Important Question re: GPS Use

“the use of GPS devices. Theoretically, if a person wanted to have the gps coordinates or waypoints for a landform in an area, they'd need to know fairly closely where the said landform is located. True or false? Can't just go pull them off a topo map arbitrarily and have any degree of accuracy? I need to know. There is a reason. And I'm getting madder by the minute.”

“...I know the answer, but I'm gonna wait a few minutes while you get madder and madder... :Þ”

“If you go to Topo.com or Terra "somethingorother" (I have the link on the home puter) while you pass the curser over the map it gives the coordinance in the toolbar I believe. Would this do it?”

“You can go to www.topozone.com and do a search on the area you're looking for and click on the map and it will show you the coordinates.”

“prolly should do it, but sometimes they use different grids”

“don't you have to know where something IS on the topo map? I mean its not magic. You'd have to possess a very good idea where what you were seeking is located. I hope to hannah I'm right. My lip is out to here. I'm pretty bummed .”

“Guess you'll have to bite the bullet and hike there and get the co ordinace. shucks!”

“At topozone you can pick your coordinate format and coordinate datum. Yes, if you don't know exactly where a spot is, you're gonna hafta give your best guess and use the detailed 7.5 minute map and click on that spot. Of course once you're at the location physically you can just make a waypoint from that very spot and have the exact coordinates forever and ever, barring any huge earthquake. But you should be able to get pretty close with a 7.5 minute map, especially if it's the confluence of two creeks or something obvious.”

“If the landform is marked on the map and you create a waypoint for it in Topo! or on Topozone...you could follow the gps to the waypoint and get within 15' or less....in most cases.

If it is not marked on a topo map...then it would be pretty hard to do without it's coordinates.”

“How many people use a GPS? An old-fashioned (really means technologic hampered individual) inquiring mind would like to know.”

“I have a GPS, but use it as a toy. I rely on maps.”

“I use my GPS for Geocaching and to mark x-c routes, I have never used it to actually find my way. I use maps and compass for that.”

“I enter waypoints from my National Geographic Topo Program for Oregon all the time. I do this especially when trying to locate remote turn-offs to trailheads, and water sources. So far it has worked really good. Be mindfull of your map datum, that can screw you up if your GPS and your Map/Program are not on the same datum. Many maps are NAD1927(NAD27), but some of the newer versions are NAD83/WGS84. In my neck of the woods the difference could be as much as 300-400meters.

Good Luck”

“Maybe you could try terraserver-usa to map out where you're going as well.

Here's an example of how we SoCal folks find our way with
www.terraserver-usa.com.

This just might explain a lot about how we get around.”

“I use a GPS to find my way in the wilderness. For cross-country travel it helps you conserve energy. Sometimes I'll use it on the trail on a long hike day to watch where there that blankety-blank-blank camp spot is.

Using your mouse cursor, you can mouse over a location on your TOPO! software to get your Lat/Log coords.

I wonder if there's a way to correlate telephone numbers or addresses to coords. Or even static IP addresses to coords.”

“As has been stated you need to understand map datums and map formats. Your gps can be adjusted for anything currently in use. (Read owners manual) The map datum and map format settings of your GPS should match the map's. This are marked on any decent map.

I have a mapping program, MapTech's Terrain Navigator. I can plot waypoints, routes, and tracks on my map and download them into the gps. I can pinpoint features on the map and walk right to them with my gps. I do it all the time.”

“"How many people use a GPS? An old-fashioned (really means technologic hampered individual) inquiring mind would like to know."

Welcome to the Hockey Helmet GPS Club Lobo. LOL! Stuff like that just boggles my mind. Then when I sit down with something and work it out I usually find it isn’t as hard as I thought. The simpler ones are hardest use IMHO. I’d have to get one of the 8 bit or 16 bit ones that you download a topo into. I’m very visual and the non map ones just make my head spin. Because I want one of the top of line ones I’ll be waiting a long time for one.”

“I truly do. Now for the rest of the story. I was asked by a UT prof. to help out with some off trail stuff. Things that aren't ON the map which I have visited and can lead him to. He said it would help him to get the gps coordinates. I was happy and excited about it. Shared it with someone who cautioned me that the fellow could get those numbers off any topozone map so what did he need ME for? Once again Dana the "Nothing but a Dumb Blonde" How could *I* possibly help anyone when I am so ditzy? It just pisses me off and hurts my feelings.”

“Can be found here....


Tennessee Landform Database

If you have the Java plugin, you can get the coordiates anywhere you move the pointer.”

“Thanks so much”

“If these things aren't on the map then the grid coordinates would be the perfect way for him to find it Dana.
How can he find the way there otherwise?”

“He's asking you to find the place on the map where these things should be - so he can then go there. If he has the grid reference then he should be able to navigate within a few yards of the exact location.”

“I'm a cuttin, but y'all ain't a bleedin'. The man is wanting me to bodily take him to where these locations are. He wants to see these sights for himself. He can then get the most accurate of .What I was cautioned against was ... oh...shoot . nevermind.”

“Are you suggesting he is using this as a ploy to get you alone in the woods?


Tell him you will take him, but you want to make each hike a TT group hike. That should throw cold water on his plans (if indeed he has any).”

“ok - tell him to shove his GPS then :o) - or maybe he just wanted someone to hike with... who knows.”

“I am trying to nail down the facts to back it up. Just to show that I am thinking this through and that it is above board. Ah nevermind it. I don't have to prove nothing to no one.”

“Dana,
I'm with bacpac on this one. You can get the coordiates from a "www.topozone.com" 1:100000 map very accurately and your prof can put that into his GPS. I also use MapTech's Terrain Navigator to plot out courses and establish waypoints (many are already established for you.) Works like a charm. If you are looking at things larger than a tractor-trailer truck-like scenery or knobs or views or balds or mountains, you could easily pinpoint them on the topo map and find them.

Also, you don't need no stinking computer to get the coordinance. It is printed on the margin of the geodetic survey maps you can get at your local outfitters. Just pinpoint the location on the paper map and use a straight edge that will reach across the map, keep it perpendicular to the edges of the page and strike a verticle and horizontal line to get the coordinances.

"Question authority" Go in a group setting only.

Be safe.”

“yeah, or take my stun gun with you! that'll teach him.”

“ya never knows Gem - he might like it”

“One of the most unused features of a GPS is it's ability to read other coordinate systems besides Lat/Lon. On my last trip, our maps were gridded in UTM. So I switched the GPS to read UTM and was able to enter in remote waypoints fairly accuratly and was able to pinpoint my position a lot easier. Just look at the bottom of the map. If it's a survey or navigation grade map, the grid will be listed and chances are your GPS will understand it.”

“I give up. He will be questioned by myself and possibly by a panel of TT experts and/or go in a group setting. It sounds suspect on reading the posts. I admit to being angry, but its mad at ME for not thinking of all teh possiblities BEFORE I agreed to go. If not for "My Conscience" ( who poses as a big, cynical,contruction working computer guy) I'd never have questioned it. Hurts to think I just fail to see the point. :-(”

“I am sooo glad to have stopped to think this thru even if it made me upset by raining on my parade. I told someone the dude was old. I was wrong. aw. Jay-sus. Wonder what else-t I have overlooked?”

“Take a couple of your best TT buds with you...the bigger and meaner the better ;) No worries.

But you sound like you can”

“take care of yourself :P”

“What exactly are these said "landforms" you desire to find.”

“This UT professor does. He's interested in waterfalls, escarpment gorges, natural arches, I have come up with a plan Everything is going to be just fine.”