Hi Chris

First off, I have no experience of travelling accross wildernes but wouldn't the gps tell you instantly where you are even on a featureless landscape/poor visibility/night time, which when transfered to map would tell you how far to village etc.
I am not suggesting for a moment it would replace a map for o/land travelling but surely would work along well in conjunction, a sort of belt and braces approach to help bolster moral and fend off doubt?

I take your point(s) but I honestly do have an appalling sense of direction as ANYONE who knows me will confirm. (The Garmin V has completely replaced road atlas/maps for me over here and I now set off relaxed to any destination). Maybe you under estimate your own natural and experience learned skills.

How about travelling with a partner. Stopping to fuel/eat/study map etc. could both hit waypoint button then if lost/seperated could just backtrack to exact spot?

Maybe it's just because I am used to travelling with one regularly that I find more and more uses for mine all the time. As I said, just a backup.

And on the map reading thing, "a quick glance at the sun" would only confirm to me that it is daylight. Where do you learn all this stuff?
I could try joining the boy scouts but at forty two I think they might question my motives!!!

alan

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have fun with your helmet!