GPS units

Here are some questions for those who do use the GPS heavily in the Berg.

What does it feel like if you don't use it? If you are heading across the escarpment and the route for the next 3 km (say col to col) looks obvious, do you still use the GPS?

The next question may be hard to answer definitively. Do you get a sense that you have a feel for how the topography works and where caves generally hide or do you think the GPS blunts this skill?

I now use a sat nav in the car heavily and have been to places 2 hours away from home in the UK without really knowing where they are (the road network is dense here). I can imagine the same thing happening if I used GPS heavily in the Berg but that is not something I would like. I'd be interested to hear your views.

In the same vein as mnt_tiska's comments, I feel that reliance on a GPS would reduce your ability to micro-navigate in poor conditions (mist/darkness). I personally always have a GPS in my pack on Berg hikes but can't remember the last time I actually switched it on.

This probably has more to do with the fact that I actually enjoy the challenge of tricky navigation in 5m visibility.

You would also need a group who is happy to take a little more time and navigate across a tricky section rather than bee-lining straight to a pass or cave.

You'd be amazed how much detail you can get out of 1 grid block on a 1:50000 topo map... so many "layers" of information.

@ mnt_tiska

I now use a sat nav in the car heavily and have been to places 2 hours away from home in the UK without really knowing where they are (the road network is dense here).

I can imagine the same thing happening if I used GPS heavily in the Berg but that is not something I would like.

I, have to agree with this one. It's really easy to have no idea where you are if you are totally reliant on a GPS.

@ Stijn:

I personally always have a GPS in my pack on Berg hikes but can't remember the last time I actually switched it on.

Yeah, that's what I like to hear! Definitely the spirit!! Certainly the best way of using a GPS in my opinion, although it takes discipline to keep it there in the bag in those 'could be rather uncomfortable' situations.

It's a valid point if you rely on a GPS you loose a sense of your surroundings. So what I do when I plan my hike is I plot both the GPS route and the map route. I always keep both at hand. You cannot get the overview like a map and the real sense of your progress or what still needs to be covered.
To answer the question about if you see an open stretch do you walk looking continuously at your GPS, the answer is no but if I come to a section where there are multiple possible directions to go, then yes I actively use the GPS. I don't think it destroys your hike. To the contrary it aids it. If you are familiar with the area or path you are travelling then you seldom use it. In cases where the mist is heavy or you not sure you are on the correct track it really gives you a felling of safety.
My objective walking in the berg is the looking at the beautiful views and enjoying the peace and quiet. Yours probably includes a sense of adventure and therefore a GPS hinders that and you have probably covered the berg completely.

I am planning to get myself the Garmin eTrex20. Where would I be able to get a free topo map to install? How do I do this? Perhaps if this was already discussed in a thread please provide me with a link.

Hi All, coming into this thread late I'm torn between buying myself the Etrex 20 or Garmin GPS Map62, one is R2600 and the other is R3500 is theR900 difference worth it?
Opinions and comments please

I see CUM has the Dakota 2 for R2300 on the website (not marked as a special or anything). Based on the reviews on this site, would I be correct in assuming it's better than the eTrex 20?

The touchscreen is definitely easier to use than the fiddly joystick on the etrex.
I looked on the CUM website but could not find the Dakota - are you sure it is CUM?