Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board GPS Units

Hi All,

I am sure there are those of you out there that have and use GPS units. My wife gave me a gift certificate for X-mas to purchase one at a local sporting goods store in the $200 range.
Any thoughts on the subject and information would be helpful. I know there is tons of info on the internet, but I always like to hear from people who have actually used the product.
Thanks.

I have an Etrex "Legend" (blue) and I love it. The retail price is just under 200 bucks. The Etrex "Vista" does have a few more bells and whistles for over 200 bucks.

JJBB

For the money, the Vista is a good buy. I've never had any problem with mine.

The geko 201 is the lightest. It has everything the others have except for the altimeter which is basically useless. For me the weight was the big criteria in purchase. Use the extra savings to attend the REI class-$25.00. That way you will know how to use it to your full advantage.

I've used the Etrex Vista for over a year now, and I'm happy with it in general (though I'm not sure if I hadn't gotten it as a gift if I'd have bought that specific model). GPS units have a distressing habit of not working in rough terrain or under forest canopy--they can't see enough of the sky to get reliable signals from at least three satellites, and there are multipath effects that hamper their performance. I also had to invest in a downloadable topo map so that I could use it in the backcountry.

I too have the Etrex Legend and have been happy with it. $200 was about the most I was going to spend so the Legend fit my target price. I got it earlier this year for about $150 after rebate. I like the use of rubber around the unit. I've dropped it many times and it has proven to be durable. It's also fairly light.

I've been using my Garmin 12 nearly every day for years now. I use it for hiking, driving and even flying (on airlines that allow GPS). I use it for fun and serious route finding. My first GPS was a Magellan, but at that time it was too much of a clunker--size-wise and user difficulty. I switched over to Garmin and have been happy ever since, although Magellan has made great improvements. I suggest a GPS with adapter cords, so you can hook into your auto's power supply and be able to download or upload to a computer. I also recommend getting map software for your computer, so you can obtain or plot GPS coordinates. A GPS with built-in software is really good, but more costly. Long-battery life is a good plus. After you get a GPS unit, practice, practice, practice, so you become sure of yourself, especially in more critical situations. Your mind can really fool you when your GPS is telling you the correct direction is opposite from where you think, assuming you have not made any input mistakes. As a curiosity and fun thing, I mapped the 97 switchbacks with my GPS. You can click on this link <a href=http://www.ridgenet.net/~rockwell/Climbing/WaynePyle97Switchbacks.xls>Map of the 97 Switchbacks</a>. Consider taking markskor's advice about the REI class. Enjoy!

Offshrdude, If you really want to get a great GPS spend the extra bucks and go for the Garmin GPSMap76S. Like Wayne, I started with a Magellan back in 1997ish and when I went up next to a Garmin it blew me away for faster and accurate lock ons for current coordinates. I then went to a Garmin 12XL which was awesome for its day and still is very good and rugged WHEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MAP. In 2002 I upgraded to a Garmin GPS Map76S and it is the best I have ever had for all around use. I non-concur about the comment with the altimeter being useless. I used it and it was every bit as accurate as my Thommen (Swiss made-I visited their factory in 2002) 8,000 meter altimeter. Spend even more money and you can download Map Source Topographic data into your GPS to show topographic featuers anywhere in the USA. Ultimately, the 76S is a super GPS for backwoods exploration, driving on highways and Jeep Trails, and BOATING (as your screen name implies). The 76S screen is large enough to appreciate waypoints and other features. ALthough I believe the 12XL is more rugged it does not have the off shore WAAS and mapping capability. You can get the 76S for about $325 from places like GPSnow.com and the GPS store (North Carolina). Although it is my opinion, I personally think everyone who takes a GPS with them in remote areas places their lives in danger when they leave behind their compass and map. In really cold temperatures the liquid crystal display (LCD) will NOT display (making it useless). Also, when the batteries die, you have a rock to carry around. Also, GPSs can have software "issues" in the field, even if only momentary. If you go to summitpost.com look under GEAR and read about other climber's use of GPSs. The Garmin 76S takes a bit of practice for a new comer to appreciate and it will be frustrating if you do not understand terms like datum, magnetic north, various coordinate systems, etc. Well, I am certain I have overladed this column already but have a great New Year on the summit of Whitney in 2004!

Hey Wayne I really like your GPS map of the Switchbacks. I have never seen them that way before. Cool!

JJBB

P.S. Offshrdude I know you have a gift certificate but, Ebay is a great place to get a deal on GPS units. I got my first "Legend" for 135.00 (new)in an auction. Just something to think about.

