February 17, 2012
by David Ryan
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A GPS is not a requirement for venturing outdoors or for wandering in the backcountry. People have been visiting the backcountry long before there were GPS devices. If you pay attention to landmarks and where you are in relation to landmarks, you can navigate in the backcountry without a GPS. But if you do have a GPS, it can certainly be a help. Continue Reading →
February 17, 2012
by David Ryan
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If you are going out on a well-marked trail or to an area that you know, you might be able to get along fine without a map or a GPS unit. In those cases, you may only use a map for planning or reviewing where you went. If you are trying to find a specific site, such as an old mining community, a map and a GPS unit can be very helpful. Even if you don’t take a map with you in the field, a map is still useful for planning and documenting what you find. Continue Reading →
February 17, 2012
by David Ryan
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Continuing with the discussion started in Leaving the Pavement and Dirt Roads, your next consideration is who owns the land and if you can access it. Some backcountry areas in New Mexico are a checkerboard of public, private, and tribal land, and it is often difficult to know where one ownership ends and the next one begins.
As long as you are not breaking the law and adhere to any local restrictions, you are free to enter public lands. National Parks have more restrictions than National Forests, and the Bureau of Land Management has the fewest restrictions of all. If you are going to spend time on public land, it is worthwhile to find out what you can or cannot do in your local area. Continue Reading →