by Wayne Ramsey

Created on: April 07, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) is probably one of the best modern day inventions for the outdoor enthusiast. It has aided in the location of thousands of lost backpackers throughout the years, while also helping countless outdoor enthusiast navigate their way throughout some of the thickest forest, and immense countryside imaginable. GPS has truly made it possible to go virtually anywhere without the fear of getting lost in the wild. This has allowed a greater variety of individuals to be able to venture out into the wild than ever before. As technology increases, even those with little to no outdoors experience are finding it incredibly easy to go further into the wild while camping, allowing them to experience camping unlike they have ever before. Backpacking has increased substantially as well, as backpackers can now go out and explore without worrying about finding their way back to their camp or back to their vehicles or pick up points. The reality is that GPS has changed considerably the way that we look at the world around us.

Even with how great GPS is, there are still numerous people that refuse to embrace the technology in favor of the more traditional approaches to navigation. These die hards are some of the best outdoorsmen in the world and know nature better than even the best of biologists. It is in this knowledge of their environment in which they camp, backpack, or hunt that they are able to do it with relative ease, even without the use of GPS. In fact, people have used this method for countless centuries before the GPS generation with great success. But still, regardless of how many try to preserve the traditional means of finding one's way, modern generations are quick to embrace the modern technologies and the benefits associated with them rather than take the time to learn the older techniques.

In my personal experiences in camping and backpacking through the back country of Alaska, the largest wilderness in the country, I have used both the GPS system and the standard compass and map. I have found that while the GPS system is great, there is not better feeling than knowing that if your technology fails, you can still rely on such a simple device to find your way home. In fact, I generally find myself using my compass and map over the use of the GPS, because it gives me a much greater respect for the land that I am camping in. With the use of GPS, civilization just seems too close by for comfort. I feel like I can just walk a few feet

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