www.RogerWendell.com
Roger J. Wendell
Defending 3.8 Billion Years of Organic Evolution^SM

Waypoints, Grid Squares, and Navigation

A Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver tunes into the microwave signals broadcast by 24 satellites that each orbit the Earth every 12 hours. This "Constellation" of two dozen navigational satellites is controlled by the United States Department of Defense and operated by the U.S. Military (This is an unfortunate situation in that not only is the American military used for suspect purposes but they've also been known to intentionally shut the GPS system down over certain parts of the planet!!). There are six orbital planes (each with four satellites) spaced equally at 60 degrees apart and inclined at abut 55 degrees with respect to the equatorial plane. In plain English this means you can usually count on your receiver "seeing" about five to eight of these satellites at anyone time - depending on where you're located, of course...

In August, 1998 I ended up with my first GPS - A Garmin GPS 12XL Personal Navigator. I won the device as a door prize at an amateur radio "swapfest" and it served me well until I lost it in Argentina in 2004... So, in July, 2004 I purchased a Garmin eTrex Vista Personal Navigator. I still don't rely on a GPS completely, for navigation, because I can drop and break it, the batteries run dry, I can (and have!) lose it, the military can turn it off (as mentioned above), and bad weather and canyon walls can block its signal reception. That being said, a GPS is still a fun little devices to play with so I usually don't leave home without one!

Storing "Waypoints" is one of the features I use most on my GPS. The owner's manual for my GPX 12XL simply defined a waypont as "A specific location saved in the receiver's memory" (bottom of page 3 in the glossary). The waypoints I store are usually the location of a mountain top I've visited, a friend's home, a trailhead, or even the rooftop of the Dalai Lama's Potala Palace in Tibet! Anyway, I'll list my collection of waypoints on this page as time permits. And, as a safety note, I ask that you do not rely on my waypoints for anything - I list 'em here for personal use and can not verify their accuracy!

Africa:

Me at Four Corners...

Unusual Places:

4 Corners (Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah)	N 36° 59.936'	W 109° 02.714'	4,831 feet	1,472 meters
Dachau (Germany)	N 48° 16.111'	E 011° 28.121'	1,545 feet	471 meters
Darwin Hospital Australia	S 12° 21.370'	E 130° 52.988'	78 feet	24 meters
Potala Palace, Tibet (from the roof!)	N 29° 39'28.3"	E 091° 07'00.2"	12,000+ feet	3,700+ meters

Europa:

Bregenz, Austria	N 47° 30.197'	E 009° 44.309'	6,668 feet	1,728 meters
Dachau Camp (Germany)	N 48° 16.111'	E 011° 28.121'	1,545 feet	471 meters
Lechtenstein (one of the entrances)	N 47° 13.106'	E 009° 34.213'	1,434 feet	437 meters
Kleine Scheidegg (Switzerland)	N 46° 35.115'	E 007° 57.677'	6,762 feet	2,061 meters
Mamer, Luxembourg	N 49° 37.615'	E 006° 01.998'	967 feet	295 meters
München, Germany (Downtown)	N 48° 08.235'	E 011° 34.514'	1,699 feet	518 meters
Munich Airport (Terminal 2)	N 53° 05.265'	E 011° 38.440'	1,346 feet	410 meters
Pößnecker Klettersteig - Dolomites	N 46° 30.893'	E 011° 47.458'	9,667 feet	2,947 meters
Wolkenstein, Italy (town centre)	N 46° 33.282'	E 011° 45.643'	5,206 feet	1,587 meters

American States:

Arizona

Biosphere 2	N 32° 34.745'	W 110° 51.039'	3,876 feet	1,181 meters
Biosphere 2 (top of stairs)	N 32° 34.777'	W 110° 51.008'	3,903 feet	1,190 meters
Fort Apache	N 33° 47.457'	W 109° 59.463'	5,023 feet	1,531 meters
Geranimo Pass	N 33° 49.422'	W 110° 08.662'	5,312 feet	1,619 meters
Granite Rapids (GC)	N 36° 05.882'	W 112° 10.978'	2,393 feet	729 meters
Hermits Rapids (GC)	N 3° 05.987'	W 112° 12.571'	2,387 feet	728 meters
Hermits Rest (GC)	N 3° 03.741'	W 112° 12.623'	6,610 feet	2,015 meters
Organ Pipe Cactus Mnmnt	N 31° 57.286'	W 112° 48.077'	1,792 feet	546 meters
Tombstone (cross streets)	N 31° 42.764'	W 110° 04.029'	4,472 feet	1,363 meters

