Compass or GPS ?

I got this note from Larry Shortt the other day. Larry is one of the fellows who along with Walter Regan and other volunteers works hard at The Sackville Rivers Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Sackville River Watershed :

"Hi Guys,
If any of you are into Topo Maps this is a great program for your pc. I have the Maritimes version that I bought about 5 years ago for $100.00 which has the topo maps of NS, NB, PEI and the Gros Morin area of NL on it..

If you go to:
http://www.softmaptech.com/en/volumes/volEN_Maritimes_topo50.html

Handy for finding secret fishing spots..

Larry"

That got me thinking about: Compass or GPS?

When I was younger I once got lost in the woods. I didn’t do anything particularly stupid to find myself in the situation, ordinary stupidity is usually sufficient for that sort of thing but nonetheless; there I was.

Ever since then I’ve followed some simple rules whenever travelling in the back country.

First, I always look at a map of the area to gain some familiarization with the lay of the land.
 Topographic maps used to be my preferred choice but now I use Google Maps or Google Earth as often as not.

I always have a compass and two fire sources with me. I keep the fire sources each in different pockets. Usually I have a disposable lighter in one pocket of my fishing vest and some waterproofed matches in another piece of clothing, my pants pocket or jacket.

I also have a good pocketknife with a lanyard that I carry with me. With that basic kit I have no problem lighting out with just a compass bearing and the promise of good fishing at the far end of a long walk. Recently though I’ve been thinking about getting a GPS unit.

For interest’s sake here is how a GPS works: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense.

 Some time in the 1980’s these were made available for civilian use.

The GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is.

A GPS receiver must have a clear lock on at least three of the 24 satellites to plot its longitude and latitude position. With 4 satellites locked, it can also plot altitude. Having that data, the GPS unit can then calculate and extrapolate other information such as speed of travel, bearing, and distance to destination, sunrise or sunset time and more.

The way a compass works is like this.

Picture the earth’s magnetic field, its like a giant bar-magnet run through the centre of the globe. This bar has a north end and a south end. A compass is just a magnetized needle balanced on a pin that allows the needle to move freely.

With magnets the rule is, "opposites attract" so the south end of the needle swings to point toward the North Pole. This end of the needle is usually coloured and marked with an “N”.

It’s almost impossible for a compass to be wrong. It can be a little bit out because of a thing called declination – the slow movement of true magnetic north - but for just taking a bearing to get you through the brush and back it’s hard to beat.

A GPS on the other hand can memorize way points such as where you left your car or where the honey-hole is on the featureless surface of a lake.

Have you ever emerged from the bush onto the road where you’ve left your car and not been sure whether you should walk left or right to get to it? Never happens with a GPS if you’ve set your vehicle as a way point. So the advantages of the GPS are pretty obvious.

What are the negatives? I don’t have a GPS yet so I’m speculating here but I think the size of the unit is a pretty important consideration. Weight aside, the harder it is to stow, access and re-stow, the more likely one is to lose it, drop it or leave it home altogether.

The basic ruggedness of the unit is pretty important. I don’t know about you but when hiking through the bush I’m always banging off trees, slipping on logs and generally beating my gear and myself up pretty badly.

That’s when I’m not falling into the water I’m trying to fish.

Then there is the question of batteries. I guess you need to carry a spare set of fresh ones as well as put new ones in the unit before a day afield. I also wonder about how clear the canopy above has to be to get a good reading. That is a lot of stuff to think about before even looking at prices.

 I paid about $15 bucks for the compass that over the last twenty years has gotten me into and back out of more adventures than I’d dare to tell. It fits comfortably in my pocket with no weight, no fuss and no batteries. Wet or dry it works without fail.


I’d really like to hear from anyone who has had experience with these GPS things. I’m almost convinced that I should get one but I suspect I’ll still carry my old compass anyway. It just gives me a sense of security.