GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System. Though there are many components to the system, the essential elements are:
a) a series of satellites, and
b) the actual GPS units that people carry.

Three satellites are used to locate your position across the Earth’s surface and another can be used with them to calculate your altitude in a process called triangulation.

GPS units come in an array of prices, with the higher priced models offering more features. A very basic unit will have a display plus controls that allow you to find your latitude (east-west lines drawn around the Earth) and longitude (north-south lines radiating from the North Pole to the South Pole).

Within that basic configuration there are a variety of models and styles, most of them from Garmin. Garmin is the leading manufacturer, but there are others. Whichever brand you favor, you’ll find options for different battery life, control placement and weight.

Waterproof GPS Models

Some models are waterproof - very handy when crossing rivers and lakes or if you get caught in a storm. Different models offer different numbers of waypoints. A ‘waypoint’ is another term for terrestrial coordinates - latitude, longitude, altitude, etc. (’etc’ because there are, in fact, several ways to locate a point in space other than latitude, longitude and altitude.)

Another use of the term ‘waypoint’, and one which is incorporated into different GPS units, is the number of landmarks given on the display. That will vary depending on which map is loaded, but the ability to display more can be a blessing or a curse. You need enough to orient yourself, but the screen can become too busy to be useful.

As you go up in price, most GPS units will add features like a digital compass. Other options can include the ability to download area maps into the unit, or changing maps, zoom and relocate, and many more.

Popular Garmin GPS

One popular Garmin model (the eTrex) is waterproof, displays up to 500 waypoints, and features controls along the side in order to maximize the display size. It’s also lightweight (150g with batteries.)

Prices range from $100-$300 or more. In the GPS arena you often get what you pay for. The Garmin eTrex Summit, for example, is around $200 and has some handy features. Some GPS units require movement in order to give a heading, but the built-in compass of this model allows you to stand still and get a reading.

It also has an altimeter for judging height. That’s very useful when you are trying to use the GPS in conjunction with an area map and the contour lines showing altitude are confusing. Like other models, it has 12 channels. Those extra channels - just like a portable home phone - give you options when you might get interference from other nearby devices.

Different models have some nice-to-have features like back-lighting so you can read them at night without holding a flashlight. Many offer a tracking log so you can recall where you’ve been. That’s very useful for drawing on a paper map to nail down your route.

Do some research and look at a lot of models before deciding. If you do, you’ll definitely find one that suits your needs and budget.

Experienced hikers will often rely on maps or GPS units to navigate along more remote trails and through wilderness areas. In fact, it’s the more experienced hikers who tend to do this and the beginners who think they can just wing it.

Casual hikers will often reason that they can stick to better-known trails and skip the hard work that’s required to learn how to read maps. And that’s a mistake, because you really can get seriously lost, even close to clearly-marked trails.

Even stepping a few yards off a trail into thick forest or wooded areas has confused more than inexperienced hiker. In the absence of sun, stars or geographical markers, it’s easy to lose orientation and end up walking even farther off the trail. Before you know it, you’re lost.

Many maps won’t necessarily help you out of that forest and straight back to your trail. But you’ll usually run across another trail or track that, unknown to you, connects with the one you previously were on. A good map will help you easily get back to your starting point.

So, how and where do you start learning how to read maps?

Get yourself a current map covering the area you intend to hike. Study it at home at your leisure. Although you won’t be able to match the map against features you can see, it will help you understand the symbols used.

Almost all will have a legend. Become familiar with the symbols. They differ from map publisher to publisher. Learn what the map’s scale is - look for 1 inch = 1 mile or similar markings.

Bear in mind though that distance is only part of the equation. One mile on level ground is one thing. But if three-quarters of that distance takes you from near sea level to 2,000 feet high by a steep, winding incline, that’s quite another.

To factor in the latter, you need to consider altitude. Altitude markings are usually indicated by a series of curved lines that, if “stretched out”, would make a circle.

The distance between two curved lines around some natural feature like a large hill indicates the altitude. Often there will also be numbers printed along the lines to assist. These are usually referred to as contour lines. The closer the lines are together, the steeper the terrain.

Now look at the longitude and latitude lines. Longitude runs “up and down” or north and south. Latitude runs from “right and left” or east and west. Those directions are put in quotes because they’re all just map-reading conventions. Maybe you’ve seen one of those maps that has the world turned upside down with Australia (usually “the land down under”) on the top and Canada down under?

In daylight you can use the sun and natural features to orient yourself. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. So early in the day, find the sun and you are facing mostly East. Late in the day, face the direction of the light and you are facing predominately West. There are variations because of coastlines, latitude, etc. It’s just an approximate starting point.

At night, you can use the stars. You can often see the sky reasonably well as wilderness areas are usually some distance from city lights. Look up about 8pm at night. Look for the Big Dipper, the group of stars that looks like a cooking ladle. The two on the end of the “scoop” form a line that points toward the north star, away from the scoop.

Even at night then, if you have a flashlight to read your map by, you can get yourself back onto a trail to find your way back.

