Why Is There A KeenHandheldGPS.com?

On August 6, 2011 by Ken

I have always had an absorbing fascination with maps. I can remember sitting in an office at an elementary school near San Bernardino, CA, at a desk with a road map of the area covered by a sheet of glass. My Mom and Dad were discussing with the Principal whether or not I should skip the second grade. His name was Mr. Edwards. Thinking back, he bore a passing resemblance to Karl Malden. His nose was smaller (whose isn’t?), and he wasn’t wearing a hat. Other than that he could have been in The Streets of San Francisco.  It was 1963—if I remember correctly—and I was paying little attention to the voices in the room as I gazed at the map, tracing across the cool glass the many possible routes from home to school to the park and back again.

Twenty years later I was married with a child on the way. My wife, Anita, jokingly mocked my map “fetish” calling me “Mr. Reads-Maps-For-Fun.” Since she is Little Miss “How-Do-I-Get-to-<wherever>,” I guess we’re a match made in heaven. Personal computers were just coming out, and on-line maps were not far away. Now, twenty-some years later still, you can hardly browse the Internet without seeing a link to some kind of map.

For years now we’ve been driving around in our white 2003 Caravan with a GPS unit fixed to the glass next to the rear-view mirror. With “Edith” to guide us, we have found a number of Dairy Queens in remote places. I am very pleased to have her there, as I have way too much pride to stop and ask directions.

Today (8/1/2011) we’re avidly anticipating a long-planned vacation. We will be driving from our home in Iowa out to Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, visiting every National Park we can make time for. I expect to hear the word “recalculating” a lot. We are planning on lots of hiking with our HD camcorder and our handheld GPS device. With my love of maps, and Anita’s love of hiking, this is certain to be a wonderful memory-maker.  It’s hard to imagine a more suitable endeavor than KeenHandheldGPS.com.

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Best Handheld GPS… Reviews?

On October 19, 2011 by Ken

While looking for the Best Handheld GPS information, I ran across some posted reviews that were… well, I’d be embarrassed if they were mine. While it’s true that you can get lost while hiking off the trail (or even on it), most of us will never find ourselves in such a situation. I got my first handheld GPS device to help me to decide ahead of time if the hike I was heading out on held more challenges than I cared to deal with.  My experience was one of enjoying the gadgetry rather than depending on it for my safety.

There is a lot out there to help educate you on what to expect from a handheld GPS device.  User reviews can be found on most online store websites and there are some pro reviews out there as well. Here are a couple of excerpts with links to the source so you can see the whole review.

 

Magellan eXplorist 310 hardware

The eXplorist 310 hardware feels relatively solid. The screen is a bit recessed, which reduces the chances of it cracking in a tumble. The display is small, as is typical with entry-level handhelds. While plenty bright in the shade, I found the display a bit hard to read in bright light. It’s 240×320 pixel resolution is quite high, resulting in less light reflected back to the user. Like many high-resolution models, the 310 works best in hand, where you intuitively tilt the unit for the best view. Conversely, I wouldn’t recommend it for fixed-mount use, such as on a mountain bike.

Click here to read the full review (this is my favorite GPS site on the web)

The above is an example of what I would consider a professional review.

Below is a user review (for a different device) from May of 2010.

 

Garmin Oregon 450t

The battery life is excellent if you use quality batteries. You can by 2900mAh NiMH battereis for a very reasonable price and the unit will last around 2 days. The fact that it uses AA as opposed to a proprietary battery pack is great since you can carry spares without the need to buy an expensive secondary.

The touchscreen works great. I do a bit of paddling and the unit works fine through my dry-bag. I have not tried it with gloves yet.

Click here for the full review.  Other user reviews appear on this link as well.

A lot of what I found was just a re-hash of the product manufacturer’s promotional description meshed with some GPS gobbledygook. Not very useful. The point here is to be encouraged to look around to find the best handheld GPS reviews. Then shop around to find the best deal.

View across Mississippi River at Pikes Peak State Park in Iowa.

