Some in-vehicle GPS navigation units are also capable of providing walking instructions for hikers. One such unit is the Garmin Nuvi 255W. While the GPS will not point out trailheads or interesting points of interest, it will help to prevent you from getting lost in the wilderness. By setting your vehicle, a trailhead or some other safety point as the GPS unit's home point, a hiker can use the Garmin 255W to return to his starting point no matter where he ended up. For additional safety, a hiker should always carry a map and be aware of his surroundings.
Step 1
Slide the power key on the top of your Garmin GPS unit to the left to turn it on.
Step 2
Look at the battery indicator in the top left corner of the display screen. Your battery should be fully charged for maximum safety. If your battery is not fully charged, plug your GPS unit in to a wall outlet or your vehicle's cigarette lighter until it is fully charged.
Step 3
Touch the "Tools" icon to open the menu. Select "Settings," "System," "Usage Mode" and finally "Pedestrian." This will activate the Garmin 255W's walking mode. Select "OK" to confirm your choice.
Step 4
Walk to the trailhead or any other point you would like to mark as the home point.
Step 5
Touch the button with the blue cube on the map view. Select "Save Location" to mark your current location.
Step 6
Hike until you are ready to return to this point. Press the "Where To?" button and select the location you saved. Press "Go!" and your GPS will provide a map and directions to your starting point.
Member Comments