by Michael Hodgson

A "Salvation For Lost Souls," proclaims one GPS (Global Positioning System) company ad in a June 1996 Outside magazine. "Works in dense forests, deep canyons and river gorges," claims another in a Backpacker magazine ad. "...Makes navigating easy for any adventurer...A little encouragement to push it to the max, knowing it'll always get you back," boasts yet one more ad in a recent Backpacker . In the summer of 1998, this writer received an e-mail from an Adventure Network visitor asking if I would recommend a GPS unit since he was tired of getting lost and figured a GPS would be the answer to his route-finding challenges. The way he saw it, with a GPS and all that he heard they could do, he'd never be lost again.

Are GPS units the navigational messiah some imply they are, or is the GPS still just an elaborate toy best suited for technophiles?

I'll answer that question with one word--tool. I will also go on to state firmly that GPS units are no navigational messiah either, and even the manufacturers support that position. If you are navigationally impaired, you will still be so even with a GPS. If you do not know how to navigate without a GPS, you'll still be hopeless with one...sorry to burst any bubbles.

You mean I can't toss my compass or map even though I own a GPS?

Even with a GPS, you don't want to toss your map or compass any time soon. In fact, one company, Lowrance and Eagle uses its opening screens, whenever you switch on one of their GPS units, to state in black and white not to use the GPS as a primary source of navigation.

Why?

Because a GPS is not a compass and does not know which way north is. When you turn it on, the only way a GPS can guide you to a destination is if you have been there before and have the coordinates entered (in which case you still need a compass to follow the indicated bearing) or if you have a map and can establish the coordinates (Latitude / Longitude or UTM) and enter them so the GPS can again show the bearing needed to get there (which once again requires a compass).

Why would I want a GPS if I still need a map and compass? Isn't it just one more thing to carry?

Well, yes, but don't overlook the value of a GPS either. It is an ideal navigational tool when landmarks and significant features are difficult to read (in a forest), are nonexistent (a featureless plain or desert) or obscured completely--such as in a fog, whiteout or at night. Can't find where you are? Turn on the GPS and, unless you're in a deep canyon or thick forest, the GPS will establish a position fix allowing you to use the Latitude / Longitude indications to find your exact position on the map. Enter the coordinates of the destination desired, and the GPS will then calculate the compass bearing needed to get there, on a straight line of course.

Again, this is where the compass and map become essential, and why a GPS can become dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced navigator. (Note to the reader mentioned in the first paragraph: sounds like you need to brush up on your navigational skills before you purchase that GPS. Perhaps taking a map and compass course would be in order?...you can begin by reading and using my book, Compass & Map Navigator, co-published by ICS Books and Brunton.)

From Point A to Point B, a straight line bearing indicated by the GPS might take you across a swamp or a canyon or through a man-made hazard. Without a map, you wouldn't know and could get yourself into deep, deep trouble. Consumers must realize that without effective map and compass skills, a GPS cannot be used safely or properly.

What about a GPS's electronic features designed to keep you on course? How useful are they?

A GPS's ability to estimate travel speed, sound alarms when you are off course, and predict how long it will take you to arrive at your destination are certainly valuable features, as long as you're willing to burn battery power and keep the GPS out, on, and with a clear view of the sky above--which means holding the unit at arm's length if you are intending on hiking. Not exactly a practical use.

While it's true that an increasing number of mountain bikers enjoy real time navigation capability, which is why Garmin and Lowrance offer bike mounts for their units, real time is not practical most of the time. Real time navigation is pretty neat, but unless you are flying, driving or boating, it isn't critical information.

For backcountry on foot, the best use of a GPS is turning it on and off intermittently to establish position fixes and obtain your next bearing. And this is why the new 12 channel receivers are so valuable, because from the time you turn them on to the time they establish a new fix takes mere seconds.

© 1999 Michael Hodgson. All Rights Reserved.