Campers Info Source

Ronda wasn’t going far, but it had become a habit to clip the portable GPS device onto her jacket and take it with her when she went for her daily walk into the woods with her camera. She nearly didn’t pick it up this time. She had bought the GPS

Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx Handheld GPS Device

device right after her move to a rural area; before she really knew the woods that she wandered through so often today. But now it was nearly automatic when she clipped the hand-held GPS device to her jacket ring and walked out the door. The path through the woods was well laid out, but there were times when she left the path. Today was one of those days. She was a big fan of the more elusive wildflowers, trailing arbutus and lady slippers. That glimpse of pink that she’s seen through the trees looked like the color she was seeking. Leaving the pathway for just a few minutes, it appeared she had wandered a little further than she had intended. Looking around she was somewhat unnerved to find that she had not the slightest idea of where she was. In fact, she was totally lost. The kids were at home waiting for snacks and she had told them she would be home shortly so she had to do something in order to make sure that she got back soon. The small hard lump in her jacket made her chuckle. She’d been so unnerved about being lost for a moment that she failed to think about the item that she’d tucked inside her pocket. A GPS device was exactly what she needed and she’d almost forgotten it. Pulling it out she punched the few buttons that would lead her home. As the door opened, and she walked inside, three faces smiled at her and a small voice piped up “We made you a snack”. She was absolutely positive that no matter what else she took with her on her evening forays, from now on that handheld GPS device was never going to stay behind again.

Now that you’ve decided the location where you are going backpacking and you’ve made sure you have a site reserved and permission to navigate the territory, we recommend you follow Tip #2.

Tip #2 – Bring a GPS Device and/or a Compass

Study maps of the campground and the surrounding area before you go on your big backpacking trip.  Select routes you would like to explore.  Determine if you’re going to navigate the territory by just hiking or whether you will also be canoeing, biking, climbing, or four wheeling.  If you’re new to the area or traveling with kids, don’t try to go too far.  Remember, less-popular camp grounds usually mean you’ll see fewer people and have an easier time finding a campsite.  When choosing a route, consider your ability, and length of time you’ll be out.  Don’t over extend yourself and others; especially if you or any of your family and friends with you is new to backpacking.

One great way to learn the lay of the land is to get a Garmin 400I Inland Lake Topo GPS.  This GPS includes a high-sensitivity receiver, barometric altimeter, electronic compass, SD card slot, color display, picture viewer and more.  Depending on the region of coverage you decide to get with the GPS, it  has built in maps of every hill and valley for your next great adventure,  includes terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points.  The TOPO maps are ideal for hiking, hunting, camping, cycling and communing with nature.

One of the things I like to do and that you might want to try is visiting the campground well in advance of your planned trip.  Scout the area and make decisions in advance about which areas you will be navigating 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  It’s funny how you see different things and think differently when your not rushed and excited.  Bring a camera and take pictures of the area in advance so you can refer back to them and share them with others later.  And don’t forget to bring your Garmin 400I Inland Lake Topo GPS with you.

If you can’t afford to buy a GPS device, always bring a compass.

Outdoors enthusiasts distinguish themselves by their “extreme” behavior. These survivalists and thrill seekers are always looking for new ways to challenge themselves both mentally and physically.

In some ways, it’s perfectly healthy to test the limits of our survival instincts and ability to adapt in a hostile environment.  But one should never sacrifice proper safety precautions.  If you’re planning a trip to some remote recess of the globe, be sure to make a GPS device part of your camping gear.  Even the most experienced hikers can get lost when surroundings become unfamiliar, and it’s good to have a lifeline in the face of potential danger.

 GPS devices come in handy whether you’re just trying to confirm your position or are actually in need of help.