Free GPS Guidance
Archive for the ‘Handheld’ Category
One day 
some folks stopped at my dad’s house looking for information about their ancestors who are reported to have been buried in this area around the turn of the century. They really got turned around trying to find them in unfamiliar woods. One glorious fall day recently, while enjoying the last of the bright autumn leaves, my daughter and I decided to wander some of the trails near us looking for those specific headstones. There are several really old cemeteries out in the woods and fields in this area off some of those trails, and we thought it would be fun to email them with the coordinates if we found the right spot so they could return with their own GPS receiver. We pulled on our hiking boots, grabbed our Garmin Colorado hand held GPS unit, and set off on foot to scour the area. A couple cemeteries and a picnic lunch later, and we did find their ancestors for them. That felt good to help out that nice family, but better still, the time spent wandering with my daughter was priceless. We need to plan another hike with our handheld GPS units real soon.
I was talking to my friend today, and she suddenly started chuckling. She and her husband had been visiting friends this week. One of her friends started talking about how their neighbor was doing something with her navigation thingy looking for stuff and couldn’t understand what she was doing or why they thought it was so much fun. My friend surprised even her husband by explaining to them that they are using their handheld GPS units looking for a geocache. Geocaching is very a popular activity in which you get the coordinates of the location where someone else has hidden a special waterproof container containing a log and maybe some little trinkets or geocache coins or such, then you go out and find it with the aid of your portable GPS device. It is something that is fun for the whole family to do together. She was pretty smug that, after having talked about geocaching with me from time to time, she was the only one in their group who understood what was going on. Cute. She has since started talking to them about trying it with her soon with her handheld GPS system. Maybe I can tag along, too!
According to the New York Capital Region Geocachers there are definite guidelines for where and how you are allowed to place a cache. To be sure we all are compliant and don’t cause any animosity toward geocachers in general, I thought it would be good to summarize some of the geocaching guidelines. You may remember that Geocaching is currently banned in all National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. This includes the Appalachian Trail which is a National Park; therefore caches may not be placed inside or in close proximity to it. There are several other areas in New York State which are specifically listed as off limits to geocaching. They are listed in detail at geocachingny.org, and you may want to take a good look at this list before accidentally placing a geocache where it is forbidden. As for New York State in general, we have been asked to NOT place caches on mountain tops or right at the overlooks. Please be sure to keep caches down within the tree line.
Most land managers they talked with about geocaching insisted that all containers be labeled as a GEOCACHE on the OUTSIDE. Since that is already in the cache listing guidelines the importance of this should be stressed again. Well, now that you know some of the guidelines to follow, it is time to grab your Garmin Colorado or other handheld GPS units and get out and have some fun finding all those geocaches that have already been hidden. Maybe you will even be adventurous enough to hide some of your own!
When was the last time you or your buddy got turned around in the woods while waiting for that big buck to pass by? 
Or out on a drive, and by the time you worked your way around that thick stand of trees or that rock ledge, where were you supposed to end up? Your buddies are counting to be where they need you, but where is that anyway? Now you are turned around and not sure where you ended up. You sure don’t want one of the other hunters to mistake you for a deer because they weren’t expecting you to come out way over there… Or it started raining buckets while waiting on the line, or worse yet, wet soggy snow; and it sure is hard to see those landmarks you were watching for earlier on the way in here. So many things can happen to get you off course, especially if you are in a new area with unfamiliar landscape. Now what will you do?
There are actually handheld GPS units that are built specifically for hunting. These GPS units are waterproof for that nasty weather that is bound to hit right when you want it least, and you can mark your car, the tree stand, the hunting lodge and any game signs you may spot. Some of them even include a built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter! Think especially how easy it will be to get back out there tomorrow when you can just check your hand held GPS device to see where you marked special points and compare notes with your buddies back in the lodge. Sweet.
So what exactly is a geocache? Caches are typically waterproof containers which can vary in size and often contain a log book and several trinkets from geocachers who have previously found the cache. If you like you can help yourself to one of the trinkets but be sure and leave one of your own in return! Geocaching is a fun game that is played worldwide, sort of hide and seek using a portable or handheld GPS device. You will find coordinates posted on the internet of different caches in your area. There are hundreds of caches in our area alone. If you find a cache you write in the log inside it and post your finding on the web. If you should move the cache (be sure it is one that can be moved before you do), you want to then post the new coordinates on the internet so the next geocacher can look to see where you moved it to.
