[pct-l] Navigation Skills? // Re: Pct-L Digest, Vol 100, Issue 9

Sat Apr 9 08:47:10 CDT 2016

I carried Halfmile's paper maps the entire trail last year, and had his app
as well.  I would not hike without paper maps and compass.

Rich/Roadwalker

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
TBrokaw at montmush.com
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2016 12:02 PM
To: jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net; Pct-L
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Navigation Skills? // Re: Pct-L Digest, Vol 100, Issue
9

Great comment.  I always carry a compass & as many printed maps as possible
in addition to GPS or smart phone App.  It would be interesting to survey
hikers to learn how many are using which (printed maps, smart phone, GPS &
in what combination).  But my observations are that most thru hikers are
using primarily smart phone.  In 2014, I carried only printed maps.  In
2015, I added the smart phone app.  But I learned a big lesson when my phone
died on the trail (soaked during the storm we had in early April).  If I had
not had printed maps as back-up, I would have been hiking blind (in the
snow).  Fortunately, I only lost photos.  I will continue to carry the app
but will not rely on it.

I totally agree that map & compass are a necessity.  And they are of little
value if you don't know how to use them.  The difficulty with printed maps
is the weight.  I wonder how many people actually carry printed maps?

Tom Brokaw
Corporate Project Manager
Monterey Mushrooms
777 Maher Ct
Royal Oaks, CA 95076-9014
C: 831-535-2181
O: 831-274-5520

From:   <jcil000-hiker at yahoo.com>
To:     "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>, 
Date:   04/08/2016 10:43 AM
Subject:        [pct-l] Navigation Skills? //  Re: Pct-L Digest, Vol 100, 
Issue 9
Sent by:        Pct-L <pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net>

I've seen poor advice posted on this board regarding navigation
skills.Specifically, I've seen ignorant advice stating that a packer doesn't
needto worry about navigation on the PCT because "you can't get lost."
I wanted to help those of you wondering about the subject with someadvice: 
you need to learn how to navigate using a map/compass ANDa gps. And keep in
mind, most outdoors experts consider the map/compassthe primary tool of
navigation and the gps as a secondary back up.
Navigation is simply the art of not getting lost. And people do die once
gettingoff trail. If a packer is following the single track, then chances
are in his favor.But once off that track for whatever reason, you can get
into trouble.
The following links might offer some insight. In both cases, the backpacker
diedonce off the trail and lost. They're not the only cases. 
The first link takes you to the case of John Donovan who went missing inthe
mountains above Palm Springs, CA, while north bounding on the PCT.He was
missing for one year before being found by other hikers.Death on San Jacinto
Peak

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Death on San Jacinto Peak
 The search for John Donovan had hit a dead end. Until a pair of lost 
hikers found a miracle clue.  |   |

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The second link takes you to a more recent backpacker death that
happenedwhen a woman went off train while north bounding the Appalachian
Trail in Maine.She was missing for two years before being found nearly a
mile off trail by a land survey team.
Geraldine Largay died of exposure on Appalachian Trail, autopsy finds - The
Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

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Geraldine Largay died of exposure on Appalachian Trail, autopsy finds -
The...
 The remains found this month are confirmed to be those of the Tennessee 
woman.  |   |

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In both cases, navigation skills were lacking. John Donovan was a
notoriouslyunskilled person in navigation according to those who knew him. 
 Geraldine Largaydied just 3,000 feet off the trail in dense forrest while
unable to find her way despitehaving prepared her trip in minute detail as
far as rest stops, re-supply, and gear.But I couldn't find anything in her
story that related to her navigation gear. 
Be safe. Learning the map / compass isn't really hard to do. Buy a good one
for $70.Then using a self taught book, go learn to use it in your local
county park. You don't even need to take a formal class.
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