Do you use GPS? - Page 3 - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Xanne · 06-15-2005, 02:01 PM

I am going camping at Guadalupe River State Park next week and I was thinking of buying an inexpensive GPS. I understand the theory that makes these little devices work, but I am clueless as to how you operate them. I was planning on hiking the trails of the park when I get there but I wasn't sure if I needed to buy a topo map of the area. My GPS doesn't have maps, I think it just give directions, waypoints, etc. How do these things work? Do I take a bearing and then plot it on a topo map? The park map that the park rangers will give you don't have any coordinates so those won't work will they? I hate to sound so inept, but I sure would appreciate any help.
Thanks.

Shannon · 06-15-2005, 02:33 PM

My primary hiking GPS has topo maps built in to it, but you don't need them for general route-finding. Even the most basic of GPS's will plot your path as you travel and that way even if you feel lost, all you do is follow your "breadcrumbs" (in this case, on the GPS) back to your starting point. I usually make a waypoint for the trailhead I begin at, or my car. A waypoint is just telling the GPS "Hey, take a reading right now and save it." You usually get to name the waypoint, so it'd be something like "Start" or "Car" or "Campsite" or whatever. Most GPS units have a "Go To/Route To" function so once you have that starting point, anytime you want to return you'd call up that function and tell the GPS to start routing you back to it.

That's a real basic description. I generally don't carry topo maps, but that's because I'm not backpacking and I'm familiar with the trails I'm on (more or less). I've used the GPS to scout around areas and "map" trails that are informal so I have a visual representation of where they actually go -- even a basic GPS with no topo/good maps, with the track data and the right software (some of which is freeware/shareware downloadable online) you can correlate your track to maps after the fact.

Guadalupe's trails have a few places you could get slightly turned around, but there's minimal getting lost potential. I say get a cheap GPS, turn it on and let it acquire signal, and start walking. Soon you'll have a mapped trail of where you've been and you can wander with the knowledge you know how to get back where you started. Bear in mind in tree cover the signal accuracy drops slightly, and acquisition time increases, so they generally get you in the vicinity of where you want to go but not right on top of it (hence the popularity of geocaching -- there's still some hunting and scouting to be done for the caches that are hidden).

I'll answer more when my late lunch isn't getting cold on my desk.

Xanne · 06-16-2005, 02:16 PM

(hence the popularity of geocaching -- there's still some hunting and scouting to be done for the caches that are hidden).

Thanks for the info Shannon.....
Now tell me. What's geocaching?

Shannon · 06-16-2005, 02:30 PM

Check out our Geocaching Forum here or visit the official website Geocaching.com to find out!

The short answer is it's sort of like treasure hunting, but the treasure isn't buried and instead of a paper "treasure map" you're armed with GPS coordinates that have been published, which you use your GPS to help you locate to find the treasure. The fun is in finding the cache, not so much in any real value of the treasure (people put kids' toys, keyrings, and other small items in caches.) They have logfiles in them so people can say, "I was here! I found it!"

Any specific questions I can clear up regarding your Guadalupe River trip? Most folks use GPS's to keep them from getting to far afield from established trails. It definitely takes more GPS skill, coupled with map and compass skills, to do true bushwhacking (hiking/backpacking where there are no published trails) and not get hopelessly turned around or stuck on a ridgeline with no easy way down (except for that long drop with the sudden stop at the end kind!)

Xanne · 06-17-2005, 07:13 AM

Any specific questions I can clear up regarding your Guadalupe River trip?

As for Guadalupe River park.... I have this really great inflatible raft. Pretty big, about 10 feet long. I was thinking of taking a raft trip down the river. If I were to put in at the park, do you think I could make it to Canyon Lake in one day? Do you know if there are any shuttle services that could bring me back to the park?
Thanks

Shannon · 06-17-2005, 04:46 PM

There are some rapids just at the park border -- that big a raft might be a challenge/hassle with the rocks, especially if the river's running a little low. I haven't been there in a month or so to confirm. I usually don't see many inflatables making a go of it (except for the usual daytime fun within the park), due to the relatively low water level there, the rapids and rocks not far downstream.