 

 

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Some Background on the Handheld GPS Phenomenon

On October 18, 2011 by Ken

GPS Satellite in Pre-launch - Courtesy Wikipedia

Handheld GPS devices are a departure from what an average person might think of when this technology is brought up. Many of us were first introduced to GPS units designed for use in automobiles. Read on for some background and general information pertaining to GPS technology.

If you are interested in optimizing the fun and excitement associated with outdoor adventuring, you should consider the many benefits associated with owning handheld GPS devices. While it is true that most individuals associate Global Positioning Systems with motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, RVs and motorcycles, there are many models that are sold specifically for outdoor adventuring activities such as hiking, bicycling, skiing, hunting, boating, fishing, ATVing and other enjoyable hobbies. If you enjoy spending time outside, engaging in activities such as those highlighted here, it is important to understand that an outdoor GPS system has the capability to make these activities more enjoyable than ever before. The Technology Handheld GPS devices use the Global Positioning System that was once known as the “Navstar Global Positioning System” that was created in the year of 1973.

Click here to access the full article.

 

I was once very skeptical about GPS technology. Maybe even… uhhh,  paranoid? Who hasn’t watched a Criminal Minds episode and wondered if their I-phone wasn’t leaving a trail that some super snooper could follow?  Even so, your handheld GPS device can entertain you (if you’re a map geek like me), or save your life if your sense of adventure leads you into a fix you couldn’t otherwise escape from.

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Geocaching Is Family Friendly Fun

On October 18, 2011 by Ken

Dall sheep lambs on an Alaska hillside - phot courtesy of Wikipedia

I enjoy learning about families doing fun things together.  When our kids were still at home, family activities included lots of hiking and biking.  For a while, we lived in an apartment in Eagle River, AK. It was about 15 miles to Anchorage and an occasional bicycle trek to Valley of the Moon Park was just the ticket to promote family togetherness. Hiking the south side of Twin Peaks was challenging and rewarding. We still share the memories of walking among the ptarmigans and the Dall Sheep.

Now, outdoor family fun is going high tech. Geocaching with your handheld GPS device presents an opportunity to have family time that is interesting and educational as demonstrated by this South Carolina example:

 
It’s no secret that keeping children active is getting more challenging as the growth of technology continues. But one piece of technology is helping families find treasures while engaging children and teaching them life lessons.

There are hidden treasures all over the world and they can be found by following your GPS in a hobby known as geocaching.

“Which way?” Leslie Denton said.
“18 feet, 17 feet …” Joshua Barefoot said.
“Where?” Denton said.
“It’s in here!” Barefoot said.

These hidden treasures are in the form of caches, small containers filled with trinkets and a log book for visitors to sign. Geocaching is a cross between treasure hunting and hiking and it has been gaining popularity for the past 10 years, according to geocaching.com.

The Barefoot and Denton families showed the Morning News what geocaching was all about. We found three different caches hidden around town. But there are many more; in fact, there are 928 caches listed in Florence on geocaching.com.

Read more of the story here

 

 
Be on the lookout for families spending time together with this high tech form of treasure hunting.  This is also highly recommended for individuals or couples who enjoy some good clean outdoor fun.

 

 

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Why Do I Need a Handheld GPS Device?

On October 17, 2011 by Ken

No street lights here. Very Dark at night.

Personally, I don’t need a reason to own a handheld GPS device. I love high tech gadgets, and as I’ve noted before, a mix of maps and gadgets is perfect for me. But many of us enjoy getting away from it all… getting away from cell phones and lap tops where we can clear our minds and really enjoy God’s creation.

I would like to share someone’s personal account of an everyday event that showed the good common sense of owning one:

It was a night on Joppa Flats, in Massachusetts, that got me thinking. I’d managed to get myself turned around on an incoming tide, and as I walked up the launch ramp that night with my hands above my head, holding my rod and car keys to keep them dry, I realized how lucky I was. Another 10 minutes likely would have meant swimming to that launch ramp rather than walking in water up to my elbows.

