Wednesday 29 July 2015

Amphitheater, Thendele – Royal Natal National Park Mont-aux-Sources

Quathlamba
“A mass of spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, mountains of the Dragon, a name given by the Voortrekkers. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”
Panorama April 1966


This blog is all about the Drakensberg Mountains and its Wilderness area, South Africa. I have lost my heart and soul to this area and every single time I hike these mountains, I stand in awe all over again at this magnificent beauty.
"How often in the course of our travels through Kwazulu-Natal do we stop and gaze at the beauty of a distant range of mountains? The Drakensberg stands as a monument to one of the greatest cataclysms the Earth has experienced. As you approach the mountains, you realize why early Zulus called it "Quathlamba", meaning “Barrier of Up-pointed Spears". A cradle of rivers. Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain". (DA Dodds)
Hiking adventures, hiking gear reviews, day walks, accommodation, books, articles and photos, all related to these magnificent mountains will feature here.
Should you want to accompany me on a hike or need some information or advice, please make contact with me. I hope you enjoy the articles.
Please visit the archive for some more interesting stories, photos and reviews.


Available in the Archive (Do read it!)
1) Injasuthi to Lotheni - Epic 6 Day Hike
2) Review: Hi-Tec Altitude Pro RGS Hiking Boots
3) Drakensberg Wilderness Hiking - 14 Day Hiking trip - Lotheni Reserve (Part 3)
4) Lotheni - 14 Day Hiking Trip (Part 2)
5) Lotheni - 14 Day Hiking Trip (Part 3)
6) The Bushmen of the Drakensberg
7) Thunderstorms in the Drakensberg Mountains
8)  Before setting out on a hike………..
9)  Cathkin Peak – Drakensberg
10) Why backpack and multi-day hiking
11) Safety in the Drakensberg
12) In the Shadow of Cathedral Peak
13) Injasuthi – ‘well fed dog’
14) Lotheni Reserve
15) Garmin eTrex 10 & 20 Specs and Review
16) Amphitheater, Thendele – Royal Natal National Park, Mont-aux-Sources


Please note that all photos on this blog are copyright protected. If you would like to obtain
Photos please make contact with the author, Willem Pelser.




Amphitheater, Thendele – Royal Natal National Park
Mont-aux-Sources


“HIKE THE WILDERNESS AND CLIMB THE MOUNTAINS AND GET THEIR GOOD TIDINGS. NATURE’S PEACE WILL FLOW INTO YOU AS SUNSHINE FLOWS INTO TREES. THE WINDS WILL BLOW THEIR FRESHNESS ON YOU, AND THE STORMS WILL GIVE YOU THEIR ENERGY; WHILE CARES WILL DROP OFF LIKE THE AUTUMN LEAVES.”

John Muir





  Along the whole length of the Drakensberg Mountains there is a repetition of the mountain scenery in the form of buttresses, peaks, cutbacks, saddles, pinnacles and spurs, but nowhere is there a finer contrast between the height of the gigantic grey basalt wall and the deep-cut river valleys far below, than in the spectacular Amphitheater in the Mont-aux-Sources area. It is here, high on the summit, that some of South Africa’s important rivers are born.

   Deep in the fluted vaults of the Amphitheater, the echoes of time still linger – echoes of legends and stories of the peaks and valleys, drowned by the noise of the wind and the rushing water, sheltered by the Eastern and Beacon Buttresses, which stand as bastions on either side of the Amphitheater, and guarded by the Sentinel which has kept watch from time immemorial.




    Strange echoes were heard in April 1836 as two devout French missionaries stood at the edge of the escarpment and looked down in utter amazement as they watched the waters of the Tugela crashing down to the gorge below. Realizing the geo-graphical importance of the mountain, they named it Mont-aux-Sources.

   As the two missionary-explorers trudged back to Lesotho all they left behind them was a name and three words of a language never heard before in the deep recesses of the crags.

   New footprints appear in the valleys below as settler Adriaan Olivier looked for a place to build his home,. With infinite care he chose a position at the foot of what is now Oliviershoek Pass and called his farm Tugela Hoek. Life was not easy in those exciting times as Bushmen raids were frequent. In June 1865, Albert Allison was appointed border agent at the Pass, because of the threats of raids and also because the Orange Free State had declared war on the Moshoeshoe Tribe.





