GPS advice

Re: GPS advice

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:51:43 GMT

Clive My mother was a district nurse/midwife b4 she was married Her 1st district after qualifying was Llanberis She and the doctor both had keys tothe station-masters office-so they could have somewhere moderately comfortable to wait for the mountain recue team to come down

It was very much "Call the midwife " stuff-even the pushbike-she drew rather a short straw with a pushbike in Snowdonia-may explain my intolerance for veterinary surgeons who won't do OOH or house visits

Wynne

Re: GPS advice

Lorna McHardy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:39:54 GMT

What was that TV series on quite a few years ago now.... showed all manner of spectacular rescues of pretty much all kinds. I used to watch it because it was feel-good TV - they never showed ones that didn't go well. Of course, that's seriously inadvisable for the message it sends regarding somebody always being there to pull you out of holes of your own making, often at considerable risk to themselves, but the stuff these guys do is jaw-dropping, especially the helicopter pilots. I remember one who took his down a Summerset gorge with sheer walls on either side quite horribly close to the blades, in order to get a woman off a shelf she'd landed on when she fell. Watching-disbelievingly-with-open-mouth stuff.

Re: GPS advice

Mark Holmes — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:27:00 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

I escorted a young couple off the summit of Snowdon in November 2009. young girl, 18 or so, wearing just a T shirt and pink cardigan, no coat, no map, no compass, no food, no brain, and trainers got to the summit and had got wet through sweating - summit in the cloud and temp -3c - then she got very cold and disorientated - I got them off the summit, gave her a hot drink and chocolate bar and a hat to wear for while; she warmed up and was fine. She even asked how many calories were in the drink and choc bar! unbelievable!

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Yes I was surrounded by them on Ben Nevis, Trainers T Shirts and plastic bags and bin liners for water proofs.

Re: GPS advice

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:26:29 GMT

Wasdale mountain rescue site has equally amusing stories to tell..... the one about the family who went up Scafell Pike with 2 small children is fascinating in its idiocy. We can laugh because no one got hurt but these people are putting the rescuers at risk!

Last year while doing the Yorkshire 3 peaks I came across someone in thick fog on the top of Ingleborough who had absolutely no idea where the route down was. No map. No compass. No mates. No braincells.

Re: GPS advice

Lorna McHardy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:08:25 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

If you want a laugh, read Lochaber mountain rescues annual newsletters where they list the rescues carried out. very sarcastic comments such as "26 year old male became disorientated on the Mamores in the dark due to lack of map, compass and torch" and "13% of rescues were for teachers"

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I talked to a mountain rescue guy once who was full of stories like that. I particularly liked the one about the man who thought taking a short cut across Rannoch Moor was a good idea (no gear with him, of course, just trainers, trousers, t-shirt... hey, it was summer!)

Re: GPS advice

Clive Ansell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:01:13 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

However, I sometimes think GPS units (and mobile phones for that matter) give some people a sense of false security in the mountains, I have many times come across people who are not sure where they are, or even lost, and have no map or compass, just a GPS unit. I would always buy a good quality compass and watch altimeter before a GPS.

[/quote]

You would be a proper idiot to go up a mountain with just a GPS. Really what good is a grid ref with no grid? Even those gps devices with mapping, its never as good as a proper OS map and then theres battery failure to think about. Some people really deserve to be left on the mountain when they get into trouble.

[/quote]

There are plenty of them about! I have stumblerd across people in the mountains with no map or compass, no torch, no food and inadequate clothing.

Re: GPS advice

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:49:07 GMT

erm...I did say from the start that I would be using my OS map for navigation, but was looking for just a bit of help with checking routes, looking at data afterwards etc.... . Hence why I am not fussed about getting a GPS with fancy and expensive OS maps on it....!

Wynne - pmsl! Just picturing you sitting there thinking 'OMG, what have I just said..' - lol! I did know what you meant.

Re: GPS advice

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:45:27 GMT

The other one is idiots whogo upthe mountain by themselves in a fog-OK a fog can come down suddenly-but some people go upwhen it's been foggy since early morning

Wynne

Re: GPS advice

Mark Holmes — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:18:54 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[/quote]

Re: GPS advice

Clive Ansell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:10:30 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I just think that the handsets which give you a 'proper' map (ie OS standard) are so expensive, is it worth it? I would always want a paper map as well anyway (machines can fail) so what's the point?

I would want a barometric altimeter so would need to get the Etrex 30...... not a cheap option!

I have more to think about now....

