[pct-l] gps search technology

[kdpo@pacbell.net (Ken & Marcia Powers)]

Having just completed the CDT I have a different view. Frequently we could
pull out the map, look at the terrain, and say we are right here on the map.

However, there were places in New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana/Idaho where there
were no distinct landmarks. We used a GPS and used the higher levels of the
coordinates to quickly locate where on the map we were. Not much different
than what you were doing with a compass. Another use was when we knew where
we were, but there was no trail on the ground. We could enter coordinates of
a junction ahead and have the GPS guide us to the location. We were never
exactly on the desired location, but close enough that we could see
somtething that would get us back on the trail. We still carried maps and
compass and know how to use them. The GPS was just another tool to use. I
don't think you need it on the PCT.  I think it was valuable on on the CDT.

Batteries - I just submitted to carrying 2 extra batteries for the GPS. We
didn't use the GPS that much so 1 extra pair of batteries was enough between
supply points.

----- Original Message -----
From: "dude" <dude@fastmail.ca>
To: <pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] gps search technology


> --
> I agree with Bob...  A map and compass will never be obsolete, and I
> would never trust my life to something that runs on batteries.  Two
> cases in point:
>
> 1.  about 2 years ago, i was out hiking with some friends and we
> passed a guy going the other way who was using a GPS.  He was very
> proud of it and wanted to show it off and was demonstrating it for
> us.  I had just looked at the map and compass and did some
> navigatining because the trail was under much snow.  He pulled out
> his map and While he was fiddling with his device, I pointed to the
> map and told my buddies, I think that we are right here.  After about
> 5 minutes of getting coordinates and looking at the maps and
> transferring information from the GPS unit to the map, he pointed to
> the exact same spot and said, "we are right here".  What's the
> point???  His GPS weighed at least 5 times more than my map and
> compass and it was vulnerable to: dead batteries, dead satelites,
> lost manuals, etc.
>
> 2.  Remember about 5-6 yesrs ago when that tiny sock in outter space
> hit a satelite and knocked out like 50% of all pagers and a
> significnt number of cell phones until they could reprogram a
> different satelite and reroute all the traffic to that one?  Well,
> what would happen if the same thing were to happen to a GPS
> satelite?  ...or a number of GPS satelites?
>
> Our whole society If a cloud of debris were to take out just 10% of
> the hundreds (if not thousands) of satelites in orbit, then our whole
> way of life in the US, Euope, and Japan would be screwed.  If you
> don't think that we rely that heavily on satelites for everyday
> functions, consider these things that are done by tons of people
> daily: phone calls, pagers, faxes, internet usage, GPS, package
> tracking, wire transfers, etc.  ...not to mention the numerous
> corporate and governmental uses that most people do not know about.
> We are so dependent on satelites and the whole thing is so
> unbelievable delicate.  TO quote the general in the movie
> Wargames: "I wouldn't trust that overgrown pile of microchips any
> further than I could throw it."  If you wanna see just exactly how
> many satelites we depend on, here is a link to a NASA site that shows
> a 3D model of over 500 satelite orbits:
> http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTime/JTrack/3D/JTrack3D.html  <--
> every white spec is a satelite.
>
>
> ...2 cents
>
> peace,
> dude
>
> > --
> > [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> > CMountainDave wrote:
> > "Read a story in the paper that gps devices that will easily
> > locate you AND, in case you need rescue, send for help, is
> > becoming widely available to outdoor enthusiasts. "No more search
> > in search and rescue" said the headline. May soon be required to
> > carry such devices ($200) to save government the cost used to
> > locate you if need rescue in an out of the way place. System has
> > already saved many lives, such as snowmobilers in Alaska when
> > their vehicles broke down and they faced a 3 day walk at -35
> > Becoming lost may soon be an impossibility and a compass obsolete.
> > Will take some of the fun out of cross country travel knowing
> > orientation skills are becoming trumped by technology about to be
> > widely used, if not required."
> >
> >
> >
> > I humbly submit the following:
> >
> > Backwoods theory:  " NEVER TRUST YOUR LIFE TO SOMETHING THAT RUNS
> > ON BATTERIES."
> >
> > Backwoods corollary:  "NEVER TRUST YOUR LIFE TO BACK-UP BATTERIES
> > EITHER"
> >
> > Backwoods logic:      "MAPS AND COMPASSES ARE NEVER OBSOLETE.
> > NATURE RARELY MAKES MAJOR TOPOGRAPHICAL CHANGES" (Mt St Helens not
> > withstanding)
> >
> > Backwoods common sense:  "ANY NAVIGATIONAL DEVICE, ELECTRONIC OR
> > OTHERWISE, IS WORTHLESS IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT PROPERLY.
> >
> >
> > As someone once intoned while lost at sea, "Dear Lord, the sea is
> > so big and my boat is so small." Ditto for the wilderness.
> >
> > Wandering Bob
> > _______________________________________________
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