| Heading out into the wilderness or unknown | | | | destination as you move along the direction of the |
| outdoors? Make sure a hand held GPS receiver | | | | bearing. Most GPS units label this feature as "Go |
| goes along! For as long as you know your final | | | | to". |
| destination, a GPS would guide you through. | | | | The current location in most receivers can be |
| In its simplest form, a GPS receiver calculates | | | | stored by simple depression of a single key, which |
| your exact location based on range signals it | | | | is usually labeled as 'Mark'. A second method of |
| receives from various satellites in the space. But | | | | storing the coordinates of a position is by |
| when you are out in the wilderness, knowing your | | | | manually entering the latitude and longitude of a |
| current position alone is not adequate, what is just | | | | location as a waypoint. Once the waypoints are |
| as important is to know how to get where you | | | | entered, a route can be created by using two or |
| have to be. Mostly, simple GPS receivers, apart | | | | more waypoints. A GPS receiver would then |
| from measuring the position, would also measure | | | | calculate the bearing and distance of the second |
| additional information like speed and time. | | | | waypoint from the first in a route. Following the |
| Depending on how sophisticated a GPS unit is, you | | | | bearing, by an inbuilt compass in GPS unit or an |
| can get various other details such as bearing and | | | | external magnetic compass, would then lead the |
| distance to your destination, an accurate compass | | | | user to the destination. |
| direction, height above sea level as well as | | | | As you go along a route, guided by your GPS |
| almanac information such as sunrise & sunset | | | | receiver, it is a wise idea to store your location |
| timings. | | | | coordinates at regular intervals especially while you |
| Of numerous details that a GPS receiver is | | | | are in the wilderness. This would be useful in case |
| capable of providing, what you actually need to | | | | you need to trace back your track exactly. It is |
| know is to be handy with your unit. Once you | | | | much easier to use the "Go to" feature, then |
| know how to use it, you can make an effective | | | | following your breadcrumb trail. |
| and intelligent use of your GPS unit. It is of key | | | | So before you head out for your next excursion, |
| importance to know how to store the | | | | just know: |
| coordinates into your GPS receiver, which has a | | | | - The coordinates of the destination |
| two-fold benefit: | | | | - How to enter a waypoint |
| - First, by storing the coordinates of your current | | | | - How to follow a bearing and/or use the "Go to" |
| location you can always find your way back to | | | | feature |
| where you started from. | | | | Now go learn these basic steps of GPS navigation |
| - Second, you can store the coordinates of your | | | | and then hit that trail and start exploring! Just |
| destination and the GPS unit would continuously | | | | don't forget to bring along extra batteries! |
| provide you with a bearing and distance of your | | | | |