Links to Civilization

[ggryd]

I have 8 days upcoming to spend in YNP and have gathered considerable information and planning from these pages. This has been a great source...

Being old school, I have never carried any communication devices on bike or foot, but a conversation with a friend today (not my wife!) got me thinking about a GPS unit of some kind.

Thoughts and comments?

[Wickett]

I do not use a GPS for two reasons. 1. The landmarks are so prominent that a map is all that I need. 2. Where I go GPS signals are often not available or reliable (too many mountains)

I do keep my cell with me and most times, if you have AT&T, I am able to give updates on my trip to my wife while on the trip. She has my hiking plan and knows how I like to take deviations.

All that being said a Sat phone or emergency radio would always give you a better chance for rescue should something happen. I do Search and Rescue for the Coast Guard and those who are equipped are easier to find.

Cheers!

[jeremy1701]

I carry a GPS, but not for navigation at all. I use it to maintain a record of my tracks and to mark interesting way-points. Then I upload them to everytrail:

http://www.everytrail.com/profile.php?user_id=81493

Also GPS won't allow for two way communication. You would need something like a GPS/Radio combo (like the Garmin Rino) or a Spot device (which only allows for out bound communication) for that.

[Wickett]

I like the everytrail idea. I might pick up a gps just for that.

[AlmostThere]

If you're going to use a GPS for navigation, take a class first. If you don't know how to read a map a GPS is not much use. I've actually met people who think that the type you take hiking is just like the one in the car, and it will tell you where to turn.... And you should have a map as well, as GPS units fail. The ones we use for search and rescue are such battery pigs we have to take a set of batteries for each day. All that said, I rarely pull out the map - usually only to route myself cross country. Trails in Yosemite are mostly like freeways.

The Garmin Rhino has an FRS radio - they do not have a good range and do not operate on frequencies that would be useful to you for calling for help or obtaining a weather report. I do have a sheriff's radio and have taken it out in the parks, and had very spotty reception.

A SPOT or personal locater beacon would be a better choice for emergency 911 calls. SPOT would allow you to press the OK button and send signals to map your progress for the folks at home.

[bill-e-g]

Love carrying a GPS with the entire Sierra on it.
Garmin eTrex Vista HCx.
With Lithium batts it will last for a good 4 days on
for a good 8 hrs a day.
I usually take rechargables that last 2 days and
take Liths as backups.
This is my 3rd GPS ... never had failures with probably
usage in the 1000s of hours on any of them.

GPS is like anything else in life. If you don't know how to
use it it's not gonna do you much good.

If you are in next to canyons walls then it may get confused.
In heavy tree cover it may wander.
Bring paper map as backup.

(btw... I also bring a media player for nighttime enjoyment)
If you are really old school then you need to hike in blue jeans,
bring a 20lb bedroll, bring a 70 lb pack, etc.
I say.. the technology exists... so I'm gonna take advantage
of it... just like a nice ultralight sleeping bag and ultralight pack.

Have fun.

[balzaccom]

I don't think you have to choose between using a GPS or wearing Levis and carrying a 70 lb. pack. Everybody chooses their own priorities. As I think I stated previously, I love GPS when I am sailing, but just don't see the need for it in the Sierra--particularly when we are often out for a week or more, and don't like carrying batteries for much of anything.

But every piece of equipment is a compromise. We take a very small camera. Some people don't take a camera at all. Other can't live without a full sized SLR. Who's right? We don't take a music on our trips. But we do take fishing gear, and M often takes a book. Who's right?

As long as you are on the trail and it works for you, do it!

[bill-e-g]

That wasn't my point.

Take whatever makes you happy. Carry whatever your heart desires.
Listen to music while you hike if that makes you happy.

I prefer to avoid the trail or at least get 1/2 of the trip off trail travel.

[ggryd]

Wow!

Thanks to all you wizened souls for responding to this GPS deal. Just the kind of discussion I sought. I also had to laugh at the "old school" definition, at least it made me feel younger. Thanks, again.

Personally, I'm a map devotee; love orienteering and can study maps at length. And really bring no sort of techno-communications devices, other than a loud whistle.

What I've realized over the years, however, is that I will err on the side of comfort, relative to weight. But with age comes wisdom, (or it's supposed to) and my next upgrades will be "weighty" decisions, ie, how does the curve shift relative to age, weight and comfort?

Any thoughts?

[AlmostThere]

If you're talking about pack weight? That's a whole nother kettle of mushrooms.

Mine weighs 25-30 lbs depending on amount of food. I am more comfortable at night than some of my friends who pack more stuff. Gear selection is a very personal thing tho. Not got anything to do with age... I'm 43 and don't feel like sacrificing anything. So I don't...

[bill-e-g]

Maybe just look at the GPS as a toy.
I like toys. I can put all of Yose in 7.5 USGS detail in it and
look at it for hours at night after the sun sets.
I mentioned that I sometimes don't bring maps and got
flambasted for that... So that's all I'll say about GPS.
It's a great technology.... but make sure you know how to
use it... and that you don't rely on it entirely to get you out
safely.

As for gear. Yowza! There is sooooooo much great stuff out
there... really lightweight stuff nowadays... If you go
enough it's worth your comfort to invest some money in
newer lighter gear.

Have fun

[dan]

I have a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx I bought from REI on sale. It uses 2 AA batteries. I also bought topo map software from Garmin for CA/NV/OR/WA and I'm able to load all of CA on a 2GB MicroSD card.

I really like it, especially for cross-country and hiking down peaks (which ridge to take?). For on-trail stuff in popular areas such as Yosemite it's probably not essential.

Two warnings though. The device takes the MicroSD card, NOT the newer MicroSD HD card. I also believe it can't handle more than 2GB.

For the batteries, I switched to rechargeable batteries (from Alkaline). However, I had problems with the GPS freezing or "hanging". This didn't happen when I used disposable batteries and I was puzzled. I found by accident a setting in the setup menu for Alkaline/Lithium batteries and switched it to Lithium rechargeable. After that, I had no problems with the GPS freezing.

The batteries tend to last a whole weekend (2 days) for the way I use it (on during the day, off at night). I bring spare batteries.

[AlmostThere]

The title of the thread makes me wonder if the OP meant something that could communicate... GPS doesn't do that, which is why I mentioned the SPOT and PLB options.

For endless info on gear, I recommend zenbackpacking.net and Mark Verber's website The stove section on Zen is particularly good if you are confused about the endless options for heating water.

[hotrod4x5]

I have 8 days upcoming to spend in YNP and have gathered considerable information and planning from these pages. This has been a great source...

Being old school, I have never carried any communication devices on bike or foot, but a conversation with a friend today (not my wife!) got me thinking about a GPS unit of some kind.

Thoughts and comments?

So what did you end up using?

[ggryd]

To Hotrod4x5

Same as always: a good map, compass and constant stopsto orientate with landscape and maps. And a whistle for emergencies.

Thanks for asking