   After the discovery of diamonds the traffic from Natal to the Kimberley diamond fields increased tremendously and a new pass became necessary. In 1871 Oliviershoek Pass was constructed and named after Adriaan Olivier. Thomas Baines, in his unpublished Journal 1869-1871, relates how he reached a small wayside hotel at Sandspruit not far from Bergville. Here, at the Dewdrop Inn, weary travelers were assured of a bed and a good meal. The inn-keeper, a Mr. Dodds, kept a tame baboon which gave them great amusement as it drank the beer from their glasses. At the foot of the pass into the Orange Free State was another hotel, the Tent Hotel.

   The first visitors to the Tugela Valley were Fred Kelly and his wife, who arrived at the present Park area in an ox-wagon for their honeymoon in 1878 and who, during their stay, encountered a band of Bushmen – probably the last group to be seen by Europeans in the foothills of the Berg.

   The boundaries between the black tribe reserves, state-owned land and farms were surveyed in 1884 and soon farms were offered for sale. Because of the remoteness of this area and the lack of access roads, the response was poor.

   One colorful and hardy character who lived in the area was a Mr. Dooley, an Irish woodcutter. He may have been the first of the woodcutters but he was followed by many others. As soon as concessions were granted they arrived and started felling the old, indigenous trees. Masses of beautiful yellowwoods were sawn up, only to be used for building materials and furniture. A grim reminder of these hardy characters is the sawpits, still to be seen in the Fairy Glen and the sandstone mass, Dooley, named after the Irish woodcutter.





    In 1906 the then Minister for Agriculture and Lands for Natal, realized the importance of the Upper Tugela Valley and proclaimed and established a national park in the unoccupied territory below the Amphitheater. However, because of a lack of funds, the scheme fell through. Prior to the Union in 1910 the Government decided to sell the land they owned and Col. J. S. Wylie purchased  4 046 hectares.

   The Royal Natal National Park is a monument to three dedicated men, F. F. Churchill, Col. Wylie and Col. Dick, who visited the area with a view to establishing a park for the people of South Africa. Recommendations were put forward and eight years later 3300 hectares were reserved for this purpose. Col. Wylie sold his 4046 hectares to the Government on the condition that the land was used only as a national park.



    Visitors began to frequent the mountain paradise when F. C. Williams built a small hostel on the farm Goodoo, which he leased from Walter Coventry. Climbers and holiday-makers were met at Harrismith and Bergville, whence they traveled in carts. Expeditions to the top of the Amphitheater were organized from the hostel.

   On 16th September the Park was finally established. Three years later, Walter Coventry, who also played an important part in the establishment of the Park, sold his farms, Goodoo and Dooley, to the Provincial Administration. As well as several other farms, Vemvaan, Devil’s Hoek, The Pastures, Diamond, Basutu Pass and a small portion of the adjoining native trust land, the area of the park expanded to 6373 hectares.  In 1950 the farms Rugged Glen and Ungiyeza were purchased, bringing the total area to 8094 hectares. Walter Coventry became the first lessee and busied himself improving the road to Bergville and also pioneered a new route to the top of the Amphitheater.




    In 1926 Walter Coventry and his wife moved to a neighboring farm which later became the Cavern Guest Farm, and Otto Zunckel took over the lease. The Zunckel’s organized walks and climbs, and also led parties to the summit of various peaks.

   The hostel burned down and was rebuilt in 1943, and the new hotel was visited by the British Royal Family in May 1947. The name was then changed to the Royal Natal National Park.

   This mountain paradise is set in some of the most beautiful mountain scenery South Africa has to offer. For those who prefer a quiet, restful holiday, the hutted camp “Thendele” is ideal. Built on a rise with uninterrupted views of the Amphitheater, it is managed by KZN Wildlife. There is a sheltered caravan/tent park where the camper can enjoy all the facilities of a delightful camp site.




