In The Middle Of Nowear And Gps Fails

[+kevin308]

I know its unlikley but lets say you go for a walk armed only with your GPS and u keep walking and walking. then after a bit you think, "I wonder how far I have walked" So u go to look at your gps and find out that you dont have it. You dropped it somewear in the woods? And you have no Idea what way to walk.

 

Because this is something that I would not like to deal with. I have spent the last week learning how to put a map and cumpus to good use. I wont go for a walk/hike without GPS 1-25,000 map and cumpus.

 

I hope my navagating is better then my spelling..

[+Moote]

Yes map and compass are a necessary tool if you venture off into and countryside area, not good around town usually here I just us the good old AtoZ

 

Moote

[Deego]

As Moote says Map and compass knowledge is essential when your out in the wilds. Its also worth learning about distance pacing

 

More good safty tips from BMC

[+kevin308]

Thanks for the links...

 

Very usefull

[+rutson]

I have walked/run/orienteered in many wild areas and never used a compass. OK, it may be useful if visibility is zerom but I've enver felt the need.

[nobby.nobbs]

that's about the point when daft townie ends up causing hassle for the local search and rescue teams.

 

i wonder how much more carefull people would be if they got the bill for the teams time and effort?

i really think that some charge should be levied as it would stop those idiots who try to go up snowdon in t-shirt and shorts in winter!!!

[+Moote]

that's about the point when daft townie ends up causing hassle for the local search and rescue teams.

Some of these so called "daft townies" have done S&R work to rescue people who live in the countryside, so don't call the townies call the ignorant!

[Deego]

I have walked/run/orienteered in many wild areas and never used a compass. OK, it may be useful if visibility is zerom but I've enver felt the need.

You might need it if we go and do Kippling cache

 

 

I just mean if you do EVER need to, its a bit late to learn when your lost.

[+rutson]

I should add that I know HOW to use a compass and there is always one in my bag.

[+bargee]

that's about the point when daft townie ends up causing hassle for the local search and rescue teams.

 

i wonder how much more carefull people would be if they got the bill for the teams time and effort?

i really think that some charge should be levied as it would stop those idiots who try to go up snowdon in t-shirt and shorts in winter!!!

saw a report on North west tonight that the bolton/ west pennine mountain rescue team had its busiest year this year,

their area covers winter hill and the penine moors around bolton, bury etc.

 

But a lot of their call outs where not on the moors as you would expect, they were in bolton's town centre parks locating missing persons and using theitr expertise to extract people from islands in lakes and other such stuff, bizzare

[Irish_Rover]

I agree about the MRT charging for timewasters and idiots. But like any tool, a GPS in the wrong hands is as dangerous as giving a map and compass to someone who has no idea how to use them. Unfortunately though, in this technology driven society of wireless communication (phones, email, internet etc) people buy a GPS believing it to be pinpoint accurate and infalable - and off they treck into the hills with their designer kagoul, designer jeans and designer pseudo hiking boots. And that is where the trouble begins - they forgot the 2 age old adages

 

Failing to plan is planning to fail

 

and the 7P Rule:

 

Positive, Prior, Planning, Prevents, P**s, Poor, Performance

 

Generally these are the muppets found huddled together, suffering from hypothermia waiting to be dragged off some mountain side by the local MRT wondering why their nice new shiny gadget hadnt turned them into supermen capable of scaling K2.

 

These are the people who dont do route plans, who dont check local weather reports, who have never seen a paper map, who think that as it is sunny at the foot of the mountain it will be sunny at the top, who think foil space blankets are for marathon runners and that beer is a good source of hydration.

 

Personally I still like to sit down and do my route plans, so I have an idea of where I am going and what terrain I am likely to encounter and so that someone at home has a rough idea of where I am going. Plus this way I have an idea of how long I should be out walking and what time I am likely home. That is not to say I dont like to push myself, I love winter walking, but I know my limits. I have been using a GPS since Magellan brought out their XL series many moons ago, but out of choice I would sooner have a Quality Silva Compass and a OS Landranger / Explorer Map. Why ? Well if I need to peel off a mountain quickly, it is a dadgum sight easier to quickly plot a rapid descent route with a map than with a GPS, plus even without a compass (if I lose it) , I can take a rough bearing off a map. A gps with flat batteries is useful to no man

 

GPS is a valuable tool and in the right hands it makes life a lot easier in the wrong hands it makes its idiots even more dangerous

[markandlynn]

I sometimes wonder if people know that MRT, Air Ambulance, RNLI are financed entirely by donations.

 

We always carry a compass and map if going into the hills. A gps can only tell you were you are not which way to go.

 

The tell a friend bit is also good advice.

[+*bingoboy*]

I would think i would count as a townie but planning is the only way

using your GPSr to find caches is one thing but following an arrow blindly into countryside you do not know is another

 

compass and Map are a must too (and the ablity to use them) - I (being a sado) always have a spare (geko101) in my bag if all goes T*ts up

[+Moote]

I sometimes wonder if people know that MRT, Air Ambulance, RNLI are financed entirely by donations.

Yes all true, and when the Army / RAF / RN get involved yes it costs money but wait for it, they get a real life training situation for free so a real good trade I think.

 

Moote

[nobby.nobbs]

yeah i know the townie bit was a cliche but the point was there i hope.

 

army navy etc get therir training and that works out usefull. mrt and the likes don't. like the lifeboats having to risk their lifes for idiots at no cost to the rescuee.

 

that's why i thought that if people got charged for their escapades they might think twice before doing stupid things. darwinism in force for them but i'm concerned with the welfare of the rescuers.

[+kewfriend]

My is an absolutely essential part of geocaching.

 

Sometimes because of tree cover, lag-time on the gps, whatever, the only way to reliably reliably reach posted coordinates is to get a good lock on either the final Northing or Westing and then pace slowly towards the cache location on the westing or northing.

 

I nearly always cache with a copy of the downloaded mini map from the OS site to confirm footpaths etc, or if out in the wild country ( eeek) then a copy of the full OS map.

 

However FULL MARKS to many setters who manage to find public footpaths that are not on OS maps. Ancient Amber is a classic in that vein - love surprises.

 

As for battery failure: furiously infuriating hence my avatar message!

[+Snosrap]

[snip snip]

 

GPS is a valuable tool and in the right hands it makes life a lot easier in the wrong hands it makes its idiots even more dangerous

Great first post!! Welcome to the forums Irish_Rover!

[Guest.]

Fully agree - it's OK to go around with a GPS in normal everyday countryside when you are not going to stray more than 1km from a road.

 

But as soon as altitude or even moderate remoteness is involved a MAP and compass are vital. We did Pen y fan a few years back (before GPS). It started off as a dreary day, with the forecast suggesting the weather was getting worse - by the time we were getting towards the top it was a blizzard with minimal vis - a bit worse than expected.

 

I guess there was the danger of walking off the side, but we were never even vaguely lost or in any doubt about our route home and we met our pick up within 15 minutes of the agreed time. Our entire route was known back at the B & B, we had the right clothes, the right food, the right drinks and the right first aid.

 

It would have been easy for this to have been a problem, the right equipment and prep made it fun.

Edited January 10, 2006 by Guest.