Drakensberg Wilderness Hiking South Africa - Mountain of the Dragons - Where Adventure beckons.....: Drakensberg

“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.