[pct-l] GPS

[jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net (Jeff Moorehead)]

Ken,
 I'm planning to make a lightweight solar power unit for the the Garmin 60CS 
using solar panels. I am trying this for the first time (somebody suggested 
making a parasol out of the panels-- we'll see). I'll let you know how it 
comes out. I think Garmin will switch between batteries and DC current as I 
often take mine in the car and attach it to the DC charger but it continues 
to function when the DC source is removed. This could seriously cut down on 
battery drain. But it might look ridiculous...
 Jeff

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Powers" <kdpo@gottawalk.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>; <adrian.borner@ch.abb.com>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] GPS


>I am impressed by your battery usage. What batteries are you using?  I 
>carry
> a Garmin GPSMAP 60CS when hiking around home. It goes through a set of
> alkaline batteries in just over a day if I leave it on all the time. We 
> plan
> to carry it on the ADT with lithium batteries and not turn it on unless we
> need it.
>
> Ken
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <adrian.borner@ch.abb.com>
> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 11:23 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] GPS
>
>
>
> If you have proper maps and/or the guide book you do not need a map. Still
> sometimes it can be helpful and in one case it got me out of a dangerous
> situation. Walking southbound alone also was easier with the GPS since the
> remarks in the guide book cannot always be turned around that easily. When
> I used it most is after I took a turn and all of a sudden I was not sure
> anymore if I was really on the right path. Even with the map it then was
> often difficult to say where I was, especially in a forest and for sure I
> could not properly remember how the intersection 5 minutes ago looked 
> like.
> When I really was glad I had my GPS was on Goat Rocks. It was foggy, 
> strong
> wind and rain respectively sleet. Going South I somehow missed the cairns
> indicating that I should turn left. Shortly afterwards I did see some huge
> cairns and thought they were indicating the turn off. By taking a left at
> the cairns I lost my trail. Both my compasses did not work (the rocks must
> have been full of iron?) and it was late in the afternoon. At least with
> the GPS I was able to work out if I was walking back to the trail or away
> of it. Finally I got back to the trail and by backtracking it I did find
> the tiny cairns and the snow field I had to cross. I was running down the
> mountain in order to gain some warms. That was a scary experience. 
> Although
> I did see people before I got up high, including a father with his young
> son, which told me I should be able to cross the ridge, I did not see
> anybody after that for more than a day.
> Battery use is not too much of an issue. With my Garmin eTrex Legend I 
> used
> approx. one set of batteries per month. I always had 2 spare batteries 
> with
> me which I used either for the GPS or my MP3 player. On the AT I did not
> take my GPS.
> Matterhorn AT01, WA-OR04
>
>
>
>
>
>
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