Question: What does a guy do when he's planning a backpacking trip around the world, and he finds himself ahead of schedule in savings with 6 months to go?
Answer: He buys a Casio Pathfinder watch for $199 from Amazon.com. Why would he need such a watch? Just consider the following scenario, and you'll wonder no more!
Our intrepid hero is scaling Lhotse in Nepal, the world's fourth highest peak at 27,940 feet (8,516 meters). He periodically checks the Pathfinder's altimeter to ensure he is not ascending too quickly, thus decreasing his chances of contracting a potentially deadly case of altitude sickness. As he locks into memory his new highest height of 21,500 feet, he notices a drop in barometric pressure via the barometer, and corresponding drop in temperature via the thermometer.
As the winds pick up, and clouds envelope the mountain, our hero bivouac's (encamps) high up the mountain. In his dimly lit tent, he checks the time, thankful his watch has an auto backlight which turns on when he tilts the watch so he doesn't have to take off his warm mittens. A solar powered battery ensures watch functionality in case it remains overcast and stormy for the next 5 months.
Days pass, and concerns grow about avalanche risk higher up the mountain. The expedition is canceled, and our hero begins to navigate down the mountain using his Pathfinder's digital compass, as the well-worn climbing route has been covered by three feet of fresh snow. Thanks to multi-band 5 atomic timekeeping, he can be sure to rendezvous with his yaks at precisely the right time to carry his gear back to Kathmandu.
As for his Casio Pathfinder PAW1300-1V watch, it's a cool 28% thinner and lighter than previous models, so even after a 20,000 foot climb, it's no sweat off his back to wear it home.
