How to use a map and compass - Revision history

Edscott: /* Judging Distance */

2006-02-12T06:11:09Z

‎Judging Distance

Edscott: /* Thumbing */

2006-02-12T06:10:48Z

‎Thumbing

Edscott: /* Planning */

2006-02-12T06:10:21Z

‎Planning

Edscott: /* Planning */

2006-02-12T06:06:12Z

‎Planning

Edscott: /* Determining your location on a map - Map Reading */

2006-02-12T06:04:59Z

‎Determining your location on a map - Map Reading

Edscott: /* Planning */

2006-02-12T06:04:00Z

‎Planning

Edscott: /* Execution */

2006-02-12T06:03:01Z

‎Execution

Edscott: /* Planning */

2006-02-12T06:02:25Z

‎Planning

Edscott: /* Thumbing */

2006-02-12T06:01:28Z

‎Thumbing

Edscott: /* Handrails: */

2006-02-12T06:00:19Z

‎Handrails:

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ======Thumbing:====== As you walk with your map, keep your thumb on the last spot where you were totally confident of your position.  When you look at the map again you will immediately be drawn to the correct spot on the map to check your new position.  Many areas have lots of similar and perhaps parallel features (like two side by side streams with a ridge in between) and it is sometimes easy to get confused and magically transport yourself over the ridge into the wrong valley.  Things might look right for awhile and by the time you realize your mistake a correction could be difficult.
-======Judging Distance======
+======Judging Distance:======
 Know your pace.  That is, know how many steps you take to travel a certain distance.  Realize that uphill and rough gound will increase the number of steps and practice enough to know how much of an effect that is for you.  Be able to measure distance on the map using the scale on the edge of the compass. Make your own scale of hundred foot increments on adhesive tape if your compass edge has no scale that suits your liking.  You could use a football field to determine your 100 yard pace in perfect terrain.

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ======Catching features:======  Look behind the cache area and determine some feature that will tell you if you get confused and go too far.  Again, a linear feature is best. You can walk past a point feature like a small building or evergreen tree because you did not hit it directly.
-======Thumbing====== As you walk with your map, keep your thumb on the last spot where you were totally confident of your position.  When you look at the map again you will immediately be drawn to the correct spot on the map to check your new position.  Many areas have lots of similar and perhaps parallel features (like two side by side streams with a ridge in between) and it is sometimes easy to get confused and magically transport yourself over the ridge into the wrong valley.  Things might look right for awhile and by the time you realize your mistake a correction could be difficult.
+======Thumbing:====== As you walk with your map, keep your thumb on the last spot where you were totally confident of your position.  When you look at the map again you will immediately be drawn to the correct spot on the map to check your new position.  Many areas have lots of similar and perhaps parallel features (like two side by side streams with a ridge in between) and it is sometimes easy to get confused and magically transport yourself over the ridge into the wrong valley.  Things might look right for awhile and by the time you realize your mistake a correction could be difficult.
 ======Judging Distance======

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ===Find a Cache===
 =====Planning=====
-Find the cache location on the map then plan on how to find it.  Determine your starting point and look at the potential routes to the cache.  Read the contour lines.   Closer together means steeper, further apart means less steep.  Consider the climb and the distance to be covered and make route choices based on your physical abilities, the weather, and your map reading skills.  Look at the water features.  Stream crossings can be dangeous, but streams often make good "handrails" to lead you to a specific landmark. Find two or three features near the cache location that you feel you can identify when you reach them on the ground.  Draw and label magnetic bearings from these landmarks to the cache at home when you are not affected by weather, fatigue, or excitement.
+Find the cache location on the map then plan on how to find it.  Determine your starting point and look at the potential routes to the cache.  Read the contour lines.   Closer together means steeper, further apart means less steep.  Consider the climb and the distance to be covered and make route choices based on your physical abilities, the weather, and your map reading skills.  Look for good handrails to get you close.  Note a good catching feature to turn you around if you go too far.  Look at the water features.  Stream crossings can be dangeous, but streams often make good "handrails" to lead you to a specific landmark. Streams also make good catching features and are usually easy to identify both on the map and in the terrain.  Find two or three features near the cache location that you feel you can identify when you reach them on the ground.  Draw and label magnetic bearings from these landmarks to the cache at home when you are not affected by weather, fatigue, or excitement.
 =====Execution=====

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ===Find a Cache===
 =====Planning=====
-Find your destination's location on the map then plan on how to find it.  Determine your starting point and look at the potential routes to the cache.  Read the contour lines.   Closer together means steeper, further apart means less steep.  Consider the climb and the distance to be covered and make route choices based on your physical abilities, the weather, and your map reading skills.  Look at the water features.  Stream crossings can be dangeous, but streams often make good "handrails" to lead you to a specific landmark. Find two or three features near the cache location that you feel you can identify when you reach them on the ground.  Draw and label magnetic bearings from these landmarks to the cache at home when you are not affected by weather, fatigue, or excitement.
+Find the cache location on the map then plan on how to find it.  Determine your starting point and look at the potential routes to the cache.  Read the contour lines.   Closer together means steeper, further apart means less steep.  Consider the climb and the distance to be covered and make route choices based on your physical abilities, the weather, and your map reading skills.  Look at the water features.  Stream crossings can be dangeous, but streams often make good "handrails" to lead you to a specific landmark. Find two or three features near the cache location that you feel you can identify when you reach them on the ground.  Draw and label magnetic bearings from these landmarks to the cache at home when you are not affected by weather, fatigue, or excitement.
 =====Execution=====

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 === Determining your location on a map - Map Reading ===
 Yes, it can be done without a GPS.  Maps have literally millions of bits of data on every sheet.  The trick is to use them effectively.  Familiarize yourself with the symbols used on all USGS maps.  Compare the contour lines on the map with the actual terrain until it becomes easy to visualize the topography of an area by looking at the map.  Start by identifying stream patterns and work up to the hilltops.  Try to get a feel for the scale. Walk 500 yards or so and see how far you travelled on the map.
 =====Techniques=====
 ======Handrails:======  Use linear features on the map when they are available to get you closer the final destination.  Streams, edges of woods or fields, powerlines, lines of cliffs, long ridges, trails, and stone walls are typical handrails.  Follow them to as close the cache as possible, then take a bearing from there.  If available, the end of the final handrail should be one of your landmarks used to pinpoint the cache.