   On entering the Park one’s eyes are automatically drawn towards the Amphitheater, a rugged vertical, curved mass of volcanic basalt about 1500 meters high and about 4 kilometers across the top as the crow flies. Alpinists maintain that the view looking up the Tugela Valley compares favorably with anything the world of mountain scenery has to offer.

   The Eastern Buttress, previously called the Outer Tower, is at the south-eastern end of the Amphitheater, a free-standing peak which hides the Devil’s Tooth, Toothpick and the Inner Tower with its three summits. The Amphitheater has been eroded into a series of towers, pillars and buttresses separated by deep gullies and clefts giving the appearance of a massive fluted wall.




   Climbing the wall was first attempted in July 1922, but icy conditions forced the climbers to abandon the climb. After a few attempts, Doyle Liebenberg, Mark Frank, Mary Lear and Aimee Netter made the first ascent of the wall. Dr. Park-Ross was certain that another route was possible and on 19th January 1939, he, together with Walter Zunckel and Mungo Park-Ross, reached the top of the wall by a variation of the Liebenberg route.

   The top of the Amphitheater is not a ridge as some had thought it was, but a huge plateau, forming part of the Lesotho plateau and of great importance to South Africa.

   The true summit of Mont-aux-Sources, 3282 meters, is a peak about 3, 5 kilometers from the edge of the escarpment from the slopes of which some of South Africa’s most important rivers arise. The Tugela arises on the northern slope and curves to the east, passing the Mountain Club Hut, then to crash down the vertical face of the Amphitheater, plugging and cascading to the valley below where it flows for a short distance and passes through a huge tunnel which the relentless, racing waters of this river have carved, grain by grain through the solid sandstone to force its way into the gorge. Gathering the waters from the numerous mountain rivers it flows through Natal as a muddy river and enters the Indian Ocean.




   Close to the source of the Tugela, The Elands River arises and flows towards the edge near the chain ladder and there it flows over the edge as the Elands Waterfall and the runs down towards Witzieshoek. The Elands and the Wilge Rivers converge and eventually run into the Vaal Dam, so vital to the people on the Highveld.

   Seeping from a sponge, and from the western slopes of the Mont-aux-Sources Peak, the Western Khubedu arises. This, together with the eastern Khubedu, forms the upper source of the Orange River, which eventually joins the main or true source, the Sinqu, which rises behind the Rockeries in the Mnweni area and runs through Lesotho across South Africa to end in the Atlantic Ocean.




   It seems incredible that water seeping from the same peak, Mont-aux-Sources, can end up running as two different rivers, one flowing east and the other west, finding their way into different oceans, 1500 kilometers apart.

   In the large depression which lies behind the center of the Amphitheater, there is a large sponge. Waters drain from the eastern slopes of Mont-aux-Sources peak as well as the higher areas to the east. This is the source of the Eastern Khubedu. 

   Here an important river capture has taken place. Over a period of millions of years the escarpment, which is retreating at a rate of 30,5 cm in 200 years, has captured a part of the source and now some of its waters flow over the edge of the escarpment as the Bilanjil Falls, which drop into the depths hidden by the fluted columns and eventually join the Tugela. Not far from the eastern end of the Amphitheater another waterfall, the Ribbon Falls, flows down into the Inner Tower Gully and also joins the Tugela.


   The western bastion of the Amphitheater, Beacon Buttress, dominates the summit plateau, and a long climb to the eastern point of this buttress is worthwhile because from this point one has a fine view of the Eastern Buttress, Devil’s Tooth, Toothpick, and the Inner Tower.




   The Devil’s Tooth, so well-known to South Africans, was originally called Cleopatra’s Needle. Early climbers gazed spellbound at this pinnacle, although well experienced climbers who had opened routes up many of the peaks in the area, gave the Tooth a wide berth, and as late as 1947 most crags-men felt that it was unclimbable. By 1950 most of the major peaks had been climbed, but the Devil’s Tooth defied at least five attempts.

   The new generation of climbers arrived at the base of the Tooth on the 6th August 1950. How did they feel when they looked up towards the unclimbed summit? In their own words: “Outlined above us against the deep blue sky, and glowing in the rays of the setting sun it seemed god-like in its appalling sheerness and utter impossibility”. Undaunted they started, and after 8 pitches involving some of the most difficult E, F and G pitches, the party stood on the summit. The Tooth had been crowned.