I sat in my car for a long while, thankful to be safe and berating myself for my foolishness as I looked out onto the flats where I easily could have drowned. But this was how I was choosing to fish: on the flats on moonless nights, when the striped bass would come in to chow down. How could I fish this area and prevent myself from being in the same predicament again? The very next day, I plunked down the cash for a handheld GPS.

Learning Curve
It took me a while to get the hang of the basic functions. A long afternoon in a local park brought me up to speed on the tools I needed to know so I could avoid my past folly. I learned how to track my path, place points on the map, track back through those points and even calculate distance traveled over time. A few days later, I was out on the flats again, tracking and retracing a safe path for me to return to the car. After a few trips, I started thinking to myself, “What else can I do with this thing?”

A basic sunrise and sunset tool, as well as a moon-phase utility, were preprogrammed. A tide utility, with predictions based on your location and not a nearby buoy, gave me much more accurate results than I had ever expected.

Click here for the entire story

People can get themselves into difficult circumstance without much effort. Whenever you’re enjoying the great outdoors, it’s a good idea to allow for the unforeseen. Always have a way to carry extra water, some first-aid supplies, and your handheld GPS device.

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A Few Words on “Waterproof”

On September 23, 2011 by Ken

As you compare handheld GPS devices, one feature claimed by most is “waterproof” followed by a rating such as IPX7 or IPX6.  The Garmin eTrex Vista Hcx that we have been featuring in these posts is spec’d at IPX7.  A quick look at the “wiki” page for waterproof ratings shows this to be as follows:

IP (Ingress Protection or International Protection) is followed by two or more parameters depending on what it is being rated for. Therefore the IPX7 (or whatever) is actually a measurement of protection against anything getting into the device, not just water.

The first rating is for protection against non-liquid material such as dust getting into the device. The “X” means the device has not been rated for this parameter. The “7” means the device has withstood immersion up to 1 meter deep for a period of 30 minutes. If you drop your device into a shallow, slow moving creek, (or, God forbid, a toilet), it will not be internally contaminated with a harmful degree of moisture.  One should guard against the possibility of dropping it into a lake or river more than three feet deep. This particular device is equipped with a lanyard that will suspend it at about mid-chest when worn around the neck.

Common sense says that you ought to avoid allowing it to get wet.  Don’t let the word “waterproof” lull you into the idea that it is impervious to any kind of water threat.  You may feel like “spiking” your handheld GPS device into the creek at the end of a long, exhilarating hike, and if you do, it will probably survive, but it is not recommended. A gentle fist-bump or high-five with a nearby saguaro would be more appropriate.

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The Primitive Trail

On September 21, 2011 by Anita

Located in Utah’s Arches National Park is one of my very favorite hiking trails, named the “Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop,” and for good reason!  Not your usual day hike, it sometimes meanders through less well-marked areas and includes such challenges as sand, sliprock scrambles, and steep climbing up to the spine of lengthy rock fins.  We had hiked this trail last year and enjoyed it so much we decided to go again. This time it was a little more challenging, as it was hovering around 99°F.  Poor Ken, who never does like the heat all that much, got very hot.

How far to the next rest spot?

 

I usually don’t struggle with heat—it’s the cold that bothers me—so it wasn’t so bad for me.  Nevertheless, we made sure to take plenty of water and stopped often along the way in what shaded areas we could find to avoid overheating.  Classified as “moderate,” the trail is doable for most, but be sure you plan well.  There is always the danger of falls, which is not that high for the careful day hiker, but if it rains (which can happen suddenly and without warning), this could become a real risk, as the rocks can get VERY slippery.  Proper footgear is essential (flip-flops are NOT a good choice!).  I had some new TEVA hiking shoes on this trip, and I highly recommend TEVA shoes to everyone.  The grip was so solid I felt I could climb up a wall.  If you have any fear of heights, “Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop” is not for you.  It is 8.1 miles (including all points of interest).  Start – End elevation:   5,117′ – 5,117′ (5,460′ max elevation).  Elevation change:  +343′ net elevation gain (+1,204′ total roundtrip elevation gain).  Just for fun, here is a log of the GPS coordinates:

