Buy yourself a hand held device


GPS and Other Emergency Contact Devices

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



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