Basic GPS INFORMATION

Boulder Mountaineering School, CMC Boulder Group

Purpose
To provide a review of map and compass (Hiking II), to teach students how to plan a trip with a GPS, and then how to navigate in the field with a map and compass, a map and compass and a GPS, and a GPS alone.

Prerequisites
Hiking I and Hiking II Navigation or demonstrated skills with a map and a compass

Materials
1) GPS - mapping type preferred (and extra batteries)
2) Morrison USGS 7.5 minute quad
3) Baseplate compass - adjustable declination preferred
4) Pencil
5) Ruler

Lecture
1) Global Positioning System (GPS) Background
A) Description - constellation of 24 plus satellites transmitting microwave signals
B) Brief history - military (Navy, Air Force) and civilian (Reagan, Clinton)
C) Simplified operation - 4 satellites, atomic clock, transmitting time and location
D) Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) - ground station corrections
2) Map and Compass Review
A) Map features - water, contours, shading, man-made, surveyed, declination, etc.
B) Coordinate systems - Latitude-Longitude, Universal Transverse Mercator
C) Compass features - base plate, rotating bezel, meridian lines, declination, etc.
D) Plotting points and taking bearings - map-to-compass, compass-to-map
3) GPS Introduction
A) Basic features - mapping v. non-mapping
B) Basic setup - coordinate systems, datums, units, time, etc.
C) Way points, routes, tracks, and points of interest (POI's)
D) Creating way points - map and ruler, computer, GPS
E) Creating routes - map and ruler, computer, GPS
F) Navigation - way points (Go To), routes, reverse tracks
4) GPS Advanced Features and Setup
A) Displays - north up v. track up, symbol and text size, map detail
B) Track sampling methods - distance, time, auto
C) Additional features - compass, altimeter

Next course offered

Application and Student Waivers