The government is committed to providing accuracy levels that apply to the signals transmitted from space and do not apply to GPS devices. For example, the government commits to broadcasting data signals from space with a daily global average user range error (URE) of ≤ 6.6 feet. Actual performance is much better. On April 20, 2021, the global average URE across all satellites was ≤ 2.1 feet. User accuracy depends on URE, signal blockage, atmospheric conditions and receiver quality. With advancements in technology, accuracy for civilian and military users will improve. (https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy)

Not only can you know exactly where you are, but a GPS can record a track of the trails you ride so you can ride them again and share them with others. It will also keep you from getting lost.

You can record tracks on water. My friend, Bret Biddulph of Layton, has a friend who promised to take him to a secret fishing spot on Flaming Gorge to fish for Mackinaw. It was pitch-dark when they launched early in the morning. They had to travel nine miles up a water-filled canyon and needed to arrive before it got light.

The canyon walls were about 200 yards apart with more “s-curves” than a snake. To make it there on time, Bret had to drive the boat at about 30 mph and all they had to guide them was a track on a marine GPS. They watched that screen like a hawk, but they arrived without incident. However, when it got light enough to see, their boat was no more than 50 yards from a massive stone wall. That is what I call trusting the track.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Can you trust an old track? This is where things get interesting. Following an old track often creates stories that become legends. I know – people judge the quality of my rides by whether or not we get lost. It is like they are disappointed if we don’t. We always find our way out of the “pickle,” but it is usually not on the route I originally planned.

I was leading a five-day ride from Kanab to Kamas. On the fourth day the track I had created before this ride was obliterated by road construction. We had to get around the road work before I could acquire the trail again.

Another time, I downloaded a track from a ride featured on the Tri-State Jamboree in Hurricane. The ride started at a gas station northwest of Colorado City on Highway 59 and went to the Grafton ghost town.

Leaving the station and heading east, I followed the track religiously. It took us down into a wide wash filled with tumbleweeds. We were riding into a wall of them and it got to the point that I couldn’t see the trail, but I was following that track like a bloodhound.

Fortunately, I had the voice of reason riding with me – my wife, Gayle. The voice said, “This is crazy, climb out of this gully and let’s get some bearings.”

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

“But I have a track.”

Intelligence told me to stay on track, wisdom told me to listen to the voice of reason, so I climbed out of the gully and we rode back to the gas station.

The best feature of a GPS is that it keeps me from having to stop and ask for directions. In this case, I cowboyed up and went into the station to see if I could find out what was wrong with my track. The sweet lady at the counter said, “Oh, they moved that track last year because of all the tumbleweeds that build up in that wash.” Well, that made sense. She gave me easy-to-follow directions and we were back on track. We enjoyed a great ride to Grafton.

The voice of reason will not ride with me unless I have been on a particular trail recently and I can verify it. Other times I go on exploratory rides with people who enjoy exploring. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and be sure you have a good track – unless you like to explore.

Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.

Photo supplied