| What is the best kind of GPS system for | | | | emergency navigation tool in Utah's |
| you? This depends on what you intend to | | | | deep, narrow canyons, where a map and |
| use it for. | | | | compass can be almost useless. |
| Garmin 12 GPS is very good. There are | | | | One word of warning, take very seriously |
| various models of the 12, 12XL etc. They | | | | the statement on the front of all GPS |
| can be found for under $150. The | | | | units "Do not rely on this unit as the |
| altimeter is usually off but once you | | | | primary source of your navigation." |
| find your position, most of the time the | | | | It's always a good idea to have a map |
| map tells me what my altitude is. They | | | | and compass with you when engaging in |
| have a pretty decent battery life since | | | | wilderness travel and use them right |
| you rarely ever use your GPS for 12 | | | | along with the GPS. It can actually be |
| hours straight. | | | | kind of fun to see how accurate you are |
| The vendors selling GPS units are Garmin | | | | with a compass and compare map routes |
| and Magellan, those are good brands and | | | | with GPS routes to see why you ended up |
| can meet your requirements quite well. | | | | going the way you did. |
| There is a third player, Brunton | | | | What are the numbers on a compass for |
| (compass makers gone hi-tech). They | | | | and how do you use a compass? The |
| make very reasonably priced GPS units | | | | numbers on the compass are for degrees |
| with lots of bells and whistles. Garmin | | | | or headings. They will tell you what |
| GPS records the distance travelled, | | | | direction to proceed on. The first |
| speed, average speed, etc. Make sure you | | | | thing you need to do is figure out what |
| get good battery life and enough memory | | | | kind of compass you have, a floating |
| to be useful. | | | | dial or a floating needle. |
| Mitac Mio 168 comes out well for my | | | | As to emergency contact, you could buy |
| requirements but is more expensive, | | | | an expensive Iridium/satellite phone - |
| especially if you go for the tom tom | | | | they can get a signal just like a GPS |
| mapping software too (voice directions | | | | does. They run over $1,000. It may |
| when I'm out on my motorbike!) | | | | also be possible to rent one. For real |
| Most of the functions on GPS of this | | | | emergencies, not simply a vehicle |
| sort you can get from a map. Maps on | | | | breakdown, there is a GPS signaling |
| pure GPS are not as good as on a GPS/PDA | | | | device, much like ONStar (GM trademark), |
| but good maps for these are usually | | | | that can send an emergency signal. The |
| expensive. Some mountain rescue team | | | | final thing to do is to check in at the |
| members use PDAs with 1:25000 OS mapping | | | | local ranger station, BLM office, forest |
| data for recording search patterns etc. | | | | service visitor center, etc., and see |
| You really need to look at your own | | | | about leaving your itinerary with them, |
| plans - for instance, most backpackers | | | | as well as a promise to check-out with |
| use GPS to "confirm" their position, and | | | | them when leaving. If you don't check |
| they don't use it to set waypoints, | | | | in, they would send someone out to check |
| determine compass direction, navigate, | | | | on you. |
| etc. Many backpackers use it as an | | | | |