By tobe945
From Boulder, CO
Oct 7, 2009
| Anyone have it? How does it suit navigation in alpine climbing situations (whiteouts, etc.)? | 
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By JLP
From The Internet
Oct 7, 2009
| tobe945 wrote: Anyone have it? How does it suit navigation in alpine climbing situations (whiteouts, etc.)?
I have a similar unit. It's great. You need the maps to make it really useful. That said, you might look into the newer Topo USA and see if it will load on the older units. The older Topo USA was 100k or so resolution, the newer stuff claims it is 24k, which is the most detailed you'll find. There is a National Park 24k that works on the older units, but it excludes most of the Cascades - one of the few places in the lower 48 where you have much risk of getting lost in a whiteout. |
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By Casey Bernal
From Wheat Ridge, CO
Oct 7, 2009
| I have the 60Cx and really like it. I just bought the SD card with the 24k TOPO of CO/UT, quite accurate but pricey (~$100).
I use it regularly for BC skiing, combined with a Suunto altimeter watch. It certainly seems accurate EXCEPT when the view of the sky is blocked (couloirs, cliffs, etc.). Trees don't seem to give it much problem. So in general, when skiing this typically isn't an issue and if a lot of ground is covered then it is quite useful for route finding.
On vertical rock & ice, I think the best navigation aid is an altimeter (which the 60C*S*x does have). |
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By John Farrell
From Chandler, AZ
Oct 7, 2009
| tobe945 wrote: Anyone have it? How does it suit navigation in alpine climbing situations (whiteouts, etc.)?
That's the GPS I use. I have the 1:24,000 maps that cover AZ, NM, CO, and UT. The Garmin software is good, but a little clunky and takes some time to get familiar with, but it works. I have never used it in white out situations. I have used it to find a drainage at night and tribute it to making the difference on getting out of a canyon and not spending an uncomfortable night in the canyon. The biggest use is finding my way back to my car in the "back country."
Being a gadget geek too, I like to document all of my climbing, and the starts of climbs so I can get back there too. Any GPS will do that.
One thing to note too, a lot of hiking trails are on the map software, along with old logging roads. So when you're trekking across back country, finding those old roads can make hiking much easier and faster.
I like my Garmin a lot and rarely go out without it. I don't actually carry it on my multi-pitch trad climbs though, since you're going up, and not "out." I wouldn't call myself an apline climber though, my trad climbing is get moving at the crack of dawn, and back to the bar before dark.
I also use a program called Expert GPS a lot to plan trips, it uses the USGS maps, which are usually very accurate and detailed. One thing to note, the Expert GPS maps will not download to any GPS unit. It's just used on your computer for setting up waypoints and tracks.
http://www.expertgps.com/ |
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