  • N46.975 W109 35.709 – Devils Garden Trailhead
  • N47.433 W109 36.265 – Primitive Loop Trail Junction (#1)
  • N47.652 W109 36.611 – Navajo Arch – Partition Arch junction
  • N47.748 W109 36.887 – Travel over slickrock fin
  • N47.820 W109 36.966 – Black Arch Overlook
  • N47.962 W109 37.276 – Primitive Loop Trail Junction (#2)
  • N48.227 W109 37.150 – Private Arch Junction
  • N48.064 W109 36.742 – Primitive Travel
  • N48.142 W109 36.607 – Exit Wash (right)
  • N47.631 W109 36.359 – Crest hill on backside of loop – enter prairie
  • N47.433 W109 36.265 – Primitive Loop Trail Junction (#1) – return to trailhead

Just a hint:  We went backwards, going though the prairie first.  I believe this way is a bit easier, as you slog through the 1.5 miles of red sand and scrub brush at the beginning rather than the end, when you are already tired.  Also, the upward climb seems less strenuous going this direction.  Take your handheld GPS unit and compare.

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More On Our National Parks Tour

On September 12, 2011 by Ken

We hiked the Lulu City Trail on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was an awesome experience.  Again, We used our Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Handheld GPS unit to track our movements and altitude. While there was very little chance of getting lost on this hike (as it is well marked and well traveled), it was still interesting and entertaining to have it with us.

 

Again, the altimeter was fun to watch as we followed the trail.  We could look at the trail guide and easily tell how much effort it would take to get to the next landmark. The trail to Lulu City does not change much in terms of elevation, but beyond the site it begins to get more challenging.  Knowing this, we were able to make wise decisions about how far up the trail to go. It’s about 7 miles round trip from the trail head to Lulu City, but there are lots of attractions further up the path. There are several destinations to choose from and we will consider those on our next trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Finding Treasure:

On August 29, 2011 by Ken

Geocaching and a Handheld GPS

Like many others, as a child I (Anita) was always fascinated with stories of secret maps leading to mysterious places where one could find buried treasure.  Surely someone somewhere had hidden something valuable, and if I just knew where to look, I’d find it!  Some things never change.  Although I’m no longer expecting to find a chest full of gold buried in my back yard, my sense of adventure has not died, and I’ve finally found a way to fulfill those childhood dreams—geocaching!  The “map” I use today is not a ratty and worn piece of canvas—it’s my handheld GPS.  Thanks to modern technology, I can download a plethora of maps to find “hidden treasure” all over the world.  What fun! Sometimes it’s a trinket, sometimes a beautiful scenic spot, sometimes a log of all the treasure hunters that came before me, but all unique and wonderful in their own way.   We’ll be setting off on another adventure in a couple of days.  Stay tuned for updates.  Let the adventure begin…

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National Parks Tour

On August 20, 2011 by Ken

What an awesome week it has been!  We attended a three day seminar and then took advantage of being in Utah by visiting the many natural wonders there. We started off at Arches National Park, hiking an easy trail to begin with and then a more difficult one after that.  We chose the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Handheld as our GPS device of choice on this trip. This, along with a digital camera, a high-def Handycam, and some binoculars, set us up perfectly to capture the grandeur while sating our high tech habit.

Anita at Goblin Valley
We also spent a few hours at Goblin Valley State Park. The hiking and climbing opportunities really brought out the “little girl” in my wife, Anita.  I could hardly keep up with her as she scrabbled and explored with the most hyper of the little kids that were there.  I stuck to playing with the high tech stuff, snapping pictures and poking around with the features of the handheld GPS unit.

I mentioned a lifelong fascination with maps in my previous post. Topographic maps in particular have been a source of interest. I had great fun with the handheld GPS features, marking the paths and tracking back, and playing with the digital compass and the altimeter.

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