[pct-l] Phone charging

Mon Feb 2 07:20:18 CST 2015

Hey Myles,

I have an android and the batteries are small.  I carry 2 extra and charge
them all up whenever I'm in town.  I've used the phone for photography,
composing my daily blog stories, internet when I have service, and reading
at night.  I've never used up all three batteries at once.  Now if I also
used it for GPS and navigation, I might want another battery or so, but as
it is, the two extra batteries are light and easy.

Shroomer

On Sun, Feb 1, 2015 at 4:17 PM, JPL <jplynch at crosslink.net> wrote:

> I'm curious about the new little chargers that you carry, sort of like
> spare batteries, but external.  They recharge your phones internal
> batteries. I don't have one but would like to.  The other thing is to keep
> your phone off when you're not using it, and particularly put it in
> airplane mode so it's not constantly searching for a cell tower.  And turn
> it off totally at night.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Wilde, Myles
> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 8:37 AM
> To: Ron Graybill ; Tom Grundy
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Phone charging
>
>
> Hi All,
> I'm curious how all you phone users keep your phone charged on multi-day
> hikes?
> Do you use solar chargers? If so, do you charge while hiking or only when
> you've stopped?  Any recommendations?
> Thanks
> Myles
>
> Sent on the new Sprint Network from my Samsung Galaxy S®4.
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Ron Graybill
> Date:02/01/2015 1:08 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: Tom Grundy
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] GPS for distance
>
> I've used most of the apps mentioned while on the PCT and they work as
> described, but for simply figuring out how far I've hiked, I just use a
> Garmin Forerunner 310XT on my wrist--gives me distance, pace, time, and
> lots of other stuff, and I've never had any problems even under trees or in
> canyons. Once I get home I can download the tracks onto Google Earth--and
> since I have Halfmile's tracks there too, I can even see exactly where I
> wandered off the trail a bit to have lunch or for some other purpose. . .
> --Ron "Slo Charger" Graybill
>
> Ronald D. Graybill
> 11832 Fordham Place
> Riverside, CA  92505
> rgraybill44 at gmail.com
> 909-910-9339
>
> On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Tom Grundy <caver456 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  Haven't tried the apps though they did seem to be a big hit on the trail
>> last year.
>>
>> One note on needing a cell connection to download maps: there are several
>> good apps that use the internal gps and also let you download (a.k.a.
>> 'cache') map tiles to your device while connected, for use while offline.
>> I like Locus Pro (android) but haven't been searching around too much.
>>
>> The google maps app does let you download tiles of its basic map layer for
>> offline use.
>>
>> Locus Pro (locus basic is free) lets you download tiles from any map
>> server
>> source, so, the possibilities are only limited by the space on your memory
>> card (and your battery life / charging system, and your willingness to
>> keep
>> your nose down in the screen).  It also takes photo and audio waypoints,
>> takes tracks and more.  Good stuff.
>>
>> Note on Locus Pro: leave the datum on WGS84 (the default), its conversions
>> to other datums (data?) are inaccurate.
>>
>> Lots of folks like Backcountry Navigator Pro.  There are others.
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 2:25 PM, walt Durling <durlfam4 at icloud.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > The two responses are good advice, but only if Shon is hiking a major
>> > trail where there are trail guides and apps as discussed. Perhaps Shon
>> > isn't planning to hike the PCT  or AT or CDT or some such where there
>> > aren't apps or mileage guides.  He might want to consider a good
>> pedometer,
>> > one which is tri-axis so can be carried on a lanyard or in a pocket.
>> They
>> > calculate calories burned, steps taken, and distance covered, both in
>> > kilometers and miles.  That said, some are more accurate than others, >
>> but
>> > online researching will reveal the better ones.
>> >
>> > I used one while training for the PCT last year, but didn't carry it on
>> > the trail because I have the iphone apps which gave exact mileage (more
>> or
>> > less).  One thing to be mindful about is that he needs to calibrate it
>> > to
>> > his normal stride, which works well on level or moderately hilly terrain
>> > where he can maintain a steady stride.  But most long trails have lots
>> > of
>> > ascents and descents which necessitate taking shorter strides. This >
>> would
>> > probably affect the mileage accuracy over many miles.  Just a thought.
>> >
>> >
>> > Sent from my iPad
>> >
>> > > On Jan 31, 2015, at 16:51, Dan Welch <welchenergy at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > "...I really want a good way to determine how many miles I hiked for
>> > > my
>> > trail journals. I'm worried that I might drop several hundred dollars on
>> a
>> > GPS unit and find that they don't correctly calculate you're distance."
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > A solid majority of the people I ran into last year (as well as > >
>> myself)
>> > used a smartphone with the Halfmile or Guthook apps.  I started with
>> > Halfmile only and picked up the Guthook app after the first few sections
>> of
>> > trail.
>> > >
>> > > They are both VERY accurate at tracking trail distances, but the
>> > Halfmile app uses the Halfmile map mileages (surprise!) which seem to
>> have
>> > become the standard (with good reason.)
>> > >
>> > > The Guthook app costs $5.99 per section and there are 5 sections
>> > (Southern, Central and Northern CA; Or; and WA.)  I picked these up >
>> after
>> > So Cal. because they do a better job of describing upcoming camping
>> areas -
>> > including pictures of each one.  BTW - The graphics on the Apple version
>> > are far superior to the Android version, but the campsite information is
>> > accurate on both.
>> > >
>> > > Just so you know, most of the smartphones today function as standalone
>> > GPS devices (GLONASS based) and don't need cell reception to give you
>> > accurate coordinates.  However, without a cell connection, you can't
>> > download a Google map for it to "locate" you on.  In other words, you >
>> can
>> > get accurate coordinates, but it will only show you as a point on a >
>> blank
>> > screen.  You have to pull out your paper or electronic topo maps to
>> utilize
>> > this information and get your trail mileage.  Thyat is kind of a pain to
>> do
>> > several times a day.
>> > >
>> > > However, the Halfmile app will immediately give you your exact trail
>> > mileage so you can locate yourself more quickly on your trail map. It
>> also
>> > gives you distances to the next landmark, water source, campsite,
>> > whatever.  If you are off trail even by 25 meters or so, it will tell >
>> you
>> > that and give you a pointer back in the direction of nearest trail. >
>> VERY
>> > handy when crossing snow fields.
>> > >
>> > > Guthook does it one better by showing your location on its own series
>> of
>> > internal topo nmaps.  So it needs no cell link to place you on the
>> > on-screen topo map and can be very handy in finding campsites and water
>> > sources that are not obviuous.
>> > >
>> > > All this to say, if you have a smartphone, I would recommend NOT
>> > bringing a standalone GPS.  It is just extra money and extra weight...
>> And
>> > it's actually far less functional.
>> > >
>> > > Timberline
>> > >
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