Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Enjoy Safer Hiking With A Portable GPS

By Jashua Moses


People the world over enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, enjoying nature and hiking through beautiful scenery. As a sport hiking has become very popular and many people choose to spend time experiencing the wonderful sense of freedom that comes from it. For the person who wants to have an enjoyable but also safe experience in the outdoors it is essential that the proper precautions and preparations are made. There are dangers in the wilderness and one of the most common ones that threaten anyone who spends time hiking is getting lost in unfamiliar surroundings.

Most of the time the trails for people to hike are clearly marked but there are times when hikers will leave the trail. Usually this is when they want to explore further but that is not a wise course to take. Of course it can also be that weather plays a part causing the hikers to find it difficult to follow the course.

Whereas hikers used to make use of the experienced trekkers available to them to lead them on the hike, technology is taking the place of a trekker. Although trekkers were invaluable the latest technology makes their assistance not nearly as necessary as before. Global Positioning Systems, GPS, has become very popular among hikers because they go a long way in preventing a hiker from losing their way. These units, like the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Hiking GPS are portable, lightweight and small. The hiker is able to chart their course before they have even begun the hike and the system will then track their movement constantly as they make their way toward their destination. Should it become necessary and the hiker needs to double-back, the system makes it easy as it shows where they are in relation to where they are going and from where they started out. Some models enable the hiker to download images like maps to the unit which makes it even easier for them to get their bearings.

Every experienced hiker knows that this is a hectic type of sport and his or her equipment needs to be durable and practical to withstand the activity and the elements. The GPS device that you choose should be waterproof, well made and preferably rubberized in order to prevent any damage to the unit. It will need to be easy to operate and also functional, allowing you to download the images you need and require. Devices like the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Hiking GPS are excellent as they meet all the criteria as well as being able to download the maps you need quickly. This model, and others like it, does not weigh much and they are compact which is convenient because a hiker has to carry a load and does not want to have to carry anything extra if possible. These units operate using a battery and there has been talk about them consuming battery life very quickly. The unit you choose should offer the best battery usage and there are ones on the market that last up to twenty hours. Although this is good for shorter hikes it is not for hikes that will take longer, or hikes that are difficult to determine the duration of. In that situation the hiker would be well advised to carry extra batteries with him.

Responsible hikers will take into consideration the proper gear needed for their hike to be as safe as possible. Along with that they will make sure that they have sufficient food and water as well. These days a portable GPS device is an essential part of any hiker's gear and no hiker should set off without one. Before setting out on your next hike you should consider equipping yourself with a GPS device like the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Hiking GPS. By doing so you will be going a long way in protecting yourself while enjoying time in nature.




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