Hi Coastie,

I have enough confidence in myself to believe I could do it....and maybe without either, (at least on land). But I'd never be fool enough to put myself into a position of finding out! (Short of falling from the sky at 30,000 ft. when the airliner breaks apart....or someone carting me off at "gunpoint" and dropping me off!)

My point being....that the equipment mentioned in the original post will allow someone to navigate in unknown terrain....but only if the person knows how to use it. And nearly as importantly as the knowledge is having confidence in both the equipment....and your skills. More than a few people, with navigational aids, have "gotten lost", panicked, and died (and many more put themselves into foolish predicaments each year because of either the lack of navigational aids, skills, or confidence).

I am equally certain that given the right (ie. wrong) set of circumstances.....nearly anyone can get themselves into trouble. So why tempt fate? Obtain the tools, learn to use them, and practice enough to gain/maintain proficiency and confidence. Then practice some good old fashioned common sense when you venture into true wilderness!

Over the years I've been in situations where I wasn't sure exactly where I was...sometimes I was responsible for having put myself there....and sometimes I was not. But I did learn not to entirely trust anyone else with my safety...even in the military. (Maintain as much awareness of your environment as you can under the tactical considerations.) For in the end....it doesn't really matter "who" put you there....it only matters if "you" can get yourself out! And all the equipment in the world will do you not "one wit" of good if you don't maintain your composure.

If your question was asked...competitively?!? I don't know if I'm as "good" as you or not. I only know that I am good enough to get myself out of situations...that I get myself into!

Hope that answers your question satisfactorily.

P.S. Hey.....maybe that would be a good idea for a forum....one of those "wilderness walks" scenarios?