Ditch the GPS: Find out how to navigate utilizing a map and compass

GPS units and GPS apps to your telephone and even navigation watches with GPX recordsdata are almost foolproof as we speak. However what about while you run out of battery or your waterproof system isn’t as waterproof as you had hoped? Even worse, what in case you spend your entire trip together with your head buried in your GPS with out taking the time to get to know your environment?

Right here at The Handbook, our number-one backpacking important for each out of doors journey is the common-or-garden map and compass. It’s no use simply shopping for this stuff and stuffing them into your backpack. First, it’s essential learn to learn a topographic map and know what all of the twisting bits do and what the numbers imply in your compass. It might all look fairly complicated, so we’re going to demystify the artwork of how you can navigate utilizing a map and compass and allow you to go old fashioned, ditch the GPS, and get to know your environment intimately.

Know the components of the compass

• Route of journey: the printed arrow on the head of the compass.
• Scales and guidelines: printed scales down the facet of the compass. These denote distances for maps of varied scales.
• Magnetic needle: an important function of a compass. The crimson finish factors north.
• Rotating bezel: also referred to as the azimuth. This bezel is marked with diploma increments.
• Orienting strains and arrow: contained in the rotating bezel are orienting strains and a crimson arrow. These are used for bearings.

Orient your map

You don’t need to set off within the unsuitable path, do you? In a panorama with apparent options, lining your map up with the true world might be simple. In a forest or on an open hillside, the place there aren’t giant and apparent options, you’re often greatest off utilizing your compass to orient your map.

Step 1: Modify your compass for declination

There are two sorts of north: magnetic and true. These two norths don’t fairly align, and with magnetic north drifting yearly, it’s possible you’ll want to make use of a geomagnetic calculator to verify the present distinction the place you’re. In case your compass has adjustable declination, alter it to the variety of levels to your location. This can be a shifting bezel or a screw on the rear of your compass. In case your compass doesn’t have adjustable declination, you’ll need so as to add or subtract the variety of levels manually every time you are taking a bearing.

Step 2: Line up your orienting line together with your path of journey

Spin your bezel till the orienting strains and arrow align with the path of the journey arrow printed on the baseplate. In case you are manually adjusting for declination, keep in mind to take action now.

Step 3: Line up the orienting strains with the northings

The north/south grid strains in your map, additionally referred to as northings, ought to be aligned together with your orienting strains within the compass housing. Place your map on a flat floor, or maintain it degree, and place your compass on prime lined up with these northings.

Step 4: Line up your orienting arrow with north

Flip your physique till the magnetic needle involves relaxation within the orienting arrow. Give your compass a second to settle, and keep in mind to maintain it flat. Your map is now oriented north and you’re able to navigate.

Utilizing your compass to take a bearing

Usually, it’s sufficient to know that your required campsite is to your east or maybe your southwest. If you wish to get extra particular, a bearing permits you to give exact instructions in increments of levels. That is actually helpful in open floor or poor visibility, the place a slight error can lead you astray.

Step 1: Line your compass up together with your path of journey

Lay your compass in your map with the sting, and due to this fact, the path of the journey arrow, pointing out of your present location to your endpoint.

Step 2: Line the orienting strains up with the northings

Flip the bezel till the orienting strains are aligned with the north/south grid strains. Be sure these are spherical the proper manner — as a touch, your orienting arrow ought to be pointing north in your map.

Step 3: Learn your bearing

The markings across the bezel are levels. There may be an index line aligned with the path of the journey arrow and this gives you your bearing.

Step 4: Comply with your bearing

Take away your compass from the map and maintain it degree at round waist peak. Keep in mind, in case you are adjusting for guide declination, it’s possible you’ll want so as to add or subtract some levels as you progress from grid north to magnetic north to make sure a real bearing. Flip your physique till the magnetic arrow strains up with the orienting arrow. Your path of the journey arrow will now be pointing in the direction of your chosen vacation spot.

What’s the distinction between triangulating with a map and taking a bearing on a compass?

Triangulating and taking a bearing aren’t the identical factor, however they’re associated strategies utilized in navigation. We’ll clarify the distinction.

• Taking a bearing: As defined above, this includes utilizing a compass to find out the path (in levels) out of your present location to a particular landmark. You’ll use the map to establish the landmark after which take a compass studying to get its bearing. This tells you the compass path it’s essential journey to succeed in that landmark, however not essentially your actual location.
• Triangulation: It is a method for locating your present location on the map. It includes taking bearings to a number of landmarks (often two or three) out of your present spot and plotting these bearings on the map. The purpose the place the strains you draw on the map intersect signifies your approximate location. So, triangulation makes use of bearings as a software to pinpoint your self on the map.

Consider these two navigation phrases like this. Taking a bearing is like pointing your finger at a particular landmark and asking, “How do I get there?” The compass provides you the path to journey. Triangulation is like asking, “The place am I?” It makes use of bearings from a number of landmarks to determine your location on the map.

We advocate practising these abilities earlier than you depend on them in the backcountry. Your thoughts can play tips on you, and it’s not unusual to fulfill skilled outdoorsmen with tales of disregarding their compass in favor of their intuition, solely to search out out that they need to have trusted the needle. Reducing your dependence on know-how within the backcountry not solely means you’re not counting on batteries, however you additionally get your head out of the telephone display. Utilizing a map means wanting round you, taking within the environment, and getting a deeper appreciation of the place you’re.

Want extra convincing? Effectively, a map isn’t going to interrupt you with an pressing work e-mail midway through a hike.

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