Heading up to Fishtail tomorrow for a weekend of field work using TOPO! Explorer maps, my Garmin 60 CSx and a Triton 1500. Anyone have any suggestions for a hike in the Nye, Absarokee, Fishtail area?

Cheers! Mike

I was just in Montana, but not in the Absrokee, but in the Tobacco Roots. It is a great time of year to be hiking. We did several hikes and some hot springs soaking.

My Triton 500 still did not have the super quads, they were not available the day I left. Now I have them loaded and wish I was there again!

I was having trouble understanding how to adjust the boundaries of the maps. I could move them around but not change the size. So I missed some of the Quad. but loaded it anyway. I have read the toutorial and in level 2,3,4 it is just too small to size up the selection, it seems. I’ll try again.

Jim C,

The best way to select a map for export to a Triton unit is as follows ::

1. Adjust the selection box to the size that you think that you want it using levels 2,3 or 4.

2. Then zoom down into one of the more detailed levels, at these levels you can move the box around (it will not resize) to make sure you are getting the area of coverage that you want.

3. If you are not getting enough area go back to the upper levels and increase the selection area. Currently the selection area can only be changed in set increments both east/west & north/south.

4. If you resized the selection are then go back to one of the detailed levels to make sure that you have the area of coverage that you require.

5. Export to your Triton once you are satisfied with the area that you have selected.

I hope this helps.

Dear Jim,

A group of us males are getting back into orienteering (I also geocashe).  I'm reading about the Triton unit; is this something we should investigate?  Thanks for the posting.  It sounds like you and your family are having a lot of fun.

Respectfully,

Knight Templar

Hi Knight Templar;

Orienteering is great fun!!! Search on line for a club close to you and they will be more than happy to advise you on your navi needs.

IMHO a GPS is diametrically opposed to the philosophy governing orienteering. In brief; most orienteering is done w/o even using compass bearings (precise azimuths). A fast lock compass giving rough direction, a very large scale map (typically 1:10K or so) is all one uses. The rest involves orienting the map and matching land features.

But if I were to recommend one it would NOT be ANY mapping GPS. Unless one has a very specific need (unlikely for orienteering), I strongly recommend either a Garmin Foretrex 101 or a Garmin Etrex w/a high sensitivity receiver. The latter only if one will be navigating mostly in canyons and/or heavily forested backcountry areas. Even so …. an HS receiver is unnecessary. Please keep in mind that until a few years ago GPS systems were basically unavailable and folks did manage to hike everywhere w/o getting lost.

A mapping GPS in the hands of a novice is similar to giving a novice driver an off road vehicle …. when they do get stuck and they will .... they’ll get stuck very, very deep!!!

Side Issue: If we keep purchasing lousy products MFGs will continue to offer us lousy choices. There is not one worthwhile mapping GPS device available today precisely because folks continue to buy the junk they offer us.

FYI: Filling out your profile will be a great help to us when you ask for advice.

Peace,

RIchard.