Hey everyone. I have just bought my second gps a Garmin GPSMap60csx. I love it sofar bought some maps and plotting software with it. Started to plot waypoints already. Love the tracks feature. Wondering about anyone elses experience with this unit or any gps. What they liked what they would like to have as features etc. Im in New Zealand, anyone out there in SAR Search and Rescue. Im just a beginner. We go tramping in NZ and we tramp in the bush or above the bush line is alpine. The shrubbery can be somewhat dense and hard going off track hence the name. I have a history of tramping but on track and am increasing my knowlege and experience to be able to go off track with confidence. Conditions here can be all five seasons in one day. People get caught out mostly by not having the experience and the right gear. We have national gear manufacturers Macpac and use to have Fairydown and there is Kathmandu but also now gear from overseas is comming in like the excellent OR. I have a down jacket and some great croc gaiters. If you ever see any MACPAC gear it is good stuff. NZ has wet conditions and people here are active and tend to thrash gear.
I am a bit of a gearhead love it love the differences the independence the comfort factors the ingenuity the simplicity the imagination the way it makes me indpendent. I have lists and lists. My favourite is the all time tramping gear list. What you should take if you had a truck sort of list
So anyone out there drop a line if you are interested in any of this or just want to talk
oh i am heterosexual 47 today married three children two dogs one cat and not overweight (bullshit) well okay slightly overweight
i like my garmin my boots full grain leather welted sole my icebreaker merino ist layer my macpac shorts and my canvas hat and my cheapo wool sox oh and my leather sides glacier glasses.

Post edited by: bricar, at: 2007/03/21 09:17

Hi Bricar-

Greetings from Seattle, and welcome to the forum. Are you on the north or south island?

I'd be curious to hear more about this favorite all-time tramping gear list. There is a thread here in the gear talk section where people are listing the all time top 5 bits of gear. Click here

Last, I heard that Fairydown is no more. Is that true?

Mmmm....New Zealand. I studied forestry at Canterbury for a year in college and was in the Tramping Club- fantastic group of people that taught me much of what i know about tramping today! New Zealand is the most amazing place to explore- the lack of big nasty critters that eat you makes it a bit less intimidating and the kiwis on steward island are awfully cute. and life is good there. i was daydreaming about mt cook earlier today. that was my goal while i was in nz, but i got injured so i moved to takaka instead. would love to go back to try again though! sorry that had nothing to do w/ gps, i just get a bit misty eyed when anyone mentions nz.....

Hey there thanks for the comment. Been unable to reply so sort of gave up. Maybe this will work. Takaka must have been interesting and as with Canterbury. Where do you tramp now?

Ahh i can reply at last. Fairydown have disapeared into rumour and mist. I heard that they were purchased by the lady who owned Kathmandu but sold Kathmandu. Nothing on the radar since. The rumour was she was going to shut down NZ sales and maybe just do international. I liked Fairydown. what a bugger!

I have just done a Mountain Safety Council course(thats a long established NZ national body made up of representatives from many interested organisations, Role is to introduce, educate and train. All voluntary) The course was an Intermediate Bushcraft Course. Just a weekend but i was buggered at the end. Unfit as i am. Anyhow the thing is it is really hard to get my Pack weight down. Oh yeah i could go ultralight and leave out essential recommended stuff but the conditions here are changeable and you can get four seasons in the one day. I need to get lighter and be ruthless. Just wondering what weight you guys run on and what gear you like to take. Personally i have always been one of those kitchen sink kind of people but getting to the top of that hill feeling like i am going to pass out is not a good look. Okay well give us a list? and a weight