Wired.com "GPS Users Still Lost in the Woods"

[DisQuoi]

Geocaching has introduced the great outdoors to many-a-couch-potato. I liked this article because it touches on an important point ... you can still get lost or place yourself in a bad situation, even if you know about what direction you need to go.

 

GPS Users Still Lost in the Woods

[+briansnat]

I've read of several instances where the "lost" GPS user was able to aid SAR personnel by providing their coordinates .

 

"You can't make a man by standing a sheep on his hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position, you can make a crowd of men" - Max Beerbohm

[+geospotter]

Interesting article. But if you don't know how to use the tools you have even the topo and compass suggested wouldn't do you any good.

 

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Get a GPS and practice, practice, practice!

[robertlipe]

quote:

---

underpasses and tunnels also confuse or stop GPS devices.

---

 

Yeah, I can't count the number of near death experiences I've had while lost under an underpass.

[+Touchstone]

Precisely why I carry a cell phone when I go caching. Unless I'm in an area where there's no signal

[+trippy1976]

quote:

---

Originally posted by robertlipe:

Yeah, I can't count the number of near death experiences I've had while lost under an underpass.

---

 

lol, I know!

 

--------

trippy1976 - Team KKF2A

Assimilating golf balls - one geocache at a time.

[+joefrog]

Maybe the guy had a Magellan?

 

Joel (joefrog)

 

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for ye are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"

[+TMAN264]

Being lost is no fun. I was lost in a large city once, where no one spoke English. I'll never cache in San Francisco again.....

 

Make a sanity check.

[+Felinus]

My recomendations (some obvious):

1. Always mark a waypoint of your car, so that you know where you have to return.

Marking waypoints of trail intersections can also help.

2. Carry spare batteries (cold temperatures make the GPS spend the ones it has

quicker).

3. As the article noted, carry a regular magnetic compass, and a topo map.

AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT!!

 

As for the notes on "instances where the lost GPS user was able to aid SAR personnel by providing coordinates via cell phone", I am a bit concerned:

* If you are injured, by all means call for help.

* If you are just tired, or it is getting too late, don't waste the effort of SAR personnel when you can get out by yourself if you try hard enough. Learn how to find those coordinates on the topographic map you brought (topozone.com provides them for free). The SAR personnel could be volunteers who have to get out of work (at their cost) to go and search for people (some of them reckless).

 

Just my opinions

 

-- Keep finding.

[iryshe]

Common sense. Can't wait for the next article, Car drivers still use their feet.

 

Jeremy Irish

Groundspeak - The Language of Location™

[+GEO*Trailblazer 1]

Lost in the Woods,I am still lost in the woods and do not wanna be found.

Here we are in the wild green yonder,

there we go lost again.

It still seems funny you go off out in the woods,and after the hunt it's back to Civilization????

 

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS

*GEOTRYAGAIN*

TAKE PRIDE IN AMERICA

http://www.doi.gov/news/front_current.html

1803-2003

"LOUSIANA PURCHASE"

http://www.lapurchase.org

"LEWIS AND CLARK EXPADITION"

http://lewisclark.geog.missouri.edu/index

 

Arkansas Missouri Geocachrs Association

http://www.ARK-MOGeocachersAssociatoin@msnusers.com

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