What do you guys use for off-road navigation?

Geez this sounds like it's way over my head at this point lol. I'm terrible with computers!!!

 

I use the Garmin Oregon, with the Topo map of my area.
Has two tracks and logging roads.

 

The only way I know how to do it is with professional GIS software, which my office has. Typically when you download trail use or park maps from a website they're just PDF or JPEG images. Then - long story short - I take these flat images and overlay a coordinate system on them. This allows Avenza, along with my Garmin GLO, to plot me right on the trail map.

But it looks like the park service if finally starting to release their MVUMs in KMZ format - so theoretically you should just be able to download that and import it into your app.

 

Stars.......

Sorry, I had to.

 

What I like:

DeLorme AG-008727-201 InReach Explorer Two Way Satellite Communicator with Built in Navigation

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...fl_title_13?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2XENS8LQP1A6D

 

Is there an easy way to convert this trail map (or maybe they have another that would be better to use) into something I can use with Gaia?

http://www.barnwellmountainra.com/images/map_property.jpg

 

go into gaiagps.com and search the area you are looking for, if someone has recorded the tracks and uploaded them you can take them off the website straight into the app. I would love to be able to layer a map like your asking too though. I'm just learning the app and like it so far. My problem is I have an android tablet and can't get the maps I wanna save to save to the micro ad card. If anyone has had this problem please share with experiences and poss fix

 

Dead reckoning

 

Come again?

 

Paper map books, national forest maps, and an analog compass. My gut instinct as well. I refuse to rely on any technology... and I'm fairly young (30's).

If you teach yourself to read maps and plan your route, you never worry about batteries or getting a signal.

 

I love the different views of this! I'm 34 and have been anti tech for the longest time, I mostly surf and travel in Baja looking for new waves and there is no maps that are accurate with roads especially all the small new dirt roads surrounding fish camps or in the middle of nowhere. A buddy of mine showed satellite image gps and I was sold! You can see the roads and pics points on the map with real time tracking. At night it's a total game changer if you have previously made a track you simply just follow the line. I've driven the same road more than a dozen times and the first time I did it at night I made several wrong turns setting me back a few hours. If I would have had this tech no wrong turns would have been made and just really cool!!! I'll always have maps for backup but I'm team tech from now on

 

For forest roads, sure, but for trail systems and off-roading, published maps aren't going to get you very far.

 

If only more people were thought like this.
I always have maps and a compass in the truck. And my gut has only brought me to more amazing spots then I could have imagined.

 

And when you are that far off trail cell service is great having a map(and knowing how to use it) of the area allows you to pinpoint your location and see where the nearest egress is plus any obstacles-rivers, ravines, elevation changes are in your way.
I come from a background of finding people who got lost because they relied on technology.
A decent compass is $15 and topo maps can be obtained from the USGS for nearly nothing. Then spending 30 min to be familiar with how it works is just added insurance, and peace of mind.