High Sierra Topix

Funny to read all the curmudgeonly posts on this topic...turns out I'm a curmudgeon too! I bought one of the original eTrex Vista GPS units way back when, and aside from some geocaching circa 1998, it's been sitting in a gear box ever since. The printed map tells all. Although it's heresy to say so, I also agree that in most of the Sierra, a compass is superfluous.

I just wish it was easier to get my hands on 7.5' quads. In a former life I worked at the USGS in Menlo Park, and their map store had nearly every California/Nevada/Oregon topo in stock. Even the Berkeley REI had most of the popular ones back then. You just can't beat the detail of 40-foot contours.

Now I rely heavily on Harrison maps and the like, which are also quite good. I do love the waterproof, tear-proof materials.

The only real input I have to add to this discussion is, that a recreational GPS unit circa 1998 did not/is not going to provide you the level of accuracy that today's units do. Quite likely many of you already know this, but it's worth mention just the same.

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There's also the issues of constant change in constellations (new birds, lost birds, etc.) and loss of firmware support to properly connect to current constellations that for older units usually affects accuracy or the ability to even fix.

Eric,

That is totally true. My 94 Garmin xl 12 won't even link anymore, but on the boat, it was awesome. My Garmin Rino has been stellar and lasts a full week on it's battery pack, and then there is the spare alkaline pack. Never needed the spare.

What it really comes down to is "who cares!". You go with what your comfortable with based on your experience. I sometimes do just map, sometimes just GPS. And yet I somehow manage to drag myself back here.

Plus, my GPS has the radio, compass, and games no, I've never played the games. Maybe if it rains/or snows on me this time.

I use both maps and GPS. Just depends on the nature of the trip which one or both I chose to go with.