I'm afraid I was mistaken.... I used the word survival in quotes. It was
in quotes because I sorta got some strong feelings about using an easily
shattered piece of gear to get my butt out of a sling. I was also quoting
somebody else who said their unit gets messed up due to rough handling.
I think GPS is great, really neat, and all that jazz, but it's use as a
primary means of navigation would be a terrible thing to need to rely on.
To me the word survival encompasses a lot of things. Mainly the ability to
make yourself at home in case of emergency. How many people would be able
to do alright if they crashed, and their bike slid off a cliff, and they
were unable to get to the gear they had on their bike? Would they be smart
enough to keep a knife around their neck? Preferably a non-locking blade
made of carbon (not that crummy stainless) steel in a deep hard-plastic
sheath? Would they be better off with a cell phone (which might not work,
and if their legs were broken, they might not be able to get to a better
location to make a call from) or would they be better off with 50 feet of
strong cordage (and the ability to tie useful knots)? How about an easily
used means of fire-making on them at ALL TIMES. I don't mean just a
matchbook, or a lighter. Maybe a good zirconium rod they can spark with
that carbon-steel knife they keep on cord around their neck at all times
perhaps? Easier to use in serious wind, and even rain.
Would I rather count on "getting out" with GPS or the little I know of
aidless navigation? Is the GPS foolproof? Nothing is, that money can buy!
I know some constellations (enough to get myself really lost if I count on
it!), and that the moon is a great aid to the unaided navigator! If the
moon isn't full, you just draw a line from highest end where the shadow
begins to the lower edge where the shadow begins on the other side of it.
Keep that line going away from the moon and that will take you roughly
south. Exactly south? Nope! Closer to real south than your useless GPS
that ran out of batteries? Each time!
Hope this clarifies some of my feelings as to survival!

Chris Astier
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Walker"
To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com>; "bmgecko"
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re:OffRoad survival - NKLR, GPS's
> UUUG! You are missing my point. A GPS as survival gear? No! You prove
my
> point by stating that they get cocked up. Do you really want to bet your
> life on a piece of electronic equipment that is easily smashed and broken?
> Survival gear is the bear nececities my friend, GPS is a convienence and a
> nicety, but should be backed up with a map and compass always. And, if
you
> are solely navigating with a GPS as you go along, and it breaks, you are
> truly screwed even if you have a map if you don't periodically check your
> position on the map as you go along. I'm not speaking out my butt here, I
> have personal experience in this area. You are correct about signs on the
> highway, but sometimes these don't help either. Sometimes navigating on
> foot is hard enough, and obviously, the faster you travel, the more
> difficult it is to be accurate.