I just came in from a lovely hike while out on a hunt. It rained last
night and some of the rocks were quite slick. I took an impressive fall on
a slick rock while wearing a toddler in a back pack. We're both fine, but
it really got me to thinking.. If either of us had been hurt, and I needed
to tell "911" where I was, ...um, where am I?? I didn't have a trail
map, and apparently made my way from one town to another, and was on a very
distinct trail..but I don't know exactly where I was and what might be the
easiest way "in" for rescuers.
Thus my questions:
a) Do you carry a GPS unit with you while you hike?
b) Do you find trails on "hiking" GPS units to be well-detailed?
c) Do the trail maps in GPS units tend to follow only the official
trails? Or if there are well-delineated side trails, are those included
too?
d) Are trail names on the maps in the GPS units?
Thank you for help! :-)
Boston Rott
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Do you carry GPS while hiking?
6 messages in this thread |
Started on 2006-11-01
Do you carry GPS while hiking?
From: Gretchen Caldwell (boston.rott@verizon.net) |
Date: 2006-11-01 11:29:11 UTC-05:00
Re: [LbNA] Do you carry GPS while hiking?
From: R (ontario_cacher@yahoo.ca) |
Date: 2006-11-01 12:13:24 UTC-05:00
I did that once, took a big tumble on a slippery rock and scrapped up my leg, still have the mark months later. But fortunately for me I wasn't carrying a child, how scary for you. I did have my GPS unit with me BUT I didn't have my cell phone. I had my dog with me so maybe I would try a "Lassie, go get help" plea if I was in serious trouble.
I live in Canada and use Garmin Mapsource software with my GPS V. I get main roads and most country roads but not all country roads in my area. And unfortunately it doesn't include trails (that would be a fantastic feature). I don't know if U.S. software is more detailed.
If your cell phone works on the trail and you have a GPS unit I would think that would be a bonus for the rescuers, assuming they use GPS software to locate people - one would hope so.
Lone R
Gretchen Caldwell wrote: I just came in from a lovely hike while out on a hunt. It rained last
night and some of the rocks were quite slick. I took an impressive fall on
a slick rock while wearing a toddler in a back pack. We're both fine, but
it really got me to thinking.. If either of us had been hurt, and I needed
to tell "911" where I was, ...um, where am I?? I didn't have a trail
map, and apparently made my way from one town to another, and was on a very
distinct trail..but I don't know exactly where I was and what might be the
easiest way "in" for rescuers.
Thus my questions:
a) Do you carry a GPS unit with you while you hike?
b) Do you find trails on "hiking" GPS units to be well-detailed?
c) Do the trail maps in GPS units tend to follow only the official
trails? Or if there are well-delineated side trails, are those included
too?
d) Are trail names on the maps in the GPS units?
Thank you for help! :-)
Boston Rott
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
---------------------------------
The best gets better. See why everyone is raving about the All-new Yahoo! Mail.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I live in Canada and use Garmin Mapsource software with my GPS V. I get main roads and most country roads but not all country roads in my area. And unfortunately it doesn't include trails (that would be a fantastic feature). I don't know if U.S. software is more detailed.
If your cell phone works on the trail and you have a GPS unit I would think that would be a bonus for the rescuers, assuming they use GPS software to locate people - one would hope so.
Lone R
Gretchen Caldwell
night and some of the rocks were quite slick. I took an impressive fall on
a slick rock while wearing a toddler in a back pack. We're both fine, but
it really got me to thinking.. If either of us had been hurt, and I needed
to tell "911" where I was, ...um, where am I?? I didn't have a trail
map, and apparently made my way from one town to another, and was on a very
distinct trail..but I don't know exactly where I was and what might be the
easiest way "in" for rescuers.
Thus my questions:
a) Do you carry a GPS unit with you while you hike?
b) Do you find trails on "hiking" GPS units to be well-detailed?
c) Do the trail maps in GPS units tend to follow only the official
trails? Or if there are well-delineated side trails, are those included
too?
d) Are trail names on the maps in the GPS units?
Thank you for help! :-)
Boston Rott
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
---------------------------------
The best gets better. See why everyone is raving about the All-new Yahoo! Mail.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [LbNA] Do you carry GPS while hiking?
From: Gretchen Caldwell (boston.rott@verizon.net) |
Date: 2006-11-01 12:20:44 UTC-05:00
I have a Garmin GPS for my car (and LOVE it!!). I've been amazed at some of
the details of roads that it has (including some TINY dirt roads up in the
Montreal area).
I know that you can buy ones set for hiking, and I believe they carry trail
maps, but I have no idea how good these are.....thus my questions. :)
Boston Rott
the details of roads that it has (including some TINY dirt roads up in the
Montreal area).
I know that you can buy ones set for hiking, and I believe they carry trail
maps, but I have no idea how good these are.....thus my questions. :)
Boston Rott
Re: [LbNA] Do you carry GPS while hiking?
