Tag: practice

June 12, 2024 – Technology…. Hooey

June 12, 2024 /

When you watch TV, you tend to get the impression that technology is infallible. About 15 years ago, we used to occasionally watch a cheesy show on Friday nights called “Las Vegas”. I would liken it to Baywatch based in a casino rather than the beach. James Caan played the lead on a casino security team and everything that happened jeopardized the world.

I remember one particular episode where the ‘bad guys’ were escaping and Caan runs to the control room and yells out ‘check the satellite imagery’. As if casino security could dial up satellite images in real time of their particular brand of problem. Just like CSI solves every crime in less than an hour, we are conditioned to believe that technology is readily available and is the solution to all of our problems.

I have been mulling over an upgrade to my handheld GPS device, especially since I am strongly leaning toward a PCT section hike next year. I am not as much interested in the GPS portion but the satellite communication capabilities. I feel like my wife has an unfounded fear of me going out into the wild by myself and I am hoping that something like that unlocks the door for me.

But, rather than having Toolbox Fallacy (I cant hike until I have this piece of gear) I might as well ‘run what I brung’. I took out my old Garmin eTrex 10. It doesn’t have two way satellite capability but I like the mileage capacity. And, I was hoping that it would get me in the habit of using it a little more. The last time I had it out was during hunting season last year.

I know that handheld GPS are now passé. The smart phone loads maps, it tracks your steps and things like that. Once you get rural here, phone signal is rare. I like to turn my phone into airplane mode so I don’t burn up the battery in case I really need it. Yes, technically GPS can still be used in airplane mode but I haven’t invested in services like OnX at this point. The old preparedness philosophy of two is one also applies. If you can afford the weight and space, purpose built devices usually provide better performance.

I forgot that I was even carrying it until I got halfway to the falls I was hiking. I take the batteries out of the device so that they do not leak all over and ruin the device. It is a good thing because one of the batteries failed. I didn’t realize that I have one more spare battery until I was messing with my pack and starting to head back. I felt it in the bottom as I was hitching it on my back.

So I finally got the device going. Except that, it never got signal with the satellite until I got back to my vehicle. All of the messing around I did really yielded no results. Based on the picture, my GPS was still stuck at the hunting location when the last batteries died. I know this because there was no way I was at 5000′ elevation.

The way I use this simple GPS would be to mark a waypoint at the vehicle or camp. That way I would have target from wherever I am at. But, since I didn’t do that, all I was really trying to do was track my mileage. These devices need to see a satellite. If you are in a canyon surrounded by mature trees, my experience says that connecting to a satellite is a tough sell. This is part of the reason I don’t use it all that often, it is not very useful other than hardcore bushwhacking with clear view to the southern sky. Those are two things that don’t go that well together.

I am not ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater yet. When I got home I did some research into updating the firmware. I am running the software it came with and often times significant performance improvements can be made by just running updates. That is a whole different post, but suffice to say I did it. Now, it is back to the trail to see if things work a little better.

It is as good as junk if I cannot use the GPS in 90% of the situations that I am trying to use it. An open field with a clear view of the horizon does not describe western Oregon outdoors. I certainly would not rely on it at this point. That is another fallacy that we have about technology. You just turn it on and problem solved. It takes practice and learning the ins and outs to make these devices useful.

End Your Programming Routine: One of the seminal events in my life was the family that followed their GPS unit into the snow and got terminally stuck. It has forever made me wary of blind faith in technology. This is no different, you have to use your brain when interpreting information, even with the satellite imagery at hand.

April 8, 2024 – Gotta Get Better

April 8, 2024 /

This is no toolbox fallacy, podcasting is what I am really up to. Unfortunately, it takes me too long to put one together. I enjoy the process and am happy to do it but for the time. I need to practice having less notes and still talking, making sense and not having too many fillers or pregnant pauses, especially in this difficult time. Bear with me as I practice with a story about how time is taken during this process.

June 25, 2020 – ‘Tacticool’ Thursday

June 25, 2020 /

When I started this category a couple of months ago, I had visions of lots of fun. I would measure since the beginning of the year, I have been super involved in two projects that have consumed most of my time seven days a week. However, I have been thinking of this since the fall and that is what is known as the ‘quarter drill’.

Last fall, when my son was on the trap team, the coach had the kids do what she called the quarter drill. The basics of this drill was to put a quarter on the barrel and mount the shotgun without the quarter falling off. They were supposed to do this ten times a day or so with the idea that the mount would become more consistent.

Before we get too far, in trap the shooter generally starts with the gun mounted, so I am not sure what the overall purpose was other than getting used to handling the gun. However, when hunting this can be a very valuable skill. I think that it was also helpful for my son who really didn’t have a lot of firearm familiarity.

I couldn’t quickly find an example video of the quarter drill and I didn’t have time to make one. But I did find this one which uses a flashlight and is of the same end goal of a smooth mount.

Shooting clay targets is fun. I have heard it described as golfing with a shotgun. I won’t go into all of the disciplines today, but it is the kind of activity that you can find a place to rent all of the equipment if you have an interest, but not the gear. There are leagues and tournaments for like minded groups like women or youth.

Just be forewarned that you can get started with a $200 shotgun but there are a lot of $5000 guns out there when you get into these clubs. That being said, don’t be afraid to be and say that you are a new and you will get all the help you want. Have fun and be safe.