   The finest walk in the Park is to the gorge where some of the most glorious valley and mountain scenery is to be seen. Following the Tugela the path passes through indigenous forests and contours grassy slopes covered with wild flowers and proteas. It is common to see buck as well as other forms of wildlife on this walk.

   The well-known Policeman’s Helmet, carved by the elements from sandstone is another attraction.

   On reaching the Gorge one is conscious of the lofty Amphitheater with its battlements and turrets looming high above, and the infant streams racing down the gullies to join Mother Tugela.

   Many other delightful walks can be undertaken in the park where one can recognize landmarks and peaks named after people who have climbed, lived and worked in the mountains.




   Little is known about a dear old man who lived for a considerable time in the Mont-aux-Sources area, collecting and identifying indigenous flowers and studying the fauna and avifauna. His name was F. S. Pardoe. He displayed his specimens in a small museum in the park. There he lived in a caravan, where he was visited daily by his friends, the red-wing starlings, and guinea fowl which flew in to be fed by him. It was clear that this man knew no other life that the life in the mountains, nor wanted one.

   Dramatic rescues have been carried out by local men, sometimes under dreadfully adverse conditions.

   To the west of the Park is the homeland of the Basotho ba Borwa, the Batlokwa tribe. The capital is Witzieshoek, from which a road winds to the base of the Sentinel. Not far from the end of the road is a rest camp 2100 meters above sea-level where accommodation is available and beautiful views of the Amphitheater and the Quathlamba stretching south can be obtained for those who are not able to climb. The mountain road has made the trip to the top of the Amphitheater and back an easy day’s walk.

   Go there, explore, preserve and enjoy!



The End




Acknowledgements
Extract from the book:    “A Cradle of Rivers, The Natal Drakensberg,”   DA Dodds.
Photos:    All photos by Willem Pelser

Monday 13 July 2015

GARMIN eTrex® 10 & 20 Review

Quathlamba
“A mass of spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, mountains of the Dragon, a name given by the Voortrekkers. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”
Panorama April 1966


This blog is all about the Drakensberg Mountains and its Wilderness area, South Africa. I have lost my heart and soul to this area and every single time I hike these mountains, I stand in awe all over again at this magnificent beauty.
"How often in the course of our travels through Kwazulu-Natal do we stop and gaze at the beauty of a distant range of mountains? The Drakensberg stands as a monument to one of the greatest cataclysms the Earth has experienced. As you approach the mountains, you realize why early Zulus called it "Quathlamba", meaning “Barrier of Up-pointed Spears". A cradle of rivers. Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain". (DA Dodds)
Hiking adventures, hiking gear reviews, day walks, accommodation, books, articles and photos, all related to these magnificent mountains will feature here.
Should you want to accompany me on a hike or need some information or advice, please make contact with me. I hope you enjoy the articles.
Please visit the archive for some more interesting stories, photos and reviews.


Available in the Archive (Do read it!)
1) Injasuthi to Lotheni - Epic 6 Day Hike
2) Review: Hi-Tec Altitude Pro RGS Hiking Boots
3) Drakensberg Wilderness Hiking - 14 Day Hiking trip - Lotheni Reserve (Part 3)
4) Lotheni - 14 Day Hiking Trip (Part 2)
5) Lotheni - 14 Day Hiking Trip (Part 3)
6) The Bushmen of the Drakensberg
7) Thunderstorms in the Drakensberg Mountains
8)  Before setting out on a hike………..
9)  Cathkin Peak – Drakensberg
10) Why backpack and multi-day hiking
11) Safety in the Drakensberg
12) In the Shadow of Cathedral Peak
13) Injasuthi – ‘well fed dog’
14) Lotheni Reserve
15) Garmin eTrex 10 & 20 Specs and Review

Please note that all photos on this blog are copyright protected. If you would like to obtain
Photos please make contact with the author, Willem Pelser.


