[pct-l] Phone charging
Dan Welch
welchenergy at gmail.com
Mon Feb 2 14:56:39 CST 2015
I used Shroomer's exact strategy for the PCT last year. I carried 2 extra batteries for my Android phone, but never used up more than one spare, even in the Sierras during 7 day stints. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and left it in Airplane Mode except for once or twice a day in locations where I felt I might get cell reception. (You get pretty good at predicting those after a while.) The GPS on my Samsung phone worked even in Airplane mode, so I was able to use the Halfmile or Guthook app on demand. (On iPhones, you must take it out of Airplane mode to use the GPS.) I looked at Halfmile maps on screen; I listened to a lot of tunes during the day; I blogged at night. I had had no problems with battery life and recharged in town stops. I found this an easier and lighter weight strategy than carrying a solar charger. It worked well for me, but everyone has different needs...
Timberline
-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott Williams
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 8:20 AM
To: JPL
Cc: <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Phone charging
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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