davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on Jul 16, 2020 9:32:49 GMT -8
Note, one does not need to rely on one's cellphone as a reason to bring digital topo maps. I've done that to use a tracking app in Death Valley NP but otherwise have learned to not carry such on longer trips as the limited battery life requires adding a lithium storage battery doubling such weight and bulk. Instead bring the tiny Canon Powershot ELPH 190 camera that has a 10x zoom unlike smartphones. Before a trip, after formatting that clears for space, will connect to my laptop and add as jpg's into SDcard memory any screenshots of topos or Google Earth images of use and even txt files of route info that can then be viewed on the camera LCD.
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Post by cweston on Jul 16, 2020 9:47:10 GMT -8
Interesting...
I don't think I've ever downloaded images TO my camera, but I'm pretty sure it's possible. Unfortunately, my P&S camera has a pretty crappy screen, so I imagine it'd be quite difficult to read a map from it. I might experiment with that, though.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2020 9:53:47 GMT -8
Paper maps for me too. Also have the maps on GPS as well.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jul 16, 2020 10:25:38 GMT -8
Yeah, I find backpacking-sized digital screens totally un-enjoyable. Paper only for me...
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Jul 16, 2020 10:31:44 GMT -8
I think blasé these days are those who rely only on their phones.
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Post by hikerchick395 on Jul 16, 2020 18:26:18 GMT -8
Ha...I refer to a map when I get home. I like to know what I did, not what I'm doing. That said, I still collect old topo maps when I come across them.
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Post by oldbill on Jul 18, 2020 2:54:24 GMT -8
I use Avenza with CalTopo pdfs covering my intended route on my phone. It has a 6" screen but is 7oz. I frequently travel solo in the Winds late season with few others around and don't carry a SAT phone or SOS device. Once went up the wrong drainage having the same general compass bearing. Wasn't a pleasant night in a sleet/snowstorm thinking about my situation. I'm more experienced now but like the ability to check position.
Still carry color print offs of CalTopo maps and copies of relevant area from EarthWalk or Beartooth. Larger maps are very helpful for planning.
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ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,875
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Post by ErnieW on Jul 19, 2020 10:21:29 GMT -8
I have Avenza on my larger Android tablet. That is not bad for browsing maps. It stays home. I find Avenza adequate on the phone. Paper maps are good to have with you. They never run out of batteries. They are always at the same scale. Digital maps you have to be careful what the zoom is when estimating distance/time. If I will be using printed maps a lot I print on Adventure paper.
I used to print paper maps for the people I was leaving my itinerary with. Now I have been printing to PDF. If I was running late they could forward the PDF to the SAR.
I have been trying to budget for an InReach Mini but haven't gotten there yet. Unfortunately corona threw a wrench in there. But what I had been doing is texting coordinates and add comments like "trying to get to here for the night". I run the cell when I am up in elevation. Unlike a phone call the txt only needs a minute or so of seeing a cell tower to transmit it. I have to do some tests on how this affects battery life. Possibly use more if the phone has outbound texts queued. It might be trying harder to get a cell. I think it probably is always trying to get a cell (and going to full power) if it is on so pending txts may not matter.
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Post by cweston on Jul 19, 2020 12:43:02 GMT -8
I have been trying to budget for an InReach Mini but haven't gotten there yet. Unfortunately corona threw a wrench in there. But what I had been doing is texting coordinates and add comments like "trying to get to here for the night". I run the cell when I am up in elevation. Unlike a phone call the txt only needs a minute or so of seeing a cell tower to transmit it. I have to do some tests on how this affects battery life. Possibly use more if the phone has outbound texts queued. It might be trying harder to get a cell. I think it probably is always trying to get a cell (and going to full power) if it is on so pending txts may not matter. I'm old school. I did recently buy a conventional PLB; no other communication capability. I never get a cell signal in the areas I hike. (I usually lose the signal well before the trailhead.) I've thought about the Spot or In-reach, but the idea of my wife stressing out at home because I forgot to check in, or the unit is lost or broken, etc worries me. If I lose the PLB, no one but me will ever know that My wife doesn't particularly care about tracking my progress from day-to-day, so this is the solution that feels right for us.
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ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,875
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Post by ErnieW on Jul 19, 2020 15:59:23 GMT -8
I've thought about the Spot or In-reach, but the idea of my wife stressing out at home because I forgot to check in, or the unit is lost or broken, etc worries me. If I lose the PLB, no one but me will ever know that I considered a PLB. I like it is pay once basically. I don't like it is full scale search and rescue or not. Messengers can send more info so the rescue can be scaled as needed. I would now like an InReach Mini but the purchase price and the subscription are a hurdle. Being able to send plan changes during a hike would be a big plus. And if money is no object you can get a plan with unlimited breadcrumbs. Then your wife can log to the website and see the you're still moving so probably OK and then not worry. Also I guess you can't run breadcrumb mode on longer trips for battery reasons.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jul 19, 2020 17:56:26 GMT -8
I would now like an InReach Mini but the purchase price and the subscription are a hurdle. Being able to send plan changes during a hike would be a big plus. And if money is no object you can get a plan with unlimited breadcrumbs. Then your wife can log to the website and see the you're still moving so probably OK and then not worry. Also I guess you can't run breadcrumb mode on longer trips for battery reasons. I have an Anker that recharges my phone, which is my camera and bookshelf (Kindle) as well as MP3 player. The plans with the InReach range from minimal (a few texts and 911 capability) to full on expedition (unlimited texts and tracking) - and I can change the plan from month to month, or suspend services altogether for part of the year. The Anker battery will charge the InReach, the phone, other people's phones, my Bluetooth earbuds, and anything else that takes one of the two connectors on the two USB cables I pack around.
At the moment I'm paying $15/month - texts cost a little bit per text, but I can still do it if I have to, and that's well worth it in an emergency. Incoming texts are free so if someone at home wants to update you on something it doesn't cost anything.
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Post by starwalker on Jul 20, 2020 20:47:20 GMT -8
I'm a mapaholic, I've got tons of paper maps including USGS, national parks, and various areas I just find interesting. And, I look through Acme Mapper almost everyday just out of curiosity.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jul 21, 2020 15:13:21 GMT -8
I still carry a paper map and a compass as a backup, but Avenza on my phone is my primary navigation tool.
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Post by burntfoot on Jul 23, 2020 16:35:52 GMT -8
nm
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Post by burntfoot on Jul 23, 2020 16:37:35 GMT -8
I think blasé these days are those who rely only on their phones. I am on the Shuttler List for the Colorado Trail. Why anyone would want to use Gunnison for a resupply point 40 miles away from the trail is beyond me. But, I took 4 hikers back out to the trail from the hostel here in town. I was just getting home when I got a call from another hiker saying that one of those 4 hikers left his phone in my vehicle. And, that they would wait at the trailhead until I returned. The hiker who made the call was a couple miles away by then up on the divide where he could get cell coverage. I got out there and handed him his phone. The first thing he said is "Ah, you brought my map." Sorry, but that is too much of a crutch. Learn to read a real map.
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