Navigating a Topo Map

Reviewing a topographic map is usually the starting point for the planning of any back country trip.  A topographic map is your road map to the outdoors.  It provides you information at a scale that is meaningful and detailed.  For years, the US Geologic Survey (USGS) has been the principal publisher of accurate maps.  Within the last decade we have seen many innovations in mapping products that include new mapping companies and publishers, software, maps for the GPS, and “Apps” for the iPhone.

Still, the USGS map remains the standard for back country navigation (visit the USGS’s site at www.topomaps.usgs.gov.)   I’d also recommend looking at June Fleming’s “Staying Found” or Bjorn Kjellstrom’s “Be Expert With Map & Compass.”  Once you develop a map foundation you will easily shift to many of the other products on the market today. 

Many publications, videos, and web sites will give you a complete rundown on the features, symbols and components to a map.  This article will discuss a few of the key features that you should be aware on a 7.5 minute map.

To read the complete post go here.

 

 

 

Viking Sunstone Found

A crystalline sunstone believed to have been used as a Viking Navigation aid was recently identified.

From the National Post Staff:

Researchers believe they may have in their possession a fabled Viking “sunstone” — an fabled device which let the ancient mariners navigate the ocean.

The honed crystal was found in a wreck in the English Channel 30 years ago, but was only recently tested by a team of scientists at the University of Rennes in France. This came after earlier research that suggested sunstones were in fact Icelandic Spars, a unique form of transparent calcite which can double refract light.

It was with that discovery that the team realized the small spar found in the wreck could have been the mythic navigation tool.

To read the complete article go here.

GPS Mapping

Visit GPS File depot for free maps for your Garmin receiver.

Solar Activity

Solar Activity impacts the operation of GPS receivers.  This was to be a year of significant solar activity.  It's quiet right now.
 
The following post is from the UK's Mail online. 
 
By Mark Prigg

'Something unexpected' is happening on the Sun, Nasa has warned.
This year was supposed to be the year of 'solar maximum,' the peak of the 11-year sunspot cycle. But as this image reveals, solar activity is relatively low.

To read the rest of this article go here.

 
 

An Unsuspecting Danger Along the Trail

Poison Hemlock is a deadly plant that grows around water sources.  It’s a killer.

Poison Hemlock is a plant that I have never paid much attention to.  It didn’t rank very high on my “need to know” list.  Recently, a seminar speaker discussed poison hemlock and its effects.  That caused me do a bit of investigation in my home state of Oregon.

 

Figure 1 Photo from www.Britannica.com

What I found out surprised me.  An invasive plant, Poison Hemlock is widespread throughout Oregon.  It can be found along streams, in pastures and irrigation canals.  Several deaths of livestock and people are attributed to this plant each year (check the Oregon web site for more information.)

The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s web site states:

“Juice from the poison hemlock taproot and its crown are extremely poisonous….. It has also accidentally poisoned many who have mistaken it for parsley. Poison hemlock is considered to be one of the most poisonous plants in North America, and is often mistaken for water-parsnip or other edible members of this family.”

 

Figure 2 Photo by Bonnie Rasmussen, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture

My other online resource (Encyclopedia Britannica) for further states:

 “The toxic alkaloid coniine, present throughout the plant, causes paralysis, loss of speech and depressed respiratory function with eventual asphyxia if gone untreated. Surprisingly, the mind remains unaffected until death.”

My recommendation:  Keep your hands off don’t touch it at all.  Don’t let anyone in your party put any part of poison hemlock in their mouth (as a young boy would put a piece of straw in his mouth.)

The attached video (below) is from the University of Wisconsin.  It gets a bit technical but it does a wonderful job of identifying this toxic plant.

Let Someone Know

When you head out on a trip into the back country do you let a responsible person know when you will return?  Do you explain what you are asking of them?

Before you leave home on a trip into the backcountry always ask a responsible person to be the one who will contact authorities should you fail to return.   This can be family or friend.  Most importantly, this will be someone reliable and one who won't hesitate to call 911.  This person won't ask someone else what to do, won't be "wishy washy" (is that a word) this is someone who will take action.  Select carefully.

Tell the responsible person what time to call authorities.

But your work is not done.  You need to provide them the information for 911 and Search as Rescue to do the job.  Frequently you'll read about leaving a note with the responsible person; that's not good enough.  Give them a trip plan of your travel.  Give the responders the details to effectively do their job.

Go here for a sample trip plan.

Remember to call that responsible person when you get home.

GPS "Track" Management

Have you noticed that trail on the map page that develops as you move in the backcountry?  That is the track. 

The GPS receiver function known as “Track” is an outstanding feature. Track information is displayed on the map page. The track is the historical record of the hiker’s path through the woods. As long as the receiver is powered on, the track provides a complete history of the journey. The track function must be activated to be used. On my Garmin 60 receiver, this is done by selecting the Main Menu, and then selecting an icon labeled “Tracks,” found in the upper left hand corner of the page.

To read the rest of the post click on the link below;

http://seattlebackpackersmagazine.com/gps-track-management/