I've used hand-help GPS units for nearly 10 years. I locate historical airplane crash sites. See http://coloradowreckchasing.com

You need the GPS coordinates to stand on the wreckage. 100yds of error and you won't find it. In some cases, it's 10 yds error.

GPS is no substitute for map and compass skills but it's a wonderful backup for those moments when you just aren't certain. In all my offtrail hiking (20 years) I've only really used GPS to save me once. In that instance it saved me from hiking off down the wrong drainage when things were looking kind of alike and I was really tired so wasn't thinking as clearly as I needed. I would have eventually figured it out but it could have cost me another hour of effort.

I really, really use GPS when I travel to strange cities. If I have time I'll preload locations of my destination, the airport and the hotel. If I don't have time I'll still use it to preclude going in circles - you know, the rental car at night in the rain in a strange city scenario.

Recently I programmed a lightplane flight over abandoned Atlas D, E and F ICBM silos in my GPS. The handheld made it easy to fly all the different legs to the sites and to be sure we were actually on top of the desired target.

GPS is good stuff. Give it some time and use your imagination.

unimogbert