Navigation - Map and Compass - Beginner

We have navigated the wilderness for centuries. We use the moon and the stars, the position of the sun. We orientate ourselves with the landscape that surrounds us, the moss and the formation of trees. To navigate like that, sounds overwhelming, doesn't it?
With technology on the rise, we have lost touch with our ability to navigate the wild. I am guilty of that myself. It is so much easier to take out our phone, quickly check our app and blindly trust and follow the little arrow that points a certain way. I still remember the time when I first travelled. I I used to go to a hostel reception to grab a map of the city and find my way around, trying to navigate the streets and neighborhoods around me. Sometimes I would just wander around trying to find my way back without a map at all.

Of course, getting lost in a big city is not as bad as getting lost in nature. At least in a city, we can always ask for help. But who do we ask when we are out and about and not a single person can be seen for miles and miles? We can ask our map, compass and nature around us. But how?

Maps

The first thing we need to look at and understand are maps. There are maps for everything. Political maps, roadmaps, city maps, bike maps, hiking maps, sightseeing maps, climatic or economic maps, just to list a few. The one map we will focus on and that I like to use when hiking is a Topo map.

Topo maps are ideal for wilderness navigation as they use lines - contour lines - by connecting points with the same elevation
to show the shape of the landscape. They can not only help you to make out the shape but also gives you a great indication of the elevation. The narrower the lines are together, the steeper the surface is, the wider they are apart, the flatter the ground. You can also find little numbers written on those contour lines, to indicate the height of that specific line. We can use Topo maps to read the height of mountains or discover the depths of a body of water, lake or oceans.

 

In the end, any map is better than no map at all, but Topo maps are my preferred map of navigation. I know how difficult it is to find the textbook map for your adventure. On many maps you will find a scale such as 1:25 000 or 1:50 000. To understand those, you can simply remember that, the smaller the number, the more detailed the map.

Each map has a legend you can use to get familiar with symbols and lines and how to read them. The most essential questions you need to answer are: Where is north on the map? Where are my lines of longitude (east to west) & latitude (north to south)? What is the declination? If it is not printed or your map is ancient, you can google it, or ask your local ranger station or sailing club.

Compass 101

Another item, a lot of us are overwhelmed by, is a compass. We have all held once at least once in our lives, but only a few of us understand how to hold it, how to use it with a map and how to read the numbers on it. So let's get into the basics.


Baseplate: Is the hard, flat surface the compass is attached to. It has rulers on the side to measure distances on the maps. Some also have a magnifying glass on the plate, which can aid to read the small numbers on the contour lines on your map. The scales on the sides are usually different, to cater for different measurements on different maps. The baseplate also shows an arrow. This one is called the direction-of-travel arrow.

Direction-of-travel arrow: This arrow points in the direction you need to travel, once we have set up our directions in a later step.

Index Pointer: The pointer is at the bottom of the travel arrow and right at the edge of the dial. This is where you take your degree readings.

Dial: The dial is the ring around the housing that has numbers engraved - degree markings. The dial can be rotated around on the baseplate.

Declination marks: When you are in an area with a known declination, you can adjust accordingly.

Orienting lines and arrow: The series of lines are on the floor of the housing and go parallel to each other. They can also appear on the baseplate. The lines and arrow, also on the floor on the housing, move when you turn the housing. We use them to orient ourselves on the map.
We also call the orienting arrow the "shed". This will be important once we navigate with our map.


Needle: It freely floats in the housing liquid. One side is painted red, which means it always points to magnetic north. For accurate readings, keep reading to understand the difference between magnetic north and true north. The needle usually also glows in the dark. The little bubble is there to make sure you keep the compass nice and steady.

 

Housing: Is the main part of the compass. The needle and liquid are inside the housing.

True north vs. magnetic north

The difference between true north and magnetic north is called magnetic declaration. But why do we need to know the difference and why is it important. Do you remember Stranger Things? Dustin explains the difference when they are trying to use the compass to find the gate? Season one, Episode 5, minute 24 if you want to get into it again. But you can also keep reading.

 

The declaration varies depending on where you are in the world. If you simply rely on your compass, you could end up far away from your destination. In Europe the declaration is not as high, but in the US it can really throw you off course. You need to adjust your compass accordingly.

True north is the direction that points directly towards the geographic North Pole. It is a fixed point on our globe.


Magnetic north is the direction your compass will point. But this point changes as it is influenced by the Earths magnetic field. It is not a fixed point. It moves over time. Which is also the reason why the magnetic declaration changes throughout the years and needs to be adjusted depending on your location.

 

In order to adjust your compass to the difference, you first need to find out the declination of your area. You can either find this information on updated maps, simply use your local website or ask your local ranger station or sailor club.

Many compasses have a way of adjusting this difference, check with your specific compass if you just need to twist, use a screw or another method to adjust. It now appears off center, this is correct. Now put red in the shed, and you have true north, it matches the map. REI has a good guide.

 


Orienting a map

We have learned a few moments ago that the north on our map - true north - is not "real north" - magnetic north. To adjust your map accordingly, simply lay down your map on a flat surface. Turn your declaration adjusted compass so that true north is at the index pointer. Lay down your compass so the orientating lines match the north-south lines on your map. Now turn your map and compass together until red is in the shed. Your map is now adjusted to the real world. You should now see the landmarks exactly where they are. Of course, you can also do this by simply finding a landmark and adjusting your map, but in a dense forest the compass option is the best.


From A to b - Basic compass navigation

The first and most important thing is to know where you are on the map. It makes it incredibly hard to find the right path, if you don't know where you are. Then you need to figure out, where you want to go. Look at you go, you are already halfway there.

1) Lay down your oriented map on a flat surface and take out your compass again. Use it now, to connect the point where you are, with the point you want to go to, making sure that the direction-of-travel arrow points towards your destination.


2) Once you are done, hold the baseplate down and rotate the housing until the orienting lines in the housing are parallel to the north-south lines on your map. This matches north on your compass to north on your map. Now we need our bearing. The direction of your index pointer is now the direction you need to go to, so you can put away the map.


3) Pay attention to your compass needle. Stand up and hold your compass flat in your hand - with the direction-of-travel arrow pointing in front of you. Now turn your body as long as you need until red is in the shed, meaning: The red part of your compass needle - north - needs to end up in the red section of your compass housing floor "the shed". You are now facing the direction you need to travel to.

Start walking and repeat this process by making sure red is in the shed. This way, you are able to check if you are still heading towards your destination. But be careful to not accidentally change the adjustments and turn the housing. Congratulations, you are now navigating with your compass.

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