Not being a kayaker or canoeist myself, I can't comment on float/paddle times or access points beyond the park. I've hiked up to the park boundary sign on the river frontage in Guadalupe River SP but no further. That said, I've seen kayakers and canoeists occasionally on it so I presume it's passable. But don't know about a large inflatable vs. something with a thicker hide.

SKOT FREE · 06-18-2005, 01:26 PM

I use the Garmin E-Trex Vista. I download 24 k Topos from Mapsorce Software. The G.P.S. is invaluable when it comes to finding water sources in the desert. There is a data base that has many points of interest, Manmade features as well as Water and Land features. The machine can give you a heading as well as the distance to your desired waypoint. It is wise to become proficient in Map and Compass navigation and also to be familiar with some basic celestial and dead rekoning skills. G.P.S.s range in price from around a hundred dollars to several thousands, I guess it depends on how lost you want to be.

AGAYSIN · 01-06-2006, 11:43 AM

Hello ALL,
I need a map of Houston for my GARMIN. Could you help me? I'm from Russia and I'm going to Houston in next month. Also I need a map of Texas if you have got it. Let me know if you may email me zipped img files. Thank you!

Shannon · 01-06-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGAYSIN

Hello ALL,
I need a map of Houston for my GARMIN. Could you help me? I'm from Russia and I'm going to Houston in next month. Also I need a map of Texas if you have got it. Let me know if you may email me zipped img files. Thank you!

Can you not purchase the U.S. maps online at Garmin.com? Because what you are asking is against U.S. copyright laws, since the maps are not public domain and must be purchased from Garmin (either at time of sale of the Garmin unit, or as software CD's one can buy online at retailers such as Amazon.com, as well as Garmin's own website.)

I realize the expense may be a turn-off, but if I were travelling to Russia I'd not expect a Russian Garmin owner to share their commercially obtained maps with me.

toejam · 01-07-2006, 07:53 AM

See if you can find something at Topozone.com that helps.

AGAYSIN · 01-07-2006, 08:48 AM

Hello Shannon,
You are in the right about copyright laws, of course. But I mean the home-made map, it is a reason why I ask in geocashing website. About Garmin.com - they sell only full CD with a lot of maps, when I need only one. I'm in funds but I don't like to waste money.
Shannon, if you want to travel to Russia, please look next web sites (see below). You can find there a lots of different free maps of some countries and Russia regions. That maps had been created by devotees, and they aren't waiting money for their job. I have got a map of my city what I create for my Garmin (it is based on commercial map, but I make a lot of changings and additions - because commercial map has plenty of inaccuracy.
Also you can ask Russan Garmin owner about any maps and we will glad to help you, Shannon, you can bet on it! Russian people are very friendly.

http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com//catalogue.php International maps
http://www.nissan4x4-club.ru/Razdelu...d=90&opencat=0 All maps (Russian + international)
http://www.nissan4x4-club.ru/Razdelu...dex.php?id=816

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon

Can you not purchase the U.S. maps online at Garmin.com? Because what you are asking is against U.S. copyright laws, since the maps are not public domain and must be purchased from Garmin (either at time of sale of the Garmin unit, or as software CD's one can buy online at retailers such as Amazon.com, as well as Garmin's own website.)

I realize the expense may be a turn-off, but if I were travelling to Russia I'd not expect a Russian Garmin owner to share their commercially obtained maps with me.

AGAYSIN · 01-07-2006, 08:58 AM

Hello toejam,
Thank you for your assistance, I try to look your link.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toejam

See if you can find something at Topozone.com that helps.

rslewis · 03-22-2006, 03:00 PM

I use a Garmin Legend for geocaching.

I use a pocket pc with a compact flash gps for navigation/driving.

I love geocaching, just don't have the time to go as much as I would like.

03-23-2006, 01:09 PM

I like to use my gps to try and find steep limestone cliffs in the texas hill country. I use topo maps to find where the various limestone layers are worn through by streams and rivers.