The moment you take your first DETOUR step around a cluster of thorn bushes on your "non-phone-compass-bearing" towards your target destination, ONLY A GPS will update you with your (now constanly changing) location while moving. You need this changed location to calculate and update the required bearing to your target location - OOPS...but you have no target location !!! because you only took a bearing with a reliable, cannot break when dropped, hopefully pre-hike and post purchase tested compass that must save you from a $ 20 000 search and rescue bill using tried and tested old school navigation techniques that have no inherent short comings. No sir, USE REDUNDANCY PLANNING !!! Buy 3 phones !!! 3 cheap phones with a GPS. Carry 10 small, charged, spare batteries. AND THAT NON-PHONE COMPASS too. Also ensure you carry a laminated paper sun compass card * 4 (a valid one for each hiking day).
And don't forget a valid daily card with watch compass method error corrections in any hemisphere...Oh, you already have a push button to give you that info on your analog watch ???
Last, but not least, DONT FORGET TO CARRY WATER WITH YOU ! You will need it to float a magnetised finger pricking needle on a leaf !!! in case all else fails.
Then, in an emergency, call 911 with the phone you got your GPS on, or try a satellite phone and personal rescue beacon if you can afford them.
The moment you take your first DETOUR step around a cluster of thorn bushes on your "non-phone-compass-bearing" towards your target destination, ONLY A GPS will update you with your (now constanly changing) location while moving. You need this changed location to calculate and update the required bearing to your target location - OOPS...but you have no target location !!! because you only took a bearing with a reliable, cannot break when dropped, hopefully pre-hike and post purchase tested compass that must save you from a $ 20 000 search and rescue bill using tried and tested old school navigation techniques that have no inherent short comings. No sir, USE REDUNDANCY PLANNING !!! Buy 3 phones !!! 3 cheap phones with a GPS. Carry 10 small, charged, spare batteries. AND THAT NON-PHONE COMPASS too. Also ensure you carry a laminated paper sun compass card * 4 (a valid one for each hiking day).
And don't forget a valid daily card with watch compass method error corrections in any hemisphere...Oh, you already have a push button to give you that info on your analog watch ???
Last, but not least, DONT FORGET TO CARRY WATER WITH YOU ! You will need it to float a magnetised finger pricking needle on a leaf !!! in case all else fails.
Then, in an emergency, call 911 with the phone you got your GPS on, or try a satellite phone and personal rescue beacon if you can afford them.
(Be weary when a forest canopy calls you...)
- by Spanner in the Wheel