[pct-l] Phone charging

Mon Feb 2 18:08:56 CST 2015

Hey James,

The time involved for recharging is a pain, but it never really didn't work
out somehow.  We'd all be sitting around in a restaurant with cords
dangling from wherever we could plug in and then at stores ask the clerks
for a bit of time at an outlet.  Sometimes I couldn't get all the batteries
fully charged, but most times we'd be crashing somewhere and have plenty of
time to recharge.  The actual number of times this was a problem was very
small and I used this method on the PCT, CDT and AT.  Just very simple and
light.

Shroomer

On Mon, Feb 2, 2015 at 1:13 PM, <isabella at bendnet.com> wrote:

> I use my phone for Halfmile  (and I tend to check it a lot) and a lot of
> reading at nite.  I use an Anker battery pack that will charge my phone 5
> (yes, five) times.  It is a bit heavy......8 oz......but I never run out of
> battery.
>
> Mademoiselle
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Dan Welch
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 12:57 PM
> To: '<Pct-l at backcountry.net>'
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Phone charging
>
> I used Shroomer's exact strategy for the PCT last year.  I carried 2 extra
> batteries for my Android phone, but never used up more than one spare, even
> in the Sierras during 7 day stints.  I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and left it
> in Airplane Mode except for once or twice a day in locations where I felt I
> might get cell reception.  (You get pretty good at predicting those after a
> while.)  The GPS on my Samsung phone worked even in Airplane mode, so I was
> able to use the Halfmile or Guthook app on demand.  (On iPhones, you must
> take it out of Airplane mode to use the GPS.)  I looked at Halfmile maps on
> screen; I listened to a lot of tunes during the day;  I blogged at night.
> I had had no problems with battery life and recharged in town stops.  I
> found this an easier and lighter weight strategy than carrying a solar
> charger.  It worked well for me, but everyone has different needs...
>
> Timberline
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott
> Williams
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 8:20 AM
> To: JPL
> Cc: <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Phone charging
>
> Hey Myles,
>
> I have an android and the batteries are small.  I carry 2 extra and charge
> them all up whenever I'm in town.  I've used the phone for photography,
> composing my daily blog stories, internet when I have service, and reading
> at night.  I've never used up all three batteries at once.  Now if I also
> used it for GPS and navigation, I might want another battery or so, but as
> it is, the two extra batteries are light and easy.
>
> Shroomer
>
> On Sun, Feb 1, 2015 at 4:17 PM, JPL <jplynch at crosslink.net> wrote:
>
> > I'm curious about the new little chargers that you carry, sort of like
> > spare batteries, but external.  They recharge your phones internal
> > batteries. I don't have one but would like to.  The other thing is to
> > keep your phone off when you're not using it, and particularly put it
> > in airplane mode so it's not constantly searching for a cell tower.
> > And turn it off totally at night.
> >
> > -----Original Message----- From: Wilde, Myles
> > Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 8:37 AM
> > To: Ron Graybill ; Tom Grundy
> > Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > Subject: [pct-l] Phone charging
> >
> >
> > Hi All,
> > I'm curious how all you phone users keep your phone charged on
> > multi-day hikes?
> > Do you use solar chargers? If so, do you charge while hiking or only
> > when you've stopped?  Any recommendations?
> > Thanks
> > Myles
> >
> > Sent on the new Sprint Network from my Samsung Galaxy S®4.
> >
> >
> > -------- Original message --------
> > From: Ron Graybill
> > Date:02/01/2015 1:08 AM (GMT-05:00)
> > To: Tom Grundy
> > Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] GPS for distance
> >
> > I've used most of the apps mentioned while on the PCT and they work as
> > described, but for simply figuring out how far I've hiked, I just use
> > a Garmin Forerunner 310XT on my wrist--gives me distance, pace, time,
> > and lots of other stuff, and I've never had any problems even under
> > trees or in canyons. Once I get home I can download the tracks onto
> > Google Earth--and since I have Halfmile's tracks there too, I can even
> > see exactly where I wandered off the trail a bit to have lunch or for
> some other purpose. . .
> > --Ron "Slo Charger" Graybill
> >
> > Ronald D. Graybill
> > 11832 Fordham Place
> > Riverside, CA  92505
> > rgraybill44 at gmail.com
> > 909-910-9339
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Tom Grundy <caver456 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >  Haven't tried the apps though they did seem to be a big hit on the
> > trail
> >> last year.
> >>
> >> One note on needing a cell connection to download maps: there are
> >> several good apps that use the internal gps and also let you download
> (a.k.a.
> >> 'cache') map tiles to your device while connected, for use while
> offline.
> >> I like Locus Pro (android) but haven't been searching around too much.
> >>
