Technology this week

I was hiking the Long Trail last weekend and can see how much I would like to have a gps system. We'd be on a spot on the trail and were trying to tell where we were and it got very frustrating not knowing how much longer we would be out. Maybe it was because my feet hurt!

Most GPS (global positioning systems) are marketed for cars not hikers. I don't care if it has the latest and best restaurants or fastest way to get somewhere. More important is that it be lightweight and reliable topographic maps can be downloaded to it.

GPS is a network of 24 global positioning satellites. After receiving radio signals from three or more satellites, a GPS receiver can triangulate your position and display it on-screen as a set of coordinates. Garmin makes a very good one for hikers.

All in all they can be used if you need to know how to get to the library on foot or by car. How the world has changed. Used to be we just used a map.