The traditional and time-honored practice of navigating with a compass is rapidly losing ground to modern technology in the form of GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation. Nevertheless compasses are still usually cheaper, while it’s not a bad idea for hikers to know how to use them.

First some background. Thousands of years ago our ancestors first observed that a certain type of metal floating on a leaf in a pond would always orient itself to point in a particular direction. Much later - in fact only a few centuries ago - the discovery was made that the Earth’s magnetic field is responsible for this phenomenon. The Earth is somewhat like a very large bar magnet.

That knowledge has evolved and been incorporated into modern compasses, some of which can be extremely sophisticated instruments.

Detailed and Accurate

A good compass will have a very detailed and accurate set of degree lines. Most will have the North-pointing tip painted red to make it easy to distinguish from the South-pointing tip. Very few will point to true geographic north. The difference is called the magnetic declination.

That’s because there’s a large concentration of ore under the Earth’s surface, about a thousand miles away from the North Pole, that causes the needle to deviate from the direction determined by the Earth’s magnetic field.

Some compasses have mechanisms that allow you to adjust for this, depending on your location. To know how much to adjust, it’s necessary to refer to local maps.

Differences are Minor

In most cases however the differences are minor and you’ll usually be concerned about which way you’re heading, not the absolute direction. So you can adjust visually by just tilting the map a little bit and not paying too much attention to true north.

Here’s a relatively easy way to use your compass to find your position. Find a landmark in your vicinity that you can locate on the map. Draw a line from that to the point where you guess you are. Find another 45 degrees or more from the first and draw another line. Where they intersect is a good approximation to your present location.

When you use a compass, you can orient yourself approximately by combining what you see on the dial with some basic knowledge. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. So, early in the day, face the light and you’ll be facing (approximately) East. Similarly, face the sun late in the day and you’ll be facing West. This is only approximate. Depending on your latitude you can be off.

Obviously if you face west, East is at your back. Draw an imaginary line along that direction and compare with the compass. No single reading is definitive, but the more facts you include, the better off you’ll be.

Often, just knowing the general direction you are or want to travel is tremendously helpful. Climbing up and down hills, around winding trails you can easily get disoriented. Knowing even the approximate direction back to your desired location can help keep you from getting very far lost.

Whenever you step off the trail, be sure to note the direction you are going as you step off. Keep track of any twists and turns you make. That way, if you lose your direction, and can’t find the trail again, you can use your compass to help get you back.

This is a solid brass reproduction of a large antique pocket compass and it is hand polished to a mirror-like shine. There is a small lever on the side of either compass that operates a needle lift mechanism to protect the compass bearing. The compass is 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter, 11/16 inch (1.75 cm) thick, and weighs 8.4 ounces (238 grams). The compass rose is graduated in degrees and has a standard surveyor’s 0 - 90 degree scale from North and South.
3 7/8″ Hardwood Storage and Display Case with Hand Inlaid Compass Rose

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Silver Professional Carabiner Compass (110mm) - 110 MM Zinc Carabiner. 1 Included. Dual Useage: Carabiner and Compass!

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Eton FR300 Red Cross Emergency Radio - This all-in-one unit offers functionality and versatility that makes it ideal for emergencies. The FR300 provides you with a radio, light, and cell-phone battery life when you need it most. The hand-crank power generator charges the internal rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack. With the NOAA weather and TV VHF channels, you can find weather forecasts or listen to TV shows when you’re away from the set. Eton Corporation will contribute 1% of the sales of this radio to the American Red Cross. Model Year: 2008, Product ID: 133459, Shipping Exclusion: This item is only available for shipment by UPS to the lower 48 United States at this time. APO, FPO, PO BOX, Hawaii, and Alaska shipments may not be possible for this item at this time. (Please call prior to purchase.), Special Order: This is a Special Order item and may not be stocked at this time. We are an authorized dealer, and the item may be shipped by the manufacturer. Special Order items are not returnable/exchangeable and do not qualify for our Low Price Guarantee.

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The Suunto Memory Belt records your heart rate onto an integrated chip for later review on your computer. Just wear the Suunto Memory Belt when you hit the trails, go to the gym, or start a race, and then upload the data to you computer to evaluate your performance.

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This amazingly priced compass is perfect for that first time or experienced user. The precision of this instrument will stun you for days to come.

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Attach the non-magnetic Ball Socket mount to any pocket transit and tripod, or monopod, and you’re set up for extremely accurate azimuth and inclination readings. Features: Exclusive mount for all Brunton transits Adjustable for azimuth and vertical angle measurements Manufactured using non-magnetic aluminum and brass Standard 1/4 - 20 thread for mounting

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Keep on track and be prepared with this Nomad digital compass. As compact as a traditional compass, the rugged, handheld V2 Nomad Pro gives you a digital compass, altimeter, and barometer, and a weather center at your fingertips. Offers compass bearings, direction readings. Declination adjustable. Up to the minute temperature readings, time and date display. Two alarms. 3.7 oz. Nomad digital compass runs on CR2302 3V lithium batteries.

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