DRAKENSBERG
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
Mountain of the Dragons
South Africa’s mightiest
mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine
of a gigantic dragon.
Where Adventure
beckons..........
DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS ©
WILLEM PELSER
“And all who find me will know the tune
To the Lonely Mountain borne
I lay under the Misty
Mountains cold
In slumbers deep and dreams of
gold”
unknown
Drakensberg
Basic GPS Navigation
Advances In electronic technology have sparked
of a flood of hi-tech navigational tools onto the outdoors adventure scene.
Global positioning is a truly groundbreaking development and incorporates a
triangulation system utilizing a series of orbiting satellites to plot your
exact position on earth. Technological advances in cellular technology have
seen many phones incorporating global positioning capability, a feature that
makes this powerful navigation tool available to the masses.
The Basic Theory
What exactly is GPS receiver? Originally developed by the US Defense
Department as a global navigation system for the military, a number of
satellites were launched into orbit in such a way that a sighting may be taken
on at least four of them from a specific point on earth at any time.
A 2-D fix (on three satellites) can be used to determine position, while
a 3-D fix (on four satellites) enables you to determine altitude as well.
Try to lock on to the signal in a relatively open environment, because the
high frequencies utilized need a clear line of view and can therefore be
blocked by trees, buildings and even your body. Although, in the wilderness
such problems do not exist.
It is very important to have a basic knowledge of orienteering and to have
alternative methods of navigation as a back-up, as electronic gadgets can fail.
Always make sure you keep spare batteries handy.
Some GPS receivers have an option to download and store electronic maps in
their memories, while others simply supply you with the necessary coordinates,
enabling you to pinpoint yourself to within about 100m on a topographical map.
Extra features or additional memory incorporated into the unit may mean an
increase in size and weight, so decide which features you need before you buy.
Consider the power source; number and weight of batteries, are they
rechargeable and does the unit incorporate a backup power to protect your data?
Go for rugged waterproof construction that can handle anything the
outdoors throws at it. Make sure you know how to use the unit before you set
off.
Practical Usage
Being able to accurately pinpoint your location to within a few metres brings
with it the obvious advantage of always knowing exactly where you are. That is,
if you remembered to pack your topographical map. In addition to this, you can
use the navigation screen on your GPS as you would an electronic compass
(following a bearing or similar). You can also plot way points along the trail
by saving coordinates as you progress, thus allowing you to retrace your steps.
Most GPS units will calculate your current speed of advance, extrapolating
this information with regard to the distance to your destination, and forecast
an estimated time of arrival.
Maps and routes can also be downloaded from the internet, enabling you to programme
a route before you set off. This allows you to correctly identify points
beforehand. And once you are in the wilderness, all you need to do is follow
the indications beamed onto the information screen on your receiver.
Interfacing the unit with your personal computer at home will allow you to
download your route upon your return and print out maps of your journey or save
it for future analysis.
The Next Step
Move beyond the hand-held GPS receiver into the domain of a latter day ’007’
and you will discover a selection of wearable computers loaded with an awesome
array of features. Suuntu offers a chunky, watch-sized instrument incorporating
a watch, stopwatch, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, electronic compass, and
GPS receiver.
Bionic implants and brain chips cannot be far
off……..
Never, but never leave on a hiking trip
without a map and compass. They weigh nothing and will still work long after
your GPS failed to do so.
We as hikers, explorers,
and adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses.
Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!
The End.
Safe Hiking.
References and Acknowledgements
From the book – “Hiking” – J Marais
Photos: ©W Pelser
Compiled
by: Willem Pelser
No comments:
Post a Comment