Hay River (Apr 07/03) - Going into the wilderness - and getting back again - is not the same as it used to be.

There are new and amazing electronic gadgets that are making it safer for people to venture further into the bush for recreation and work.

Among the most revolutionary advances has been the GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. It uses satellites to determine exact locations on Earth.

"GPS is an instrument that has a whole lot more people becoming more active in the wilderness," says Doug Swallow, the president of Hay River's MSS Ltd., which sells safety equipment.

For example, Swallow notes that 10 years ago fewer people travelled to the East Arm of Great Slave Lake. "And now the East Arm is quite busy and I believe one of the reasons for that is GPS travel has made it incredibly easy for people to explore and not get lost."

However, he says, people can still get into trouble if they don't take the necessary precautions, such as taking back-up batteries for electronic equipment.

Anyone working, travelling or using the wilderness for recreation -- hunters, fishermen and snowmobilers -- should have a GPS, he says.

An inexpensive GPS costs about $200.

In the dozen or so years it has been widely available to consumers, GPS has become more accurate and now can give a location to within several metres.

Drawing a map

Hand in hand with GPS, anyone heading to the wilderness can prepare for the journey with an electronic map. Travel points can be plotted into the map, and later printed from a personal computer.

The coordinates of a trip -- known as way points -- can be plotted into a GPS, and it will guide a person on the journey.

A person can also use a GPS in many other ways. Swallow uses the example of a hunter who leaves a snowmobile and travels on foot. Before the hunter leaves the snowmobile, its location can be plotted into the GPS, which will guide the person back to the machine.

"The GPS would tell you where to head and how far away you are," Swallow says.

A GPS is easy for anyone to use, he says. "Basically, you can make it as simple or complicated as you like."

However, Swallow says, a regular map and compass will never be obsolete.

"I'll never go anywhere without a compass and map. The compass is never going to quit working."

Swallow describes the new technology as supplements to maps and compasses.

Another new device is the satellite phone, he notes. "A satellite phone is a great safety device."

As for an emergency locator, Swallow says it would be nice to have, but is not a necessity. Instead, people travelling in the wilderness should tell someone where they are going, take a signalling device and be prepared for trouble with survival food, backup batteries and a supply of gas.

"Then they'll always be safe," he says.