Someone learn me on map reading.

[Watchful]

Oh brother... here it comes!

JackBauer takes a course in GPS and gets into navigation.

He studies a little navigation and gets interested in signalling.

Signalling leads to firecraft.

Firecraft leads to foraging.

Foraging to snaring.

Snaring to sheltering.

Before you know, he's stuck in this forum forever! Just like me! Just like you!

 

[JackBauer24]

Oh brother... here it comes!

JackBauer takes a course in GPS and gets into navigation.

He studies a little navigation and gets interested in signalling.

Signalling leads to firecraft.

Firecraft leads to foraging.

Foraging to snaring.

Snaring to sheltering.

Before you know, he's stuck in this forum forever! Just like me! Just like you!

lol well now that you mention it, I've been meaning to learn some hunting skills. Not just hunt to be hunting but hunt anything from birds to bears for survival and be able to field clean and filet. Not to mention I would REALLY love to know how to tan hide and make it usefull.

 

[mete]

Topo maps can tell you lots of things !! You can get a very good idea what grows in the area .I used to help a friend in the lumber business to scout for trees. I had a very good idea what trees could be found just by looking at north or south facing slopes, dry and wet areas etc !! I could also tell good locations for finding deer -where they moved , fed ,bedded down !! When hunting in a new area I would memorize that area's topo map or at least have a copy with me...When you've mastered topos then go to the GPS !

 

[Watchful]

When you've mastered topos then go to the GPS !

In case I didn't drive this point home more obviously, I agree: with no knowledge of navigation, you can find GPS pretty helpful. With knowledge of navigation, you can get maximum benefit from GPS.

I always advocate teaching traditional navigation before GPS. You get more out of both that way.

 

[JackBauer24]

In case I didn't drive this point home more obviously, I agree: with no knowledge of navigation, you can find GPS pretty helpful. With knowledge of navigation, you can get maximum benefit from GPS.

I always advocate teaching traditional navigation before GPS. You get more out of both that way.

Learn how to use a screwdriver before you bust out the dewalt 24volt hammer drill?

Most people would be satisfied with the gps. I'm just that kinda guy that needs to know how and why. And to know how and why means I need to start manually.

 

[jthomas]

Well, I'm a firefighter and there is a search and rescue team here. One of their guys is teaching the GPS course now. I'm going to ask him tonight about some classes possibly. All this class is doing is making me more interested. Watching most of these guys learn a GPS unit is like watching a monkey.....well... using a gps unit. We're moving kinda slow lol.

LOL, I know the feeling. The easiest way to get comfortable with some of the concepts is to go and practice, especially stuff like triangulation. The local BLM office will have both 14' and 7 1/2' maps of your area (probably) which are cheap and very, very handy.

 

[mycroftt]

There's an old joke among experienced orienteers about the value of carrying a GPS unit during a meet. The general consensus is that the best way to use it is to hide behind a tree and use it to knock out your closest rival when he catches up to you - then go back to your map and compass and win the race! You know the joke is old because the units are no longer heavy enough to knock somebody out.

All kidding aside, GPS is great and has its place, but being able to navigate with a map and compass is a "nuts and bolts" type of skill that you can have a lot of fun with and just might come in handy someday.