GARMIN eTrex® 10 & 20 Review





eTrex® 10







ETrex® 10 Features:
   The eTrex 10 retains the core functionality, rugged construction, affordability and long battery life that made eTrex the most dependable GPS device available. We improved the user interface and added a worldwide base map, paperless geocaching and added support for spine mounting accessories. You’ll recognize the name, you’ll recognize the quality but the eTrex 10 is an entirely new device.


See the Way
   The eTrex 10 has an enhanced 2.2” (5.6 cm) monochrome display that is easy to read in any lighting situation. It is easy-to-use interface means you’ll spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time searching for information. Both durable and waterproof, eTrex 10 features the legendary toughness that’s built to withstand the elements – be it dust, dirt, humidity or water, none of which are a match for this legendary navigator.

FIND FUN
   eTrex 10 features paperless geocaching by supporting GPX files for downloading geocaches and details straight to your unit. Visit OpenCaching (www.opencaching.com) to start your geocaching adventure. By going paperless, you're not only helping the environment but also making your geocaching more fun. The eTrex 10 stores and displays all the information you need, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and paper print outs. Simply upload the geocache to your unit and start hunting for caches.

KEEP YOUR FIX
   With its high-sensitivity, GLONASS-enabled GPS receiver and Hotfix satellite prediction, eTrex 10 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover. The advantage is clear — whether you’re in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on eTrex 10 to help you find your way when you need it the most.

GO GLOBAL
   The new eTrex series is the first-ever consumer-grade receivers that can track both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously. GLONASS is a system developed by the Russian Federation that will be fully operational in 2012. When using GLONASS satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to “lock on” to a position is approximately 20 percent faster than using GPS and when using both GPS and GLONASS, the receiver has the ability to lock on to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone.


ETREX 10 FEATURES:

Paperless Geocaching
Spend more time in the field and less time fumbling with paper! The eTrex stores and displays key information, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and paper print outs. Simply upload the geocaching GPX file to your unit and start hunting for caches.

Track More Satellites
Find your way with the first consumer-grade GPS receiver that tracks both GPS and Russian Federation GLONASS satellites simultaneously. When using them together, the receiver has the ability to lock onto 24 more satellites than using GPS alone, ensuring you can “lock on” to a position more quickly.

New Layout
Skip the confusion about how to find things. The new eTrex is easier to use with a more intuitive navigation screens.

Pick Your Profile
Customize eTrex for every occasion. Profiles allow eTrex to quickly switch into different configurations that you create, so when you’re done geocaching and you need to drive home, your eTrex won’t miss a beat.

More Dashboards in More Places
Bring more functionality into frequently used applications with personalized dashboards. Avoid switching between applications and display more information by customizing your dashboards with an altimeter, compass, configurable data fields and more.

Advanced Tracking
Whether following a saved route or planning a new one, eTrex has the tracking features you need. Users can see high and low elevation points or store way-points along a track (start, finish and high/low altitude) to estimate time and distance between points.


What's in the Box:
·         - eTrex 10
- USB cable
- Manual


 Accessories for the eTrex® 10 & 20

A/C charger with international adapters
Part No: 010-10723-00
Auto Navigation Kit
(incl. auto mount & cigarette lighter adapter)
Part No: 010-10851-10
Vehicle Power Cable
Part No: 010-10851-11
Swivel Belt Clip
Part No: 010-11022-10
Bike mount
Part No: 010-11023-00
Marine/Cart Mount
Part No: 010-11031-00
Automotive friction kit
Part No: 010-11602-00
eTrex carry case
Part No: 010-11734-00

Weight
141.7000
Color
STD
Size
STD
Style
109869
Brands
Garmin
Best use
Hiking, Geocaching
Gender
Unisex
Dimensions
5.4 x 10.3 x 3.3 cm
Screen size
3.6 cm x 4.3 cm
Display resolution
128 x 160 pixels
Display type
Transflective; monochrome
Basemap
Yes
Waterproof
Yes
Waterproof rating (IPX)
IPX 7
Number of way-points
1000
Number of routes
50 Track log: 10 000 points; 100 saved tracks
Geocaching-friendly
Yes




eTrex® 20



eTrex® 20 Features:
   The eTrex 20 takes one of the most popular and reliable GPS handhelds and makes it better. Redesigned ergonomics, an easier-to-use interface, paperless geocaching and expanded mapping capabilities add up to serious improvements for an already legendary GPS handheld. eTrex 20 is versatile, tough and it’s built to handle whatever Mother Nature can dish out.

