RE: [RC] Wanted: Feedback on GPS routes and maps only for BH 100 - bobmorris
Title: Message
I will
chime in here on the problems that might be encountered. Of course you all know
me as a traditionalist. But you also know me as a long time user of GPS. My use
of GPS however, was for the mapping of the trails so that a map could be
produced that riders could follow.
As to
the use of just establishing waypoints for the intersections, directions top
follow etc. Why not then call it Mounted Endurance Orienteering?
The
concept is honorable. The execution offers only a restricted ride, open to only
those persons that have a compatible GPS unit. To me this requires special
sanctioning and should be for mileage only.
Remember, endurance Riding was based on the concept that you needed
nothing special. The type of saddle made no difference, the clothes you
wore were incidental. What type of trailer you use was not
considered. So, to require the use of a GPS is a special condition.
Suppose I limit a ride to the use of a map and compass only? No trail markings!
Just a USGS quad with points indicated? Will you all ride
it?
Ride
Management furnished a well marked trail (you hope) the vets were there to check
the horses and a completion award was presented upon finishing. Seems that all
that is going down the drain. Conmpletion awards are being given out before the
ride even starts, now called participation awards. A marked route is an
endangered species. A support crew is an absolute necessity and I really believe
that riders are in very much danger of becoming wimps.
Bob
Bob Morris Morris
Endurance Enterprises Boise, ID
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Truman Prevatt Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004
6:44 PM To: Karen; Ride Camp Subject: Re: [RC] Wanted:
Feedback on GPS routes and maps only for BH 100
Probably
would require special sanctioning. It would be a non starter for
me.
Truman
Karen wrote:
OK.
I have several friends who say we should just give up marking the BH
traditionally, cause it's a continuing nightmare and almost impossible
for
our tiny group to do. They say I should just publish the GPS
waypoints,
maps on TOPO!, and have the routes available to download onto
rider's
GPS's at the ride and be done with it. Having ridden "the
Duck's" XPs
with nothing by GPS, I think that's dandy, but I'm afraid it will cause
a
total mutiny and threaten our sanctioning even further??? What do
y'all
think?
Cindy
Hi
Cindy: I don't see anything wrong with it, it's just another special
consideration like lots of other rides have various types of. Not
every type of ride is suited for every type of rider, and as long as it was
advertised as such it wouldn't be a surprise. People that understand
that this may be needed to keep the ride alive would deal with it, and those
that hated the idea could go to a different ride or stay home. I think
having to follow a GPS and/or written directions versus a trail marked the
traditional method is just as much fun and another type of a
challenge. I can't remember ever hearing anybody complain about using
a GPS on the long XP's (well, maybe Trilby <g>). You are only
attracting a small # of riders as it is, and if it would help get more
people to come to the ride because they would be assured of accurate
markings that could not be sabotaged then why not try it? I know I
would be more open to doing the ride, as it is now I have to admit to being
a bit leery of going that far to do a ride that might not be marked well
enough to enable me to finish. You would need to make sure that the
riders had the correct type of GPS's (maybe get/borrow a couple of extras?)
and remind people to change their batteries and carry extra batteries with
them, since a lot of GPS units (my III+ for example) would stop working
after 12 hours or so, and would work for even less amount of time if I were
using the backlight on it in the dark. One problem you would also have
to consider is that if there is a storm with heavy cloudcover and/or you are
in heavily treed canyons the signal could be iffy. I have followed
trail with GPS markings on other Duck rides in those conditions just
fine. I have an external antenna. As you know, following a trail
marked with a GPS (via routes and waypoints) is real easy to do.
Karen in NV
P.S. both of my GPS's are in Guernsey,
Nebraska today. At least they are getting to do the ride!
<g> (with Dave Rabe, he's the only one who has been riding every
day -- GO DAVE!!)
--
"It is necessary to
be noble, and yet take humility as a basis.
It is necessary to be
exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