Wayne, I've tried looking at your link several times, but without success. Do I need any particular type of program to view it? When I click on it, it comes up in some sort of code.
I'd love to see it, any help would be appreciated.

I took my etrex to Whitney this past June starting from Cottonwood and exiting Portal. It worked like a charm above the tree line but it frequently lost the signal when there were a few trees around.

Hikin Bob--the map is an Excel file. And Chucky, welcome back. I see you've gone to the higher levels!! I was in Switzerland a couple of months ago, but unfortunately was not able to get to the Thommen factory. I always carry an extra compass, and hopefully a good topo. Your advice is right on about map and compass backup. And an analog Thommen's doesn't have batteries to worry about.

Offshrdude,

I've been using various GPS/chartplotter units onboard research and fishing vessels for a number of years now and just thought I'd write and say Chucky put a pretty good point on it. I also agree that the Garmin products are much more user friendly. A couple of other things to consider:
a. the current Garmins GPSMAP 76 does support WAAS...something useful if you are interested in stream habitat typing, mapping, etc. where finescale accuracy less than 3m is a requirement.
b. GPSMAP 76 runs on 2 batteries for up to 16 h vs. the 4 in the 12XL...another great unit.
c. whatever you buy make sure it has a 12 channel parallel receiver...these perform much better in gorges and under vegetation compared to older/cheaper technology.
d. take a map and compass...the built in cartographic/bathymetric data displays are useful, but are not nearly as good as a chart...especially on the handheld models...and remember, any computer based tech seems to know exactly when the worst time to take a dump is at hand, then does!

Good Luck

Thanks for all the great info....many things I didn't know and need to consider. I appreciate your time and knowledge.

Doug

I have used a Garmin 12XL for the last 5 years and really like the unit. For a discussion about the accuracy of GPS altitude, see this web site:

http://gpsinformation.net/main/altitude.htm

I've been using the Magellan Sport Trak Pro for the past year and it has served me well. I really have appreciated its ease of use and accuracy but most of all, it really helped convert me to becoming a believer in the value of a GPS unit.

Now, I always take a waypoint of where my vehicle is parked and several along the way. I also preset the coordinates for where the summit or key junctions or landmarks are and along with a map and compass for back up, I feel much more confident in reaching my goal and returning to my starting point.

I guess I'm a Luddite. I don't get GPS, unless one is flying a plane or sailing a boat. They seem to be excess baggage which can fail and I just don't see the benefit. Oh, I guess it might be nice to be certain where you are, instead of " I think we are about a half mile away." But really what is the big deal, it is a wilderness experience after all. Yes, to know exactly which drainage to take, or other such off trail route finding assistance it would be nice, but really what happens when the batteries fail?

san onofre guy, you make some good comments but I am now totally converted and I "don't leave home" without my GPS. I always have extra batteries and here in the northwest, GPS is very helpful on the big peaks like Rainier, Baker, Glacier, Hood or Shasta (all volcanoes with glaciers / snowfields)

Whiteouts occur very rapidly at times and I find GPS useful at those times when a lot of off trail work is involved as is often the case in county highpointing. I've found GPS to be useless in deep canyons or heavy forest so I use it accordingly (common sense has to be drawn upon)
I always waypoint where my car is and that one little thing has saved my butt on two occasions
where I got disoriented in some of our confusing northwest areas.

Here are three pics from Mt.Hood taken last May
Pic 1 shows a nice brilliant day on the upper reaches of Mt. Hood (above the bergscrund)
http://www.fototime.com/{1870797B-E08A-4B8F-96F7-B23BBB6C5610}/picture.JPG

Pic 2 Shows a whiteout beginning
http://www.fototime.com/{D592EF4B-9604-4FCF-B514-2E3BF9BD3C2E}/picture.JPG

Pic 3. shows the upper 2/3rds of the mountain as seen from the Timberline parking area. I had just come out of that and had no problems thanks to my GPS. A week or two later, a snowshoer was lost in when he got caught in a storm about half way up the mountain in the so called "safe area"
http://www.fototime.com/{312648D8-D8EB-41E2-A1DC-AE0495BFBE60}/picture.JPG

Yeah, I'm sold on GPS, it works for me. BTW, I've got 40 plus years of backcountry experience (lots of map and compass time). I can almost remember the "wilderness" here in Washington.

Thans Dean, I see your point. I guess my view comes from hearing talk from those who use it as a toy that is a must have. Yes, in places they are must have, but where most people go, they are a toy

I've always been a "map and compass" navigator, but I can see the advantages one would have with a GPS. I'm wondering if any of the GPS units have some type of "personal locator beacon" included in their features? I like to hike solo; this feature might be a way to calm family's fears about me going out by myself "without even a cell phone" :-)