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Winter snow can be harsh. There’s also a high chance that you may end up getting lost. This is because when the roads are covered with snow, it’s hard to identify the pathways and areas. Equipping yourself with a GPS when navigating through a snowy town should be a priority. GPS stands for Global Positioning System and was first developed in the 1970s by the US Military.
GPS tracking devices are now a standard tool when it comes to any type of traveling, hiking included. GPS systems have become so widespread that you can find them practically anywhere, from military surveillance in foreign countries to automobile navigation systems.
Various GPS functions can be valuable to you when hiking in snowy areas or hiking in general. In this article, we will tell you five reasons why everyone must have a GPS tracker while hiking in winter. Let’s get started.
1. Route recording
In a storm, it’s easier to get lost. You might even end up where you started or start going in circles. The route recording features in GPS trackers will detect, track and record your movements and save them. You can determine whether you’ve already visited the area or are going off track in hiking. There are other fun advantages; for example, if you find a new hiking trail, you can record and share it with your friends.
Detailed maps will allow you to avoid dangerous spots like cliffs or hazardous terrains. You can even retrace your steps if you get lost or lose your way. An extra caution is to equip a good quality body camera when you’re on your hiking trip.
2. Follow the routes
You can explore websites on the internet like Wikiloc that will offer trail routes for you. The task of the GPS will be to guide you and ensure you stay on the path. This will not be possible without a GPS tracker. You can download and transfer the routes onto the map on your GPS.
You can discover exciting areas that may be difficult to explore during the winter without spending money on regional maps. You can check if you are still going the right path to save you from hiking in the wrong direction or taking the wrong turn.
3. GPS offer panic buttons
During hiking, you run the risk of encountering a dangerous path, and that’s what people love most about hiking; the uncertainty and the challenge. However, you must always prepare yourself should you encounter a situation where you’re in danger, lost, or stuck in a problem you cannot get out of.
For that reason, some GPS tracking systems offer a panic button to notify authorities or people close to them to inform them they are stuck in a situation. This is a sort of SOS and calls the person to your aid. It also helps pinpoint the exact location where you encountered the problem so the help can get to you swiftly and with ease.
4. Track valuable assets
There’s no saying your items will not get lost on the way or, most probably, in deep snow. You can attach a GPS tracker to your luggage and backpack. When you lose your belongings like a bag, you can turn on your tracker, retrace steps, and the tracker will pinpoint the exact location of your item.
5. Positioning
The GPS tracker can also show its own position on the map. This can help save time and confusion when you need help detecting which part of the hiking trail you are at. It is common to constantly compare landscape features and narrow down locations with regard to the point of view.
But with this GPS feature, you can have an exact idea of where you’re positioned on the map. You can even play with the settings and change the GPS display so that it can either always face north or point in the direction of where you wish to travel.
To sum up
The route recording feature of GPS trackers is handy, especially during winters when the area is filled with snow, and it’s hard to detect which direction you went in. It may be hard to identify landscapes since they appear slightly different during winter.
You can also pinpoint your own position and see where you lie on the trail. GPS trackers allow you to transfer routes from websites, follow new routes, and explore them. There are also GPS tracking systems with a panic button feature where you can call someone you know, and they can get you. The GPS will signal the exact location of where the situation occurred or which point you are stuck at.
We hope this article provided you with enough insight into why every hiker should equip a GPS tracking system during hiking in winter. Thank you for reading!
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