Fredonyer Pass

Califronia

Bridgeport - Mono County Courthouse	N 38° 15.354'	W 119° 13.709'	6,433 feet	1,961 meters
Canyondam - Post Office	N 40° 10.325'	W 121° 04.314'	4,627 feet	1,410 meters
Devils Gate Pass	N 38° 20.906'	W 119° 21.798'	7,519 feet	2,292 meters
Donner Pass	N 39° 20.485'	W 120° 20.394'	7,227 feet	2,202 meters
Fredonyer Pass	N 40° 21.550'	W 120° 52.034'	5,748 feet	1,752 meters
I-80 at the Nevada border (March '08)	N 39° 28.108'	W 120° 00.179'	4,864 feet	1,483 meters
Jacumba (Mexican border)	N 32° 37.056'	W 116° 11.382'	2,795 feet	852 meters
Lee Summit Pass	N 39° 52.726'	W 120° 45.660'	4,439 feet	1,353 meters
Mono Lake	N 37° 58.681'	W 119° 07.721'	6,399 feet	1,951 meters
Monterey Cannery Row	N 36° 36.964'	W 121° 54.024'	20 feet	6 meters
Monterey Coast Guard Pier	N 36° 36.530'	W 121° 53.467'	10 feet	3 meters
Monterey Coast Guard Station	N 36° 36.546'	W 121° 53.864'	50 feet	15 meters
Pigeon Point Lighthouse	N 37° 10.888'	W 122° 23.665'	45 feet	14 meters
Pine Ridge Trailhead - Ventana Wilderness	N 36° 14.765'	W 121° 46.796'	381 feet	116 meters
Pt Reyes Lighthouse	N 37° 59.743'	W 123° 01.390'	270 feet	82 meters
Salton Sea - Bombay Beach	N 33° 20.854'	W 115° 43.780'	- 202 feet	- 62 meters
Sattley (March '08)	N 39° 36.939'	W 120° 25.573'	4,935 feet	1,504 meters
Sierra City (March '08)	N 39° 33.932'	W 120° 38.153'	4,147 feet	1,264 meters
Yuba Pass - Highway 49 (March '08)	N 39° 37.043'	W 120° 29.388'	6,701 feet	2,042 meters

Colorado (I also have some summit waypoints on my 13ers and 14ers pages...)

Alma (Center of town as of August '07)	N 39° 17.027'	W 106° 03.769'	10,427 feet	3,178 meters
Barr Camp (Pikes Peak	N 38° 50.868'	W 105° 00.417'	10,004 feet	3,061 meters
Boulder EcoCycle	N 40° 01.072'	W 105° 12.453'	5,251 feet	1,600 meters
Chama (Center of town as of August '07)	N 37° 09.710'	W 105° 22.786'	8,470 feet	2,582 meters
Cherry Creek Reservoir (east entrance)	N 39° 38.388'	W 104° 49.901'	5,744 feet	1,751 meters
Coal Bank Pass	N 37° 41.941'	W 107° 46.641'	10,640 feet	3,243 meters
Denver International Airport	N 39° 50.893'	W 104° 40.352'	5,431 feet	1,655 meters
Four Way - Cielo Vista Ranch	N 37° 08.537'	W 105° 13.942'	11,078 feet	3,377 meters
Grand Mesa - route 65	N 39° 01.631'	W 108° 01.848'	10,839 feet	3,304 meters
Grand Junction - 7th & Main historic district	N 39° 04.040'	W 108° 36.672'	4,620 feet	1,408 meters
Green Mountain - Lakewood	N 39° 42.059'	W 105° 10.664'	6,853 feet	2,089 meters
Kenosha Pass	N 39° 24.772'	W 105° 45.523'	10,000 feet	3,048 meters
KGNU	N 40° 01.173'	W 105° 14.571'	5,263 feet	1,604 meters
Kite Lake	N 39° 19.715'	W 106° 07.748'	12,140 feet	3,700 meters
La Veta Pass	N 37° 36.864'	W 105° 11.409'	9,413 feet	2,869 meters
Lizard Head Pass	N 37° 48.677'	W 107° 54.509'	10,222 feet	3,116 meters
Margy's Hut	N 39° 16.517'	W 106° 42.816'	11,312 feet	3,448 meters
Mesa Verde Park Headquarters	N 37° 11.053'	W 108° 29.317'	6,993 feet	2,131 meters
Molas Pass	N 37° 44.255'	W 107° 41.871'	10,910 feet	3,325 meters
Monarch Pass	N 38° 29.804'	W 106° 19.563'	11,312 feet	3,448 meters
Montezuma Towne Centre	N 39° 34.806'	W 105° 52.058'	10,295 feet	3,109 meters
Mt. Bierdstat	N 39° 34.956'	W 105° 40.128'	14,069 feet	4,267 meters
Mt. Massive	N 39° 11.252'	W 106° 28.537'	14,421 feet	4,396 meters
Mt. Morrison - Jefferson CO	N 39° 40.154'	W 105° 13.183'	7,881 feet	2,402 meters
Pearl Pass	N 39° 00.328'	W 106° 50.290'	11,313 feet	3,448 meters
Rampart Range (Flat Rock overlook)	N 39° 19.570'	W 105° 05.100'	8,230 feet	2,509 meters
Ridgway Town Hall	N 36° 09.157'	W 107° 45.308'	7,000 feet	2,134 meters
San Luis (Center of town as of August '07)	N 37° 11.963'	W 105° 25.558'	8,217 feet	2,505 meters
St Johns Mine	N 39° 34.235'	W 105° 52.896'	10,839 feet	3,304 meters
Telluride - San Miguel County Seat	N 37° 56.267'	W 107° 48.775'	8,777 feet	2,675 meters
Twin Sisters - Rocky Mopuntain National Park (near Estes Park)	N 40° 17.313'	W 105° 31.047'	11,428 feet	3,483 meters
Vail Pass	N 39° 32.513'	W 106° 13.047'	10,603 feet	3,232 meters
Vallecito Dam (halfway across)	N 37° 22.784'	W 107° 34.515'	7,641 feet	2,329 meters
Vicksburg Museum Parking	N 38° 59.903'	W 106° 22.555'	9,649 feet	2,941 meters
Wild Irishman Mine	N 39° 33.536'	W 105° 53.248'	11,771 feet	3,588 meters
Winfield	N 39° 59.114'	W 106° 26.469'	10,245 feet	3,123 meters
Wolf Creek Pass	N 37° 28.978'	W 106° 48.134'	10,860 feet	3,310 meters

