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