Yellowknife (June 02/03) - You're out on Great Slave Lake, you've been pushed around a bit by strong winds and you can't see land in any direction or can't identify any landmarks.

What do you do now?

Your best bet in a situation like this is a GPS (global positioning system) locater.

These little devices (which can be as big as a portable TV) will pinpoint your position to about 10-15 metres -- if not less -- and once you know where you are, you can take your compass and map and you're all set to reach land once again.

The GPS has changed the face of outdoor expeditions, but be warned, it isn't the all-purpose tool, you still need a compass, a map and most importantly your own awareness.

"A GPS is another tool. You can't get complacent and navigate just by looking at your GPS, you have to watch where you're going. A GPS won't tell you if there is a logjam up ahead. Your best bet is to pay attention to where you're going," said Terry Hauff, owner of TGIT Geomatics LTD.

Hauff sells GPS's of various sizes and offers a course on how to use them efficiently in co-ordination with maps and compass.

"The problem with a GPS is that people get complacent with it. It can provide a false sense of security. You have to use it prudently," he said.

The course is divided between theory and practice, and is offered whenever Hauff has enough people interested.

"The course lasts about 12 hours. We'll go into map use, compass use and GPS use," he said.

GPS's have been available to the public for about 15 years, but they are getting more popular every day.

"They are being used for all sorts of things now. Even farmers are using them when fertilizing their fields," said Hauff.

Personal GPS's range from $160 for handheld models to $1,000 for larger models integrating other navigational aides.

"In a marine model, say for sail boat use, you want to know your velocity made good. You also want a depth sounder so you don't crash into submerged rocks or low shelves," said Hauff.

You can also get into the $3,000 to $5,000 range for even larger models used in surveying and in large ships and yachts.