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

Shannon · 01-03-2004, 01:15 PM

If you are a GPS user, what make/model GPS unit(s) do you use and what's your primary usage of them, for example -- driving, hiking/backpacking, fishing, boating, flying, etc.

Justin and I have three GPS units:
Garmin GPSMap 76s for backpacking/hiking/marine use
Garmin GPSMap 196 for aviation/land/marine use
Garmin Streetpilot III for driving/street navigation use

Yes, we love Garmin and have even purchased a little stock in them.

Turn Key · 01-03-2004, 08:38 PM

I know what GPS is but since I've spent the better part of the last 50-some odd years "lost", I see know reason to change a fond habit

!

ploddinTod · 01-04-2004, 09:02 AM

My hiking partner has one but I have no intention of getting one. Compass works just fine for me. When I'm out on the trail hiking, I take it seriously. Don't want to be fumbling with a gadget that may not get a signal or run low on battery power. Just my preference.

Shannon · 01-05-2004, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

My hiking partner has one but I have no intention of getting one. Compass works just fine for me. When I'm out on the trail hiking, I take it seriously. Don't want to be fumbling with a gadget that may not get a signal or run low on battery power. Just my preference.

I started out with a car-based GPS, because just like TurnKey mentioned, I spend a lot of my time lost, too!

I got hooked with knowing exactly where I was while driving -- since I get turned around even in the city I've lived in for decades :rolleyes:. Pretty soon, I'd purchased a handheld GPS for hiking, as well.

I always have a compass in my pack, too, (though as of yet I'm rarely that far out to even need that) but the handheld GPS is a treat for me. Mine even has an electronic compass with calibration built-in.

Why am I sold on GPS technology? Just a couple reasons are:

I can mark waypoints for personal favorite photo or wildlife viewing spots I intend to return to in the future;
I have a more accurate log of how long a given hike actually took (since the GPS tracks how much time I spent actually moving, eg. hiking, rather than just how much time has elapsed since I started a hike... important if you stop frequently to watch wildlife, take photographs or just take a break.
I can more accurately share information about a given trail or route I've hiked, thanks to GPS coordinates, topographic data on my GPS and of course paper topo and park maps, as available.

The primary downsides of GPS have already been mentioned --

Potential loss of signal (I haven't used mine in dense tree cover yet, since most of my hiking's in Texas scrub country);
Running low/out of batteries...
And folks can still get lost when they have a GPS because they assume they don't need to have a map of the area they're visiting and a way to get their bearings (compass, instinct, etc. )

Even GPS-based maps can be wrong, and depending on what type of maps you've got on your GPS they may only augment paper-based topo and park-provided maps, rather than replace them. I use a detailed GPS-based topographic map collection that covers all of North America, coupled with a park's (paper) maps. If I were hiking/backpacking in a National Park or backcountry, I'd couple the GPS with the proper USGS quad topos and/or the NPS park map(s).

A nice "feature" of owning a hiking GPS is since it's lightweight and requires long battery life to be useful, it a perfect "cheap" alternative to the more expensive GPS units sold for use in cars. Load it up with the right maps, and you've got a cheaper GPS to use in a pinch when driving in unfamiliar cities (though you'll miss out on features like "Find Nearest > Restaurant" or things like that.

)

Justin has a really slick portable GPS unit he mounts in the rental aircraft he flies, as a backup to the onboard GPS and navigation equipment in the aircraft. It's awesome returning from a flight and having the exact ground track we flew mapped out on our computer screen, thanks to the GPS.

copuswalker · 01-05-2004, 08:50 PM

I have not used one. In a boat yes, In a situation where a trail may be poorly marked and I am days out... Maybe. When I hiked in Arkansas with my cop buddy he had a G.P.S. He would stop every 200 yards and tell us what was ahead and how fast we were walking. Of course he would see a river and it would be a road. We were traveling at 1.6 miles per hour. I was going to put it away for him but thought it may slow us down more.
He had to leave it on. It would tell you how to get to a spot but not using the trail (unless you bought a program of trails). He carried sets and sets of batteries. Thank god I bought a map even though he said he had us covered. We would have been looking for water many times. Perhaps there is more to them than I know?

Shannon · 01-05-2004, 08:56 PM

Hehe... I hope someone puts me out of my misery if I ever do that to anyone! When any piece of technology takes that much of one's attention, it's time to "lose" it.

This reminds me of folks who now obsessively check their voicemail or otherwise fiddle with their cellphone any time they're waiting, regardless of the length of the wait... standing in line, sitting at a traffic light (when they just checked their phone 2 lights back...), waiting in a doctor's office (every 10 minutes, checking it again or making another call.) Of course, I've done some of those things, back when my cellphone was provided by my employer and was an ever-present tether to "responsibilities".

Over time, though, I evolved (or devolved?) so it was simply a tether I turn off and ignore when I need to...

ploddinTod · 01-06-2004, 09:41 PM

Copus alluded to the distraction with a GPS while on a hike. I like to get into a rhythm while out in nature. Let the sights, sounds and smells permeate the soul, if you will. In the evening around the campfire, it's fun to pull out the map and see how far you traveled that particular day. At this time I could see where consulting a GPS for information would be very appropriate for me.

Shannon · 02-10-2004, 01:24 PM

Geocaching...

Hey, gang. I have added a bunch more websites to our Web Guide's Recreation - Outdoors - Geocaching & Orienteering category. Justin and his brother recently went on a geocaching hike at city park nearby and they had fun. I was laid up in bed, sick, but am looking forward to participating in some geocaching hikes soon -- and placing some geocaches, as well.

I just wish I'd checked Geocaching.com prior to leaving for my hike yesterday, to see if any geocaches were placed along that trail yet.