[/quote]

I don't think the more expensive ones with OS maps are worth the money for walking/trekking/hiking/mountaineering. To me they are more of a gadget or a toy, in fact I rapidly got fed up with my old Etrex Summit - not that useful, burns through batteries, and always gets in the way by tying up at least one hand. Having to constantly get it in/out of pockets or a case was a nuisance, plus it would often not work or be very slow if cold. I now carry my GPS just as a back up safety aid in the event of getting lost to get a grid reference, to find a hut or bothy, or to return to a camp or stashed kit. They are certainly not reliable enough as a sole navigation aid.

A few mountaineering courses I have been on in the UK and the Alps; first rule was that no GPS or electronic devices allowed, very much a back to basics approach teaching good mountain-craft. There is a need to have and be able to use correctly a map and compasses (2, a spare) (I have seen so many people in the Scottish mountains, in winter, without either!) GPS batteries can give out quickly, particularly so in the cold. (Always carry spare batteries, preferably rechargeable or lithium ion disposables as lighter and work better if cold)

I think a wrist watch altimeter with electronic compass (with a conventional back up compass too) is far more useful and more practical than a GPS unit. I think a separate altimeter is better, as again if the GPS batteries give out you have no GPS and no altimeter if depending on a single unit. I have a Suunto altimeter that is now 14 years old - fantastic piece of kit. I believe one can now get wrist watch GPS units, but I have no experience of these.

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Bit OTT Clive - she's only going for a walk and needs a bit of modern assistance, she's not climbing Everest! Vista HCx has a barometric altimeter and is a lot cheaper than the 30 which doesn't seem to have advanced much except for the wireless communicating and longer battery life, even the screen is the same size

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You may well be right.

Wouldn't need one for Mount Everest - just follow the crowds and join the queues to get over the passes

Re: GPS advice

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:21:15 GMT

I've just realised the last post could be misunderstood What I meant was I wish I was 36

Wynne

Re: GPS advice

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:20:01 GMT

Gillian 36-I wish

Re: GPS advice

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:39 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I just think that the handsets which give you a 'proper' map (ie OS standard) are so expensive, is it worth it? I would always want a paper map as well anyway (machines can fail) so what's the point?

I would want a barometric altimeter so would need to get the Etrex 30...... not a cheap option!

I have more to think about now....

[/quote]

Re: GPS advice

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:45:02 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Thank you all so much.....very useful advice.

And thanks for the birthday wishes..... 21...... I wish! Just in case anyone is interested, I was 36.

[/quote]

Many happy returns!

Re: GPS advice

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:12:47 GMT

Thank you all so much.....very useful advice.

And thanks for the birthday wishes..... 21...... I wish! Just in case anyone is interested, I was 36.

Re: GPS advice

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:55:24 GMT

Happy birthday! :)

Re: GPS advice

Clive Ansell — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:06:06 GMT

Yes, sorry, I forgot. Happy birthday, 21st is it?

Re: GPS advice

Lorna McHardy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:03:55 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

It is my birthday today

[/quote]

Just saw this in time... happy birthday

Re: GPS advice

Clive Ansell — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:55:00 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I just think that the handsets which give you a 'proper' map (ie OS standard) are so expensive, is it worth it? I would always want a paper map as well anyway (machines can fail) so what's the point?

I would want a barometric altimeter so would need to get the Etrex 30...... not a cheap option!

I have more to think about now....

[/quote]

Re: GPS advice

Ian Mostyn — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:50:51 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]It is my birthday today so looking at what ian will be getting for me....he just doesn't know it yet!

[/quote]

Re: GPS advice

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:43:55 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

Just make sure in your pursuit of a bargain that you don't buy the older brick version

[/quote]

If you mean by the older brick version the Vista HCx I'm on about it is almost identical in dimensions and weight to the eTrex 30 but with a slightly smaller screen and IMO still represents better value for money at what it costs now if you don't want wireless sharing with other units. The Oregon is significantly heavier.

Re: GPS advice

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:21:33 GMT

Happy birthday

Wynne

Re: GPS advice

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:44:48 GMT

Just make sure in your pursuit of a bargain that you don't buy the older brick version

Re: GPS advice

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:01:34 GMT

ah - yes - the NOH one. Hadn't spotted that. Looks good.....

It is my birthday today so looking at what ian will be getting for me....he just doesn't know it yet!

Re: GPS advice

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:45:04 GMT

Addendum to last post Gillian: its on Handtec for £113.88