Hey Sport here's a news flash.... You're on a river; you can go Right, Left, Up River, and Down River....That's it.
I would suggest you get competent at map and compass reading. GPS is great and has many vaild uses. Getting down a river is not one of them. However finding a put in or take it may help a lot.
I have a Garmin 60 CSX. It's water resitent, has a micro sd chip that you can buy pre loaded with all the cities on the country (need a last min. Late before you head down to the put in) and a 2 gig chip holds the whole western US.
Good Luck Just remember when ever you get competent at the GPS the stailites will not be able to be reached, the batteries will be dead, or you just watched it float down the river. Learn map and compas first.
p99
often true if you're just running roadside in CO. Get to Upper Cherry, Clark's Box, Black Boxes, Hellsgate or even imagine a significant injury somewhere like the Big South. Now you're psyched to have a GPS. It might be a bit hard to tell SAR that you buddy is at Meltdown, but GPS coordinates will land a helicopter on him. A map and compass will work and I still use a good map with my GPS, but when you're deep in it, there's comfort in knowing exactly how deep. Also, I've found my GPS more useful for backcountry skiing than for kayaking.
I have the garmin Vista C , used it for 4 years on lots on rivers , trails, back roads and streets. Got the Topo US, 99 bucks, got the US streets too at 99 bucks. Try to find a vista c or vista ledgend on ebay with maps installed. or with the map software included, they are cheap used.
__________________
"I hope others think more of me than I think of myself" SL
Hey Sport here's a news flash.... You're on a river; you can go Right, Left, Up River, and Down River....That's it.
I would suggest you get competent at map and compass reading. GPS is great and has many vaild uses. Getting down a river is not one of them. However finding a put in or take it may help a lot.
In thousands of miles of long desert river trips I have found the GPS with a simple odometer function to be invaluable. When something helps you count the miles you simply have to glance at your map, which I agree is your most important navigation tool, look at the bends, and there you are.
I think that many river runners would agree with this statement, as I'm seeing them on more and more boats.
Before you insult someone you should do a quick check to make sure it's not you that's the idiot, sport.
__________________
"You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it."
-Paulo Coelho
P.S. I like the under $100 second hand black and white eBay models. The odometer works fine and you'll still have your map out. I highly recommend a SPOT device as well, both for rescue and for recording your favorite camps, rapids, and other sites in the wild.
__________________
"You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it."
-Paulo Coelho
And gawd I love it when someone calls me Sport. Even if it is condescending it still makes me feel young again. But I'm not. Yep, guess I've looked at a map and compass or two. But that won't keep me from checking out this GPS thang.
I too have the Garmin Etrex Hcx. It's da bomb. Kept my buddies from spending the night in the woods above timberline last winter. Easy to use. It's definitely waterproof - mine spent the night underwater in a sieve in the Clark's Fork Box. The peli case leaked 100%, which ruined my camera, but the GPS is fine. The Etrex is also compact for kayaking uses. Definitely get the DVDs. Also spring the extra few bucks for the electronic compass. If you don't get it, you have to be moving to get a GPS compass heading, which can be a pain in the ass. I love the damn thing.
Joe
I agree, I have the Garmin Etrex Vista C and the Electronic compass is a great feature.
__________________
"I hope others think more of me than I think of myself" SL
Linear Mode
