jungle escapades

[forestgump]

During one of the jungle survival course I ran last month...i could not help notice one of the participants bringing along a garmin GPS device which I took away but not before he said - what if Im lost in the jungles? Good question but my question back to him was... what if you ran out of batteries or the device rosak ma?
What do you folks do when your GPS devices are inoperatable?
I heard that soldiers now carry GPS devices...what happened to the old MilCompass training that we veterans used to learned and had to use during those days of the communist insurgencies?

[moeyhc]

Bro,

Good question...

Learn the basic first, at least know how to read maps and plot your direction with a compass... You said what if your battery is dead or 'rosak'... the same applies to your map when it got soak or you lost your compass. The Apollo 13th Rocket carries 3 computers and none work well but they manage to come home just with pure knowledge of the situation. There is no Right or Wrong in this situation of carrying an 'extra assistance'... just that you did not comprehend that Murhpy's Law is always here haunt us...

In the end... our survival instinct will determine if we get out of a situation or not.... the rest is in God's Hand.

Just my 2 cents... Cheers!

[coolerbok]

Well said, moeyhc!

Most modern wilderness adventurers carry emergency electronic gear. My old pack had:
GPS: 2 field GPS - 60C and Foretrex
Satellite phone: Thuraya
Solar power on backpack -
http://www.voltaicsystems.com/
http://www.bruntonoutdoor.com/

Cheers!

[moeyhc]

Thanks for agreeing bro coolerbok.

What do you folks do when your GPS devices are in-operable?

Well, I'll kick my own butt for not keeping it in good condition... and starts to open my mouth to ask for directions until I can find a Paper map or GPS. If in the jungle find water and ask God for help...

[ace]

I'll stay at home.

Not venturing anywhere.

But that said, too dependent on just one aspect is asking for trouble... be it local knowledge, electronic devices, confidence, etc.

Survival instinct is great to have....but that is just buying time.....if your time runs out before the expected result is achieved, you will still perish.

[alyem]

With paper map, you need to know your location before you can find the nearest road or river.
Compass only tell you where is North is. But how far away are you from the main road... ????

Handheld GPS power by DC battery. With normal battery it will last you 12 hrs - 20 hrs. With rechargeable battery it last you 24 hrs - 48 hrs. Always bring spare battery.

I always carry my Handheld GPS with new spare battery and with my Treker watch when I go offroad.

And latest working map.

[silverbeauty]

With a paper map ( preferable topo map ) and compass, you can find your estimated location via triangulation.
To start, you need to identify two recognizable landmark.
First recognizable landmark and draw a line from it to your estimated position.
Second recognizable landmark about 45-60 degrees away from first landmark and draw a second line.
Your estimated position is where both lines intersect.
This is worse case if I am stuck with dead electronics.

Concur with bro alyem to carry spare batteries. My HcX can last 20 hours with fresh alkaline batteries. When hiking I always carry a bunch and some re-chargables with a hand crank charger for emergencies. A good Swiss Army set is handy for any emergencies which includes a torch, compass, firestarter etc...

[moeyhc]

Bro.... It's Murphy's Law again... Bring spare batteries and GPS rosak... Bring more GPS Satellite kaput.... How ah? As bro ace puts it.... If your time is up... it's up

[silverbeauty]

Bro.... It's Murphy's Law again... Bring spare batteries and GPS rosak... Bring more GPS Satellite kaput.... How ah? As bro ace puts it.... If your time is up... it's up

GPS backup la.. secondary tool.

Primary tool still map, compass and some common sense survival instinct

[FrancisTLim]

Out of batteries or device rosak? Nowadays, can easily avoid that lah. If everyone in the group bring two devices and 8 batteries, if 4 people, there will be 8 devices and 32 batteries. Only need one device and 2 batteries to work, can last 20 hours. If turn off to conserve batteries and turn on only for when necessary, can last for days. I am talking about Etrex lah. Need 2 AA batteries to last 20 hours.

Some years ago (before GPS became so cheap), there was news that some British army soldiers getting lost while on holiday trekking in Kinabalu park. So even professionals can get lost with compass & maps.