Click Here for the Longitude and Lattitude of Colorado's 14ers...

Hawaii (February 2007)

Diamond Head Summit - O'ahu	N 21° 15.584'	W 157° 48.706'	746 feet	227 meters
Haleakalā Summit - Māui	N 20° 42.588'	W 156° 15.164'	10,023 feet	3,055 meters
Kipahulu - Near Hana, Māui	N 20° 39.723'	W 156° 02.743'	403 feet	123 meters
Lān'i City, Lān'i	N 20° 49.066'	W 156° 55.104'	1,580 feet	482 meters
Manele Harbor, Lān'i	N 20° 44.528'	W 156° 53.293'	10 feet	3 meters
Mauana Kea, Hawai'i Island	N 19° 49.371'	W 155° 28.152'	13,796 feet	4,205 meters
Pipeline - Northshore O'ahu	N 21° 39.976'	W 158° 03.109'	56 feet	17 meters
South Point Complex, Ka Lae, Hawai'i Island	N 18° 54.642'	W 155° 40.845'	0 feet	0 meters

Note: South Point Complex, on Hawai'i Island, is the southern most point in the United States.
Tami and I marked this waypoint in February, 2007 while walking around the pounding surf on what
rocks were exposed at that time between waves. I suspect the actual point is where the Coast Guard
light beacon is positioned, just a dozen or two meters north of where we took our reading...

Maryland

USPS Bolger Center - Potomac

N 39° 01.267'

W 077° 11.245'

334 feet

102 meters

Nevada

Bob Scott Summit - Highway 50 (Nov '07)	N 39° 27.426'	W 116° 59.780'	7,267 feet	2,215 meters
I-80 at the California border (March '08)	N 39° 28.108'	W 120° 00.179'	4,864 feet	1,483 meters
Sand Springs Pass - Highway 116 (March '08)	N 39° 16.417'	W 118° 21.068'	4,644 feet	1,415 meters
Shurz - Highway 95 (Feb '08)	N 38° 57.011'	W 118° 48.623'	4,123 feet	1,257 meters
Stillwater (March '08)	N 39° 31.301'	W 118° 32.796'	3,919 feet	1,195 meters

Oklahoma (January 2007)

USPS NCED - Norman

N 35° 11.451'

W 097° 23.982'

1,226 feet

374 meters

Texas (May 2006)

Mayan Ranch near Bandera

N 29° 43.158'

W 099° 05.375'

1,325 feet

404 meters

Utah (November 2007)

Landscape Arch - Arches NP

N 38° 47.471'

W 109° 36.417'

5,263 feet

1,604 meters

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