FIND FUN
   The eTrex 20 features paperless geocaching by supporting GPX files for downloading geocaches and details straight to your unit. Visit OpenCaching (www.opencaching.com) to start your geocaching adventure. By going paperless, you're not only helping the environment but also make your geocaching much more fun. eTrex 20 stores and displays all the information you need including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and paper print outs. Simply upload the geocache to your unit and start hunting for caches.

SEE THE WAY
   The eTrex 20 has an enhanced 2.2 (5.6 cm) 65K color, brilliant, sunlight-readable display. Durable and waterproof, eTrex 20 is built to withstand the elements. It has an upgraded interface yet retains its legendary toughness to withstand the elements – be it dust, dirt, humidity or water, none of which are a match for this navigator.

ADD MAPS
   With its micro SD card slot and 1.7 GB of internal memory, eTrex 30 lets you load our range of Ordnance Survey maps such as Garmin BlueChart g2 data cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator NT map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads. eTrex 20 also supports Birds-Eye Select map download service, which lets you download premium raster maps to your device and integrate them with your existing maps. Garmap Africa Series Street maps, Topo & Rec and Waterways are also compatible with the eTrex 30.

KEEP YOUR FIX
   With its high-sensitivity, GLONASS-enabled GPS receiver and Hotfix satellite prediction, eTrex 20 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover. The advantage is clear — whether you’re in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on eTrex 20 to help you find your way when you need it the most.

GO ANYWHERE
   With an array of compatible mounts, eTrex 20 can be used on your bicycle, boat, in your car or motorbike and off-road vehicle. You even get turn-by-turn directions with the auto mount and either City Navigator NT maps or Garmap Sub-Saharan Street maps. Wherever you think you might take eTrex, it has the mapping and mounts to get you there.

GO GLOBAL
   The new eTrex series is the first-ever consumer-grade receivers that can track both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously. GLONASS is a system developed by the Russian Federation that will be fully operational in 2012. When using GLONASS satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to “lock on” to a position is approximately 20 percent faster than using GPS and when using both GPS and GLONASS, the receiver has the ability to lock on to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone.


 ETREX 20 FEATURES


Track More Satellites
Find your way with the first consumer-grade GPS receiver that tracks both GPS and Russian Federation GLONASS satellites simultaneously. When using them together, the receiver has the ability to lock onto 24 more satellites than using GPS alone, ensuring you can “lock on” to a position more quickly.

Pick Your Profile
Customize eTrex for every occasion. Profiles allow eTrex to quickly switch into different configurations that you create, so when you’re done geocaching and you need to drive home, your eTrex won’t miss a beat.

More Dashboards in More Places
Bring more functionality into frequently used applications with personalized dashboards. Avoid switching between applications and display more information by customizing your dashboards with an altimeter, compass, configurable data fields and more.

Advanced Tracking
Whether following a saved route or planning a new one, eTrex has the tracking features you need. Users can see high and low elevation points or store way-points along a track (start, finish and high/low altitude) to estimate time and distance between points.

Extensive Map Support
With its micro SD card slot and large internal memory (1,7 GB), eTrex lets you load a variety of maps, including Garmin BlueChart g2,City Navigator NT, Birds-Eye Satellite Imagery (subscription required) as well as Garmap Africa Series Street maps, Topo & Rec and Waterways.

What's in the Box:
·         - eTrex 20
- USB cable
- Manual


Overview
   The Garmin eTrex 10 & 20 is one of the best value GPS available anywhere. It locates your position with efficiency and accuracy and helps to get you back on route or navigate in low visibility conditions. This is my favorite GPS for hiking and backpacking because it is easy to use, very light, reliable and rugged with a brilliant battery life; up to 3 days with heavy use and constant marking of way-points.

