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Mileage 
Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: Jan. 2013
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 1:22 am |
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Im looking for a system that could be used to track groups of hikers from a base camp. Our school has an annual camp that involves groups of hikers walking around a circular route on a large farm. They need to get to a camp area each night but sometimes get lost and get into the wrong valley or ridge. What is normally a 4-5mile hike end up being 8-9 which sucks for the kids.
We are looking for a system that can track their whereabout from the base camp. The hike routes are not more than 5miles from the base camp or the service road that runs through the farm. If a group gets lost or is way off track we need to be able to find them and go get them back on track.
We've looked at something like the Garmin Astro that is linked to dog collars for tracking the whereabout of hunting dogs but were wondering if there is anythin specific that us applicable for hiking.
And yes I know they should use a map better or use a gps but they get a bit retarded sometime and even the staff accompanying them loose track somethimes. We are looking for a way to make it safer for them.
Thanks
Jamie
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10525
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 1:30 am |
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Garmin Rhino
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 3
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| Post Number: 4
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QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1728
Joined: Oct. 2009
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 6:50 am |
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Giving people a GPS or some other form of electronic dodad is still going to require some form of eduction of the users of it. A map is relatively easier to use and read IMHO. Otherwise how about putting up some sort of temporary flagging (use surveying tape/ribbon tied to trees) for them to follow. Although I suppose with that someone could be mean and rip the flagging down or change it to mess with others who may follow.
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eggs
That's sofa King assume
Group: Members
Posts: 4237
Joined: Nov. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 7:00 am |
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Is there cell phone service in the area with a 3G or 4G data service?
If so there are apps that can be installed on smart phones that will do this. Endomondo is one.
But in reality the leaders should be able to read a map and compass or be able to find there position on a map based on GPS coordinates
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Eggs
Home of the egg
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| Post Number: 6
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Mileage
Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: Jan. 2013
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 7:58 am |
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Ok thanks for the replies so far.
I agree that all the leaders should be good at reading a map and compass which most of them are.
We are just looking to reduce the risk of something going wrong, and perhaps heading a group off if they are going to go way off course.
Im also looking into some smaller GPS units like the Etrex that we could put the routes into and let them follow the breadcrumbs.
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| Post Number: 7
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21843
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 10:16 am |
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I participate in an annual event that has some things in common. It's a roughly 4-mile loop on private land and most of the attendees are not regular hikers. Due to the sheer numbers (~2000 last year, with start times spread out over half a day), hikers are given numbers and the organizers set up checkpoints every half mile or so where every passing hiker is recorded. They're quite effective at figuring out where and when somebody got off track and rounding up the strays.
For a smaller total, you could it lot less formally, such as skipping the numbers and having only a group leader check in. One advantage of having multiple checkpoints is that they can be close enough together to have good radio connectivity with each other and presumably with any wayward group leaders.
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| Post Number: 8
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OldGuyWalkin
Group: Members
Posts: 158
Joined: Nov. 2012
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 1:25 pm |
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If they got a cell phone, I think Google Latitude is still in play.
I like EndoMondo, too
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| Post Number: 9
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EGreno
Group: Members
Posts: 18
Joined: Jul. 2012
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 3:44 pm |
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The Garmin Astro range in the woods isn't more than a couple of miles.
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frihauf
Group: Members
Posts: 1031
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 23 2013, 5:16 pm |
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Definitely SPOT. We have used one on more than one occasion to allow a buddy to find our campsite after work or even in the middle of the night. Combined with a GPS is very accurate.
Ben
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"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Ben Franklin
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| Post Number: 14
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39589
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 2:35 pm |
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"We are looking for a way to make it safer for them. "
Mandate they have the necessary skills through a certification test and put in place a zero tolerance for "loosing track" when there are other people's children involved would be a good start.
Secondarily, tracking is what SPOT's do. Though expensive when the annual tracking subscription is added in (and it's mandatory) you do get a real time glimpse of where the unit is located.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=111
Presuming the basecamp has an internet connection and or cellphone reception (for a smartphone or cellular data iPad)
Plan "C" for the truly inept? RFID chip the leaders and distribute chip readers around the property with a reporting feature. Biomark makes a nice line and if it works for fish I expect it would work for your "leaders".
http://www.biomark.com
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| Post Number: 15
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gregkeller
Group: Members
Posts: 74
Joined: Mar. 2007
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 4:10 pm |
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I know with my iphone, if i get service in a location, i can drop a pin in the map program wherever the gps figures out I am, and then i can text or email the location of the pin to anyone. That's what i do when i want to let my wife know where i am. She knows that she won't get a text with my location every night because i'm not going to always get cell service, but in a small area, if there is service this would work, just require them to send you their every hour, or half hour, whatever.
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| Post Number: 16
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39589
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 28 2013, 4:12 pm |
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Yes, available cell service would open up a slew of lower cost alternatives.
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| Post Number: 17
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AlmostThere
I must not be there yet, I keep hiking...
Group: Members
Posts: 4890
Joined: Apr. 2008
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Posted on: Jan. 29 2013, 11:15 pm |
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As someone who takes adults into the wilderness... I wouldn't touch that event with a 200 mile pole without leaders who can actually lead, navigate, etc.
Maybe litigious California has made me shy of this sort of thing... maybe the fact that I happen to work with kids in the day job, and be versed in search and rescue, and how kids and adults behave differently when lost... but, a big fat UH UH no way from me. It's hard enough to get fully fledged, middle aged (and older) normally-rational adults to pay attention to navigation and safety issues.
Either get out there and put up signs and flags and whatnot, or train those "leaders."
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All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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