[Cdt-l] etrax 30 Question- Never Lost

[Doug Carlson]

With a GPS there is never any reason to be lost.  I do not use the Ley maps
when out on the CDT for one reason.  No waypoint coordinates on them.  I use
Ley's maps to make my own route on my Delorme map program which I print out
in whatever scale I think is best for that section of trail.  Along the
route I place precise map coordinates at enough places so if I do wander
off, I can set my GPS for one of those coordinates and get back on trail.
Those exact coordinates along the route also help me pinpoint my exact
location at different times.

 

When I started in Columbus last year Keith mentioned that I was the first
one he had seen starting out that didn't have Ley's maps printed out.  He
was going to show me exactly where the water cache we were placing was on
Ley's maps which I didn't have.  I simply set the waypoint for that cache on
that route and 2 days later had no problem in locating the exact bush in
southern NM where the water jug was hidden.  In some ways I am very inept
with the GPS but where it matters, it works for me.

 

I have hiked over 50% of the CDT in Colorado.  In Colorado I see no reason
to use a GPS except for the altimeter, time, date, trip mileage....  Ok,
maybe there are a few reasons.  But Trail Illustrated maps cover the entire
state of Colorado very well and with the TI maps, compass, no need for a GPS
there.  Heading out of Yellowstone through Mack's Inn and that route, GPS is
very helpful.  I wouldn't try that section of the CDT without a GPS.  

 

This is what I would like to see:  A GPS that is also loaded with pepper
spray for that section of trail from around Yellowstone area up to Canada.
It would be a perfect invention since most hikers would already have their
GPS units out and on the ready.  Of course, by the time on figured out how
to toggle into the right setting to activate the pepper the bear would
probably be picking his teeth with the hikers bones.  

 

-Trew

 

 

 

From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Larry Swearingen
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 1:47 PM
To: Tjamrog08
Cc: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] etrax 30 Question

 

I have been doing that.  When I do that I need to setup the gps for whatever
coordinate

system the map uses so I've been practicing for that using my BLM maps and
also the 

Bear Creek maps.  I've been looking up the Coordinates to a known Bear Creek
WayPoint

after changing the Coordinate System to that used on the BLM Maps and
locating that point

on the BLM Map.  BLM map coordinate system is not the same as those used on
BC Maps.

However the gps will convert the way point coordinates to whatever you set
it up for.

 

I agree though.  The middle of the Gila Wilderness is not the place to try
and figure this out

for the first time.  :>)  I do hope to not get so far lost that I'm off a
BLM Map.  That would be Lost !

 

Larry

HooDad

 

From: Tjamrog08 <mailto:tjamrog at me.com>  

Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 1:07 PM

To: Larry Swearingen <mailto:larry.swearingen at frontier.com>  

Cc: Frank Gilliland <mailto:frankgilliland at gmail.com>  ;
cdt-l at backcountry.net 

Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] etrax 30 Question

 

You got it, HooDad.   

Not covered in GPS manuals is being sure to align the settings on your GPS
with whatever physical maps coordinate format it has along the margins. You
often need to do a little decimal estimation, as the points along the
margins are marked in only three or four places.   

I was using  Jerry Brown's maps, and it took a bit of for me to be able to
(1) establish a GPS reading where I as at and then (2) relate that to the
physical map.  I'd practice this before I went.  

It saved my ass twice when I was so far off the CDT that I was off of the
narrow corridor on the map.  What you do is hit Your exact "lost"  location
on the GPS, then orient the map magnetically, and then see just how far off
and in what direction you'd have to travel ( usually bushwhack) back to get
to the CDT.  

You must know how to do this, and you might not be calm enough to figure it
out the process  if you start to panic wandering around out there.

Yes, practice.  

I would also practice at home navigating to a single waypoint.  

 

Uncle Tom 

    

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