   The eTrex 20 is the best value of the models in the eTrex series. The eTrex 10 loses the colored display and doesn’t support maps or aerial imagery. The eTrex 30 adds features found on more powerful units: a barometric altimeter, wireless data sharing, and a 3-axis electronic compass. However, if you're going to pay more for other features, it is worth stepping up several levels to the likes of Garmin Oregon 600.

Ease of Use
   The eTrex 20 operates with six buttons. A multi-directional toggle lies on the top face, zoom and menu buttons are on the left side, and the power button (also the back light) and back button are on the right side. This configuration is easy to operate with your right hand. I would choose the eTrex for winter mountaineering because its push buttons are more reliable in cold weather than touch screens.

   The eTrex’s main menu is very similar to the ones found on the company’s Dakota 20 and Oregon 550 units – the difference being you navigate to and select pages with the toggle, not your finger. Main menu items can be arranged by pressing the menu button. The eTrex’s zoom buttons will skip a page in the main menu and will move between keypads when entering text. Pressing the power button once will display the battery meter. The eTrex 20 offers a more expedient workflow than most of the touchscreen devices.


   The eTrex 20 is compatible with Garmin’s topo maps and Birdseye satellite imagery. You can also save money and transfer free maps and custom maps. The eTrex comes with the same navigation features as its more expensive siblings and can display the distance to the next way-point as well as the distance to the final destination.

   The eTrex series comes with six profiles that allow you to customize the display for various activities. For example, you can have four data fields for biking and two for hiking. You could track up (map orients in the direction the GPS is pointed or traveling) for hiking and north up (north is at the top) for kayaking. Or you could have a specific profile that displays certain maps or custom maps, such as Yosemite National Park trails on top of aerial imagery.

   The eTrex has a plastic rail mount that allows you to attach an excellent carabineer clip, bike mount, or other optional accessories to the device.

Weight
   It is important to note that the eTrex is one of the best lightweight GPS around. The weight saving is fantastic because you never want to carry a GPS on multi-day hike where weight matters, and use it for only a very small percentage of the total trip duration. (Although, I leave it permanently turned on to confirm my position or to navigate in bad weather.) The eTrex is also among the most compact GPS units which is another advantage for many applications.

   Related to weight, Garmin measures the device's battery life at 25 hours, which is considerably better than most other units tested, although in my experience the batteries will last up to 3 days with reasonably heavy use, which is fantastic. The eTrex 20 was much more efficient than touchscreen units and those that had electronic compasses. I ALWAYS CARRY EXTRA BATTERIES.

  
Satellite Reception
   The eTrex’s small size does not impact its reception and accuracy. The device is not slow to pinpoint your location in dense clouds and heavy canopy cover. Unless you're doing a lot of navigation in whiteout conditions or are marking the locations of important small objects, such as buried treasure, the eTrex works great.

Display Quality
   The small screen leaves little space for data fields in the map view. The screen is easier to see than many plastic touchscreen units (such as the Garmin Oregon 550, Dakota 20, and Magellan 710) but not as good as the newer Garmin Oregon 600.

Conclusion
   Whether you're looking for a GPS for backpacking, mountaineering, or paddling I highly recommend the eTrex 20. It gets the job done well and cost less than top-tier models. I feel that coughing up the extra cash for a more powerful unit is only worth it if you do a lot of navigation in foul weather or are mountaineering, where a better screen and more powerful navigation features could help you to avoid crevasses and cliffs in whiteout conditions. I never hike without the eTrex 20 because it is simple, lightweight, and has good battery life. After the hike all the data can be downloaded onto PC ( use GARMIN Basecamp software) and overlaid on a map of your choice which will give you an exact picture of your hike. If you like doing exploration hiking, this is a brilliant feature and it also allows you the opportunity of building up your own hiking maps.

Other Versions
   I believe the eTrex 20 is one of the best value models in the eTrex line. The Garmin eTrex 10 loses the colored display and doesn’t support maps or aerial imagery, although it is just as brilliant a device to use for hiking. The Garmin eTrex 30 adds features found on more powerful units: a barometric altimeter, wireless data sharing, and a 3-axis electronic compass.



The End.


Acknowledgement
 Garmin Specification Data