> >> The google maps app does let you download tiles of its basic map
> >> layer for offline use.
> >>
> >> Locus Pro (locus basic is free) lets you download tiles from any map
> >> server source, so, the possibilities are only limited by the space on
> >> your memory card (and your battery life / charging system, and your
> >> willingness to keep your nose down in the screen).  It also takes
> >> photo and audio waypoints, takes tracks and more.  Good stuff.
> >>
> >> Note on Locus Pro: leave the datum on WGS84 (the default), its
> >> conversions to other datums (data?) are inaccurate.
> >>
> >> Lots of folks like Backcountry Navigator Pro.  There are others.
> >>
> >> On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 2:25 PM, walt Durling <durlfam4 at icloud.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > The two responses are good advice, but only if Shon is hiking a
> >> > major trail where there are trail guides and apps as discussed.
> >> > Perhaps Shon isn't planning to hike the PCT  or AT or CDT or some
> >> > such where there aren't apps or mileage guides.  He might want to
> >> > consider a good
> >> pedometer,
> >> > one which is tri-axis so can be carried on a lanyard or in a pocket.
> >> They
> >> > calculate calories burned, steps taken, and distance covered, both
> >> > in kilometers and miles.  That said, some are more accurate than
> >> > others, >
> >> but
> >> > online researching will reveal the better ones.
> >> >
> >> > I used one while training for the PCT last year, but didn't carry
> >> > it on the trail because I have the iphone apps which gave exact
> >> > mileage (more
> >> or
> >> > less).  One thing to be mindful about is that he needs to calibrate
> >> > it to his normal stride, which works well on level or moderately
> >> > hilly terrain where he can maintain a steady stride.  But most long
> >> > trails have lots of ascents and descents which necessitate taking
> >> > shorter strides. This >
> >> would
> >> > probably affect the mileage accuracy over many miles.  Just a thought.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Sent from my iPad
> >> >
> >> > > On Jan 31, 2015, at 16:51, Dan Welch <welchenergy at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > "...I really want a good way to determine how many miles I hiked
> >> > > for my
> >> > trail journals. I'm worried that I might drop several hundred
> >> > dollars on
> >> a
> >> > GPS unit and find that they don't correctly calculate you're
> distance."
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > A solid majority of the people I ran into last year (as well as >
> >> > > >
> >> myself)
> >> > used a smartphone with the Halfmile or Guthook apps.  I started
> >> > with Halfmile only and picked up the Guthook app after the first
> >> > few sections
> >> of
> >> > trail.
> >> > >
> >> > > They are both VERY accurate at tracking trail distances, but the
> >> > Halfmile app uses the Halfmile map mileages (surprise!) which seem
> >> > to
> >> have
> >> > become the standard (with good reason.)
> >> > >
> >> > > The Guthook app costs $5.99 per section and there are 5 sections
> >> > (Southern, Central and Northern CA; Or; and WA.)  I picked these up
> >> > >
> >> after
> >> > So Cal. because they do a better job of describing upcoming camping
> >> areas -
> >> > including pictures of each one.  BTW - The graphics on the Apple
> >> > version are far superior to the Android version, but the campsite
> >> > information is accurate on both.
> >> > >
> >> > > Just so you know, most of the smartphones today function as
> >> > > standalone
> >> > GPS devices (GLONASS based) and don't need cell reception to give
> >> > you accurate coordinates.  However, without a cell connection, you
> >> > can't download a Google map for it to "locate" you on.  In other
> >> > words, you >
> >> can
> >> > get accurate coordinates, but it will only show you as a point on a
> >> > >
> >> blank
> >> > screen.  You have to pull out your paper or electronic topo maps to
> >> utilize
> >> > this information and get your trail mileage.  Thyat is kind of a
> >> > pain to
> >> do
> >> > several times a day.
> >> > >
> >> > > However, the Halfmile app will immediately give you your exact
> >> > > trail
> >> > mileage so you can locate yourself more quickly on your trail map.
> >> > It
> >> also
> >> > gives you distances to the next landmark, water source, campsite,
> >> > whatever.  If you are off trail even by 25 meters or so, it will
> >> > tell >
> >> you
> >> > that and give you a pointer back in the direction of nearest trail.
> >> > >
> >> VERY
> >> > handy when crossing snow fields.
> >> > >
> >> > > Guthook does it one better by showing your location on its own
> >> > > series
> >> of
> >> > internal topo nmaps.  So it needs no cell link to place you on the
> >> > on-screen topo map and can be very handy in finding campsites and
> >> > water sources that are not obviuous.
> >> > >
> >> > > All this to say, if you have a smartphone, I would recommend NOT
> >> > bringing a standalone GPS.  It is just extra money and extra weight...
> >> And
> >> > it's actually far less functional.
> >> > >
> >> > > Timberline
> >> > >
> >> > > _______________________________________________
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