Exploring with GPS: For hunters, rescue teams, hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, geocachers, backpackers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, boaters, ... who uses recreational GPS in the outdoors

by Bruce Grubbs

Updated April 2019Exploring With GPS presents a practical approach to using the Global Positioning System in the outdoors using mapping GPS receivers, digital topographic maps, and satellite imagery. The book uses realistic scenarios and plenty of screen shots and photos to show you how to find your way in the backcountry quickly and easily. This book is for hunters, rescue teams, hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, geocachers, backpackers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, boaters, and everyone who uses recreational GPS in the outdoors. Using GPS, anyone, anywhere on Earth, can find their position within a few feet using an inexpensive hand-held GPS receiver. That simple ability has completely revolutionized every field that uses positioning, navigation, and timing information, including outdoor recreation. Not only can you find your way through the wilderness with unerring precision regardless of weather, location, or time of day, you can work with computers and the World Wide Web to plan your outdoor adventures from home. You can record our trip in the field, download it to a computer, attach labels, graphics, elevation profiles, comments and photos, and then share it with friends or publish it for all to see on the Internet. As a result, there is a rapidly growing amount of free trip and backcountry information on the Web. This book shows you how to tap into this remarkable capability to make your own outdoor adventures safer and more enjoyable.

136 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2011

About the author

The author has a serious problem- he doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up. Meanwhile, he's done such things as wildland fire fighting, running a mountain shop, flying airplanes, shooting photos, and writing books. He's a backcountry skier, climber, figure skater, mountain biker, amateur radio operator, river runner, and sea kayaker- but the thing that really floats his boat is hiking and backpacking. No matter what else he tries, the author always come back to hiking- especially long, rough, cross-country trips in places like the Grand Canyon. Some people never learn. But what little he has learned, he's willing share with you- via his books, of course, but also via his websites, blogs, and whatever works.