[dsn_klr650] offroad survival - nklr, knot-long, real long
Posted: Thu May 25, 2000 2:05 pm
can> > Map and compass.....Put the GPS away and learn how to use these instead, > > because they will never let you down, and I have yet to see a GPS that
lines> > show you what the terrain looks like. Learn how to match the contour
Great story Knot, but..... A map wouldn't have been useless if properly used. First off, the most important thing in map reading is to make sure that you map is up to date and accurate. Second, if you orienteer properly, then it doesn't matter whether or not the road is actually on the map or not. You know where you started from, you know what direction you are heading, and you know how far you went, and that is ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW. This is a prime example of why basic map skills and navigation are so important to learn, because if your navigation is off, it goes very quickly from bad to worse in a vehicle or on a motorcycle. While it is fun to aimlessly explore, you should still always plan your route ahead of time, and set up boundaries, check points, and landmarks. Checkpoints mean just that, you stop and check your map. They should be clearly defined and easy to see from a distance. Terrain association by reading contour lines is another important skill, and when I'm walking I'd rather navigate that way instead of dead reckoning, so I'm not constantly walking up and down hills. This (terrain association) also works for when riding on roads and trails, since the road isn't likely to go in a straight line for long. I have navigated on nearly every continent on earth, except Antarctica, and a map and compass has never let me down, while a GPS has failed on me before. And yes, several times I have had to backtrack to search for lost equipment that one of my soldiers left behind.... It is important that you constantly know exactly where you are, to the best of your ability. In the military, it is the responsibility of everyone in the unit to know the route and navigate, not just the leaders. In 86 there was a senior class from a private school in Portland that nearly all died on Mt. Hood. (two survivors out of 20 something I think) They got lost in a sudden storm because only one person was responsible for navigating, and that person became a frostbite / hypothermia casualty. Don't get me wrong, I think that GPS technology is great, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. What if you fell and smashed that $$$$ box? Or you forgot to change the batteries in it? I have software that can calculate differential equations, finite element analysis, matrices up to 50 x 50. But if I didn't learn how to do calculus, linear algebra and differential equations on my own with pencil and paper first the software would be pretty useless, right? Glad you found your jacket Jeff> > on the map to the ground you are standing on. After you have mastered > > these, then add the GPS to the repetoir. > > Very wise advise, but let me tell you how a GPS helped where a map was > useless: >