(function() { I'm surprised how many young people can't read a compass! Glad you enjoyed the article. Compass navigation is an incredibly important skill that (with our reliance on modern-day technology) less and less of us are able to do. Now rotate the map and compass together until the north arrow on the compass points to 0° on the graduated circle. Finding my way from the mainland back home without a compass and a map will not be easy. It does, however, require some attention to detail and practice. Note the start bearing my grandson chose was 52 degrees. Best places to camp: Love camping, but aren’t sure where to pitch your tent? Liz Elias (author) from Oakley, CA on July 18, 2010: Winsome--lol you are funny! Set your chosen heading on the direction of travel arrow, as explained above. Here are 71 perfect camping gifts. Maybe they always look different. Whatever the cause, we ended up off the trail, and that’s how we ended up "lost" in the woods. If you suffered a similar lapse of memory or thoroughness when packing for your hike, would you be able to navigate to safety? Take a bearing on your first landmark: Line up your direction of travel arrow with your landmark, then rotate the bezel until the needle lines up with the markings for north. Then it’s vital to understand why the geographic north pole and the magnetic north pole are not the same. Hopefully, you know how your compass works and what it means. Peace :). Convert the grid bearing to a magnetic bearing using the information given on the map sheet. Advertisement. If you have a transparent compass, you have a ruler too. We're going to assume you are working with the most common type of compass used for navigation, the baseplate (or orienteering) compass, and know what the various bit are called. If you know from memory that there is a main road that runs along the southwest edge of the area you are in, then you can walk in that direction. It happens because we tend to favor a side, usually the side of our dominant hand, and we will walk with a slight favor in that direction. No Problem: Orienteering Without a Compass Today, orienteering and navigation are easier than ever. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. I'm glad you found something to learn here. ;-). Mark your position and your destination and draw a straight line between the two. Look down. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. elem.type = "text/javascript"; If you refer to the photo above, you can see these parts illustrated. Why do we walk in circles? Recommended models: Suunto A-30 Field Compass; Brunton TruArc 3 Base Plate ; Parts of a compass. To orient a map is to simply place it in such a way that the top faces True North and its right side points east. You can choose to use timing or pacing, or both when setting out. Well, we did have a compass with us, and arbitrarily chose to travel north, and kept on that path. Is this realistic or would these directions change due to declination or by moving from your starting point? Using your compass, orient your map so that north is pointing to true north. It also has a ruler to measure map distances and a magnifying glass for reading the small print and topographical features. But when you're in the wilderness seeking out a specific destination, you'll need a little more direction than that. Draw lines on the map from the landmarks toward the center using the measured angles. qacct:"p-HCvZGeyk5bPGp" Using your index or 'pointer' finger of your right hand, place the point of your finger against the center of the back of your left hand. In this circumstance, declination will be useful to orient yourself back. Now let's get down to the nuts and bolts of how to use a compass without a map. thanks for the compass rose thing it helps me alot . 52 degrees + 120 degrees = new heading at 172 degrees. One of the most fundamental navigation skills is knowing how to find north without using a compass. Point your compass’ direction of travel arrow toward the peak and rotate the degree dial until the magnetic arrow lines up with the orienting arrow. May 02, 2016 - Heidi. Ready? Now is a good time to take into consideration the magnetic declination in your local area. Need a gift for a fellow camper? This was the case one time many, many years ago when I was hiking with a couple of other people, and all of a sudden, we noticed that the trail we’d been following had petered out, and we were in the middle of the woods! In the middle of the woods, after a while, especially if you become fearful, and therefore stop thinking logically and calmly, every branch and twig and leaf and fallen log starts to look the same…or do they? Before we head out into the woods, there are several key components of the compass that must be understood. Using Your Compass to Orient a Map. Place your compass on the map and use the baseline to make a straight line between your current position and your destination. Thank You...This is awesome, well written easy to follow directions. He is also co-founder of ClickLikeThis (GoPro tutorial blog) and Storyteller Media (content marketing for travel brands). This sport forces you to use a map and compass to navigate to hidden locations in the fastest time possible. Inside the container will be, depending on its size, a piece of paper (log) to sign to show you were there, or a trinket to take, with a new trinket expected to be left in its place. This confusion can lead to panic. Before you give it a try, familiarize yourself with your map… Compass navigation is an incredibly important skill that (with our reliance on modern-day technology) less and less of us are able to do. After walking his chosen number of steps, he stops, and re-sets a new bearing. If you are surrounded by an urban area, as we were, you will eventually come out of the woods. There are complex charts and calculations to deciper this. Liz Elias (author) from Oakley, CA on February 07, 2012: Thanks very much for stopping by and commenting. Little do they realize they will be tricked into doing (gasp! It may seem like a futile venture, but would it help in the case where you are caught without a GPS, map, or compass? Even if you have an old or a cheap phone, there’s likely a magnetometer inside of it. Keep your index finger straight, and the others curled under out of the way. But at a reasonable distance away from these things, it will swing true again. Navigating without a map is a real pain. If the answer… A pain that many of us—the author included—have endured at some point in our hiking careers. Stand facing north, hold your left hand, palm down, fingers curled under, and your forearm held parallel to your torso. Using a Compass Without a Map. It still got us to familiar territory. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. Start to walk in this direction and continue to check your compass at regular intervals to ensure you are not deviating from your path. An introduction to the device and its basic use. Holle Abee from Georgia on July 25, 2010: Great tips. This guide on how to use a compass and map should be enough to get you started and give you the confidence to use the skills for yourself in the hills. What you need to know about using a compass. This is a typical trail in Muir Woods National Monument. It has a clear rectangular, plastic base that lets you see the features of the map while using the compass. Set this new bearing, and walk again the same exact number of steps. Then place it on the map. He is a travel blogger and content marketer. })();
The compass is utilized by an individual to orient and (re)position herself.