Be sure to be considerate of the environment while caching, and it is a nice idea to bring a bag to collect any trash you might see on your adventure. The national parks do not allow caches to be placed within them, but New York State parks have a permit system for geocaching activities. It is a great family activity so you can get your children outdoors hiking and learning and having fun together. Now get out there and enjoy the great outdoors.
Get Back into the Joy of Discovering the Outdoors
It is easy to get back into the joy of discovering the outdoors on a bike, even if you are over 50. Finding the right bike for your body, the way you want to be riding (trails or roadways) and in your price range is an important place to start. A stop at your local bike shop where there are trained folks to help you get the right bike for your situation is a great idea and will save you lots of time and frustration. Having the right gear and being prepared are also very important.
We all know that when we ride a bike it is a good idea to wear a good bike helmet, no matter how old we are – safety first! Getting hurt in an accident is never fun, but you sure don’t want to chance a traumatic brain injury. If you are looking for adventure, or just trying to break up the boredom, one of the handheld GPS systems is a handy addition for your biking pleasure, and there are several GPS bicycle mounts to choose from for hands free convenience. Now get out there and have some fun!
I would like to share the joy of Geocaching with you. I have been enjoying this hobby for a few years now. Each and every cache I have found has been unique in it’s own way. Everything from a quick find in a parking lot to a long hike in the woods. The adventure never gets old. This hobby is for the young and old alike. For those who haven’t heard of Geocaching it basically is Modern day treasure hunting. One person or group hide a cache then others go find it using the Coordinates of the cache on a handheld GPS unit. Additional information about this hobby can be found at Geocaching.com . Geocaching is a world wide hobby. Go to Geocaching.com type in your zip code and you may just be surprised at just how many you’ll find. As with all outdoor activities please respect the areas you visit, and if you carry it in please carry it out. Happy caching.
Roadragetrx (geocaching name)
JR Akins
I love walking when I am on vacation, exploring new places and seeing new sites. I also love that I am incorporating a workout into my day without having to work out, but there is the fear of getting turned around in a new place and getting lost. My husband teased me for being such a sissy, but I was looking for a hand held GPS device to take with me on vacation. Well, I discovered the Garmin Forerunner. I found that I can just strap on my Garmin Forerunner like a watch before I hit the road or the trail and have better than hand held GPS, I can have hands free GPS, and I can’t get lost as I check out new places so I don’t have to worry.
Well, we hit the trail last time we went on vacation, and guess who almost got turned around on the trail, but I was able to get us back to our car in one piece. I was also pleased with the fact that when I got back to my cabin I was able to check and see how many calories I burned while I was out enjoying myself. That was a real bonus. Wow, am I glad I found this. It is just like a watch, inexpensive and lots of fun! My husband isn’t laughing at me now.
Whether you’re going camping, backpacking, or hiking, there are a few essential pieces of equipment necessary to ensure safety and an enjoyable wilderness experience for all involved. The most important item to have is a first aid kit; it’s essential just in case of injury, snakebites, or infection. It’s also important to have a compass and map, or if you want to go modern, a handheld GPS unit can be purchased easily at your favorite GPS store. When venturing into the wilderness apparel like warm clothing, rain gear, gloves, and hiking boots can help you to stay dry and warm if you happen to become cold. Hypothermia can be a real danger in the outdoors, even in warmer locations where you wouldn’t think it.
It’s also important to notify a close family member or friend where you are going and when you intend to come back. If you are lost or injured in the wilderness and no one knows about it, you run the risk of not being found until its too late.
My wife and I recently moved from a townhouse in the city to a rustic cabin in the woods. A few of our friends were skeptical about this “downgrade” because our new home lacks the square-footage and desirable urban location of our old one. But they fail to consider the huge swath of property that came along with the new residence. I’m already doing some amateur surveying in preparation for some ambitious additions.
The first few times I surveyed the land, I almost got lost. It’s tough to find distinctive landmarks in a densely wooded forest. Luckily, my wife got me a handheld GPS unit at a GPS store to take with me in case I lose my way. It also comes in handy for informal mapping. I can easily tell where the property begins and ends, which has expedited the surveying process tremendously.