RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

It doesn't matter.A GPS is pretty much useless without a compass. With a compass, today's GPS units are gold. You can walk from pointA to point B and all points in between with a compass and be right on the money. Without, a compass it's just a guess.

Actually, if I could only carry one item and had to pick between a GPS and a compass, I'dtake the compass. It never fails.

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

Will a GPS unit function in a very heavy fog?

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

Just so I'm up to speed. Are the compasses on these new GPS units electronic? I would be concerned about that for more than one reason. Reliability? Accuracy? If it is electronic and the batteries die,you no longer have any means ofnavigation from there on out.

For a little background, I've been navigating in the woods with GPS and compass since GPS came on the market years ago. I wouldn't carry one without a hand held compass. Even if the GPS fails, you can still get out that way.

Interesting thread.

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

A GPS is an electronic device that works by "talking" with other electronic devices way up in the air. It can and will fail eventually. If you internal compass needed to be synched the GPS can easily get VERY confused, it KNOWS what direction your going because it is updating your position with respect to satellites, however this contradicts what the internal compass is saying. Poof, dualing information.

Heading into the woods without a compass is foolish, sorry to say it, but it is. Even better, two compasses. They are simple devices, that rarely fail. GPS is basically a little computer, the firmware could have bugs, batteries die, compass needs synch, satellites can't be found etc etc etc.

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

thanks for this post... I was lost badly in the catskills a few years ago. swore I would never go back without a GPS but I did.... and got lost again....... LOL... it's not so bad.. the coyotes and bears really won't bother you in the dark as long as you sit still and don't make noise

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

A compass is a mans best friend, along with a quality map should be carried at all times.

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

Very well put! I try telling poeple this all the time.

RE: Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Compass
 

Believe me. Lesson learned. If I wasn't dragging a deer around I'm still have a reason to keep trying. I won't ever go anwhere without verifying general direction and heading with a compass and making sure the GPS unit agrees. Wasn't fun.

As for bears and yotes they don't worry me at all. It is the cold that I worry about.

Tom