From: SpringChick (letterbox@comcast.net) |
Date: 2006-11-01 18:43:12 UTC-05:00
I often hike alone and these are a few of the precautionary measures I take...
1) I often do carry a GPS and have along a cell phone. Whether I remember to turn on the GPS before I get too deep into the woods is another story... as is the quality of cell phone reception, but they may help if need be, so I carry them.
2) Probably the most important thing I do when I am going alone... I either print or e-mail a list of the places and letterboxes I am going to look for to OldShoe. Then when I am out and about I periodically call home and leave messages on the machine as to where I am on my itinerary. This way, if I do get stranded out in the woods and have no way to call for help, there will be a record of stops I was planning as well as the last place I was okay. It is important to give the box names, not just the park because in a park with 20 miles of trail, it could take a while to narrow down your location if the search & rescue party did not have the box clues.
SpringChick
----- Original Message -----
From: Gretchen Caldwell
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com ; LbNE@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 11:29 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Do you carry GPS while hiking?
I just came in from a lovely hike while out on a hunt. It rained last
night and some of the rocks were quite slick. I took an impressive fall on
a slick rock while wearing a toddler in a back pack. We're both fine, but
it really got me to thinking.. If either of us had been hurt, and I needed
to tell "911" where I was, ...um, where am I?? I didn't have a trail
map, and apparently made my way from one town to another, and was on a very
distinct trail..but I don't know exactly where I was and what might be the
easiest way "in" for rescuers.
Thus my questions:
a) Do you carry a GPS unit with you while you hike?
b) Do you find trails on "hiking" GPS units to be well-detailed?
c) Do the trail maps in GPS units tend to follow only the official
trails? Or if there are well-delineated side trails, are those included
too?
d) Are trail names on the maps in the GPS units?
Thank you for help! :-)
Boston Rott
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
1) I often do carry a GPS and have along a cell phone. Whether I remember to turn on the GPS before I get too deep into the woods is another story... as is the quality of cell phone reception, but they may help if need be, so I carry them.
2) Probably the most important thing I do when I am going alone... I either print or e-mail a list of the places and letterboxes I am going to look for to OldShoe. Then when I am out and about I periodically call home and leave messages on the machine as to where I am on my itinerary. This way, if I do get stranded out in the woods and have no way to call for help, there will be a record of stops I was planning as well as the last place I was okay. It is important to give the box names, not just the park because in a park with 20 miles of trail, it could take a while to narrow down your location if the search & rescue party did not have the box clues.
SpringChick
----- Original Message -----
From: Gretchen Caldwell
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com ; LbNE@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 11:29 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Do you carry GPS while hiking?
I just came in from a lovely hike while out on a hunt. It rained last
night and some of the rocks were quite slick. I took an impressive fall on
a slick rock while wearing a toddler in a back pack. We're both fine, but
it really got me to thinking.. If either of us had been hurt, and I needed
to tell "911" where I was, ...um, where am I?? I didn't have a trail
map, and apparently made my way from one town to another, and was on a very
distinct trail..but I don't know exactly where I was and what might be the
easiest way "in" for rescuers.
Thus my questions:
a) Do you carry a GPS unit with you while you hike?
b) Do you find trails on "hiking" GPS units to be well-detailed?
c) Do the trail maps in GPS units tend to follow only the official
trails? Or if there are well-delineated side trails, are those included
too?
d) Are trail names on the maps in the GPS units?
Thank you for help! :-)
Boston Rott
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Do you carry GPS while hiking?
From: dixiedarlin_snakedancer (dixiedarlin_snakedancer@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2006-11-02 02:49:21 UTC
we often have the GPS with us
we are in the Boston area
and the SUDBURY VALLLEY TRUSTEES had a challenge this summer
and 3 of us got on our motorcycles and made a day of it
trying to get to all 10 boxes
sometimes the GPS was the only way we could get a clear routing to the
top of the next set of clues
never thought of it as a safety net
but it could very well be one
dixie darlin'
we are in the Boston area
and the SUDBURY VALLLEY TRUSTEES had a challenge this summer
and 3 of us got on our motorcycles and made a day of it
trying to get to all 10 boxes
sometimes the GPS was the only way we could get a clear routing to the
top of the next set of clues
never thought of it as a safety net
but it could very well be one
dixie darlin'
Re: Do you carry GPS while hiking?
From: Ted Rice (rhys12@bluebottle.com) |
Date: 2006-11-02 07:22:35 UTC-05:00
Can't afford one!
I do try to carry a good map when in unfamiliar locations ( you can print
them out online) and to tell someone where I am going and when I should be
back.
Most modern cell phones are equipped to give 911 a GPS position.. However,
cell phones rarely work far from the road - around here they rarely work
except in or very near larger towns.
I do try to carry a good map when in unfamiliar locations ( you can print
them out online) and to tell someone where I am going and when I should be
back.
Most modern cell phones are equipped to give 911 a GPS position.. However,
cell phones rarely work far from the road - around here they rarely work
except in or very near larger towns.