where 
the trail is when in trees.
- know how to "read" a topo map and compare what it's telling you about your 
surroundings to what you see in front of you.
- yes, any electronic device can fail, so don't solely rely on it. You can 
get through the woods on snow without one, but it takes a lot more savvy, 
experience, and training.


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jim & Jane Moody
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 5:30 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] GPS?



Daniel,

Like a lot of questions, the answer is "it depends".  If you are thru-hiking 
nobo with the herd, you probably won't need one, since by the time you get 
into the Sierra, you'll probably be with a group, one of whom might have a 
GPS.  Also, the less snow in the Sierra, the less likely you are to need 
one.



However, if you are starting very early, going sobo, going alone, and/or 
sectioning in front of the herd in a heavy snow year,  then a GPS will come 
in handy.  I didn't take one in 2010 (thru-hike attempt), but it would have 
saved some time in the Sierra.  Our "team" of 5 had 3 different sets of 
maps, a couple of compasses, and one GPS, which almost never got used. 
However, due to Shroomer getting us lost almost daily, we really should have 
used the GPS more often to save time spent zig-zagging, backtracking, and 
heading up the wrong ravine. (Just kidding, Shroomer).



In 2011 I started WAY TOO EARLY at Sonora Pass and spent the equivalent of 
several days trying to navigate with just a map & compass.  Many times I was 
frustrated and disheartened by not knowing where I was or where the trail 
was, so a GPS would have been wonderful.  In 2012 I started north from 
Chester in late July and had no navigation problems at all.  I did, however, 
carry a GPS with Halfmile's maps, tracks, a nd waypoints on it, which gave 
me a great feeling of confidence (I also carried map & compass).  I used the 
GPS frequently  to confirm what I already knew and to get practice in using 
it.



For me, I will be carrying one every time I'm on the PCT.  It's kinda like a 
first aid kit - you hope you don't need it at all, but if you need it, you 
REALLY n e ed it.  And if you get one, be sure to load Halfmile's maps, 
tracks, and waypoints.  As an alternative, y ou might try the cheapest (and 
lightest) model that only gives location in UTM coordinates , which can be 
used to determine your location on your paper map.



Good luck,

Mango







----- Original Message -----


From: "Daniel Salazar" <techtravel7 at gmail.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 5:47:36 PM
Subject: [pct-l] GPS?

Is it necessary to have a GPS on the trail or is it just extra?
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