I hiked the entire multi-use trail at Guadalupe River State Park -- 6.63 miles (their map's a little off on total mileage). It was rainy and utterly muddy, but I had a blast... trip report will be posted momentarily.

02-10-2004, 02:32 PM

I'm new to this gps stuff and new to geocaching, but I will admit I'm hooked! It adds a whole new element to hiking. To think there's treasure all around us just waiting to be found!

I'm going to start a new thread topic geocaching...I think it deserves it's own thread! If you're not into it yet...get there quick!

Later...

kai · 02-10-2004, 03:16 PM

I wouldn't dream of not using a GPS- it's become second nature. When I was in the field for work I used it, and now volunteering down here its critical for collecting data. I find it awfully reasurring (the most common thing I use it for while hiking for fun is to mark where I left the car *just in case*). I use a Garmin Etrex.

However, while its hard to imagine life without it, I always carry a map and a compass as backup. those batteries tend to drain quickly.

Shannon · 02-10-2004, 03:38 PM

It's getting a little scary now, but Justin and I have added two more GPS units to our menagerie. We just can't seem NOT to buy Garmin products and check them out ...

In addition to the units I noted at the start of the thread, we now also have two Garmin Rino 110 units (Justin found them on sale at a too-good-to-pass-up cost) and a Garmin Forerunner 201 Justin bought for his birthday.

On Friday, we hiked at Guadalupe River State Park with the Rinos and Justin's Forerunner. On Monday, I returned to Guadalupe River and hiked the entire multi-use trail, using my Garmin GPSMap 76s for that hike. I'll have a trip report up before the end of the day from that hike, including some GPS plots and data for fun.

PS: The GPS track and waypoints portion of my trip report is posted, as well as a teaser for the trip report. More to come on Wednesday.

02-10-2004, 04:58 PM

I use my ETrex Legend when driving and for geocaching. I love knowing the 'exact' distance from my driveway to my parking spot at work and it's cool to have an ETA based on current speed (or lack there of in Dallas rush hour traffic) using the track back feature.

Later...

OutdoorPhoto.com · 02-10-2004, 07:15 PM

GPS technology is a big part of my life in a variety of ways:

Garmin GPSMAP 196 : I use my 196 primarily for flying. The unit has a host of amazing features that aid in my overall situational awareness. It also serves as a backup to the primary instrumentation in the airplane (which has its own GPS). The 196 also has a land and marine mode. Shan and I have used the land mode for several trips and it's really nice to pull the GPS out of the airplane when we fly somewhere and put it in the courtesy car at the airport in a different city - makes it real convenient to find your way in an unfamiliar place!

Garmin Forerunner 201 : I just got this as a present for my birthday. It's a "personal training" aid. It's very lightweight, straps to your wrist like a watch and gives you information on calories burned (after you enter personal data), current pace, % grade, distance, time, blah blah. There's a logbook feature coming out which will let you log all of your walks, hikes and runs. It makes getting and staying in shape FUN!

Garmin Rino 110 : This is a GMRS/FPS handheld radio and a GPS combined into one unit. It is a great trail companion. Shan can push a button on her radio and "beam" her location to my unit. This will be nice as we hike and photograph. Sometimes I get out the tripod and spend several minutes on a composition when Shan wants to keep on hiking down the trail. This will help me FIND HER when I get done and realize she's gone! hehehe

It should be noted - - that I am a proud shareholder of GARMIN stock!

kai · 02-10-2004, 07:29 PM

Ok Shannon- apparently you guys are more addicted to technology than we are- I didn't think that was POSSIBLE.

. I'm always being teased about my gadgets.

Luckily, when I'm using my GPS its for reference only. I leave it on, but pull it out of my pocket when I need to find a particular feature (for work) & need to "pinpoint" (to an accuracy of 5 meters, which is a HUGE area, really)... or if we take a break, or if it comes down to an off trail excursion (the point A to point B feature is nice)...

There is a fine line between helpful technology and hindering technology. I find I do not like to stop, to stand still, or to trip while I'm reading it

Technology is only helpful to the point where it speeds things up or makes things more accurate- not helpful when it hinders progress and causes confusion.

Ironically, I was out with a group of folks a few weeks ago- we were looking for specific features. There were some people using the GPS to find it, trying to rely on the directions it was giving (the little rotating arrow)- I found it was much easier to punch in the coordinates of where we were going, and get a heading and an estimated distance, and just take off from there, only consulting the GPS when I knew I was pretty close. It turns out my internal compass worked a lot better than the arrow 'compass' on the GPS display.

Shannon · 02-10-2004, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

I find I do not like to stop, to stand still, or to trip while I'm reading it

Technology is only helpful to the point where it speeds things up or makes things more accurate- not helpful when it hinders progress and causes confusion.

I'm discovering that, as well. The Guadalupe River multi-use trail I hiked on Friday and again on Monday are quite rocky (and quite muddy, right now), so I found I just make waypoints while I'm "on the go". I'm sure my coordinates for trail junctions and such are a little off, but they're certainly within the ballpark for return visits and for WildTexas.com visitors to use as a companion reference to park maps.

The only time I like stopping on a hike is to take photographs, which is evident by the 1 hour 9 minute stopped time on my recent hike! I only actually was moving for 2 hours 15 minutes, so either I'm an overly enthusiastic photographer (too many photos) or I stopped to listen to the Q-U-I-E-T (and rain falling on my Gore-Tex hood, at other times) a bit "too often".

I am definitely declaring a moratorium on any further purchases of GPS technology in this household for awhile. Left unchecked at our current pace, I think we'd end up GPS-tagging our three cats, and that's just SAD (particularly since they're indoor-only cats, and really only move about 25 feet per day...

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