I’m a GPS junkie, I have two personal handhelds, one in the truck, and two in my Apache helicopter (thankfully supplied by Boeing). You can ask my wife, I hate being lost, whether we’re driving in an unfamiliar downtown city or out in BFE, I don’t like it and take ridiculous measures to ensure that we don’t end up lost. I’ll be honest and admit that it’s more pride and ego which makes me this way. To that end, I’ve just bought new waterproof and tear proof Nat Geo Maps for the Smokies and Tellico and Ocoee areas in preparation for my yearly hikapalooza in East Tn, West NC, and North Ga.
In studying up I wanted to share a few sources with you that I find helpful just in case the batteries die in my handheld or it takes an unplanned swim in a stream.
FM 3-25.26 MAP READING AND LAND NAVIGATION (Yes, an Army Manual, can you imagine a better source?) An absolute must read and take along publication for beginner hikers as well as obvious manuals such as survival, first aid, and edible plants). You can buy all these manuals in mini (shrunken down format). If you need help locating them, shoot me an email.)
Backpacking 101 also has some good articles for Navigating:
align your compass
How to raise your navigation skills from novice to master
stay on course
map contour lines
http://backpacker.com/backpacking101/A4mapsymbols.html
map care
The biggest piece of advice that I could give you if you’re going on your hike in the Winter months, less crowds mean the Rangers aren’t as busy (or staffed), check in with them, see if they have some homemade maps you can make a copy of. Take 10 minutes and get their opinion on your hike, you might be surprised at how helpful they really are.
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