Todays digital reliance on gps navigation has all but relegated compass and map use to hardcore outdoor enthusiasts, orienteering clubs, and geography buffs. To orient a map using a compass, first turn the compass dial so north is aligned with the direction of travel. Basic land navigation southeast missouri state university. After tracing out your route, pull the string straight and measure it against the scale line in the map legend.
A big rotating compass dial, also with a transparent base marked with true. There are many alternatives, but these are the most common. The classic map and compass navigation guiderevised for the age of gps. On a lensatic compass there are two rings, an outer black ring and an inner red ring, what are they used for. Using a compass and a map together, is very powerful for locating your current position. Align edge of compass base plate and ns edge of map. These are the basic features present on nearly every compass available. Navigating with a compass and map is an essential skill for many incident positions. A long transparent base plate with straight sides and a marked direction of travel arrow 2. Download free printable missouri maps for educational or personal use. Welcome back to the art of manliness land navigation manual. Use the owners guide that comes with your compass to determine its exact features. How to use a compass navigating with a map and compass. Even with all the gps technology we have today, it pays to know how to find your way around using no more than a compass and the earths magnetic field.
Thats why a magnetized compass and a paper mapand the navigational knowhow to use themare part of the ten essentials. Scan types scan options ping options input options. Basic land navigation is precourse work for several courses in the national wildfire. Army cadet navigation chapter 1using a map types of maps. Below are files of a 5 part series on land navigation from 101 to advanced. These numbers give you a numerical angle of direction, or. This exercise is appropriate for virtually any age group and requires only a compass, a small place marker like a pencil or twig, and enough space to move about 50 paces in any direction. This single line was not enough information to locate the fire. Joe comuzzi and i taught the amcs map and compass course again last weekend at harvard cabin in pinkham notch, a 2day class which combines a morning of instruction with two hikes to practice offtrail compass and navigation skills. Gps maps and navigation, use free location tracker to plan your trips.
Compass and navigational gps two different methods of navigation will be used while you conduct monitoring. These are essential skills for any outdoorsman or survivalist to learn. Effects of errors, corrections and geometry in navigation. But at some point in time, outdoor enthusiast or not, youll want to be able to fi. In land navigation, an azimuth is defined as a horizontal angle measured clockwise from a north base line or meridian. This is a lesson on map and compass navigation declination and finding map bearing.
But when youre trying to learn this muchneeded and oftenused skill, the effort can. Everyone should know how to navigate with a map and compass, but surprisingly few can. Forest fire lookout towers used triangulation to locate spot fires. Compass manual mirror sighting compasses eng silva. Week five in our sixweek blog series on map reading skills focuses on the compass. The goal of orientation is to determine that precise point on the surface of the earth were you stand. In this era of technological gadgets, when everyone has a gps or a smartphone with navigation apps on it, you might think that an oldschool, basic compass is no longer needed. Timetables and train service information for japan. How to use a compass the most important piece of gear to help you find your way. Click the map or the button above to print a colorful copy of our missouri county map. Most compass es are marked with the four cardinal pointsnorth, east, south, and westbut some are marked additionally with the number of degrees in a circle 360. There is no doubt that land navigation using compass and map is a necessary skill for a prepper. Orient the map with the terrain, using the technique already described.
Finding your campsite, a spectacular viewpoint or your way back out of the wilderness wont always be simple tasks. You now have a field bearing that will allow you to hike in a straight line toward your destination. Land navigation with a compass by terry haider can you find yourself on a map with a compass, or without, by looking at a map. This popular, easytouse orienteering handbook has been helping people find their way for. Thats why a magnetized compass and a paper map and the navigational knowhow to use themare part of the ten essentials. Before we can start actually navigating, which well get to in part iii of this series, we still need to learn where we are in relation to our map how to orient ourselves. Use it as a teachinglearning tool, as a desk reference, or an item on your bulletin board. Mar 05, 20 this is a lesson on map and compass navigation declination and finding map bearing. That means if the technology fails for whatever reason, you are going to be a lot more lost than you would have been if you were using a map. Orienting a map is the process to correctly align it relative to the local surrounds. There are three areas to focus on when learning to put these timetested navigation tools together. One is to use a piece of string or flexible wire to trace the intended route.
Mar 11, 2014 one of the simplest exercises for improving the speed and accuracy of your compass navigation is the threeleg compass walk. I personally use a militarystyle compass because that is what i was trained with in the army and is what i am most comfortable using. We hope youve enjoyed our guide on how to use a map and compass, and youll never lose your way again. How to navigate by map and compass appalachian mountain club. Part 1 basic land navigation on point preparedness. In todays modern world basic map and compass navigation are being replaced by the convenience gps, however when these miracles of technology fail its best to have a basic navigation skill set to fall back on. Its impossible to be lost knowing four basic skills. It needs no batteries, works with any map, and even works without a map. Track present location, determine distance, sense of direction, reading map. Learning how to use a map and compass is one of the most essential skills for back country navigation.
Map area map series scale 1 inch 1 centimeter approximate name represents represents square miles puerto rico 7. In part i, we covered how to properly use a compass, how to shoot your bearings, and the best map for navigating. How to read and use topographical maps, and how to use a compass. Once youve mastered orienting a map to the field using a compass, you can now use that map to reach a destination thats out of your sight. Trigonometry in navigation, timedistance formulas and triangulation. Another method is to use a compass the mathematical kind set to a narrow distance on the map scale like. Map and compass navigation part 2 in the field youtube. Printable missouri maps state outline, county, cities. Alright, so everyone knows a few fundamentals of navigation north is always up, the sun rises in the east, and compasses usually point towards magnetic north. Be able to show the different types of north true north and south are at the geographical poles. Today, gaye levy of backdoor survival with the help of contributor jim cobb teaches you everything you need to know about primitive navigation. Navigation instruments navigation instruments are designed to fix position, measure direction, distance, the depth of water, determine speed, assist in plotting on charts, observe the weather elements magnetic compass the magnetic compass is one. Innovative training devices and materials are being developed for use in the institution, rotc regions, and the field.
Outdoor navigation with map and compass whatcom county. You know the compass directions, the cardinal points. Your gps user manual describes in detail all other functions of the gps. Using a compass and a map posted on august 22, 2014. Navigation course this is an advanced online course on marine navigation, providing you with the conditio sine qua non of offshore sailing. Land navigation wit h a compass by terry haider can you find yourself on a map with a compass, or without, by looking at a map.
Place your compass on the map and use the baseline to make a straight line between your current position and your. While entire books have been written about navigating with a compass, every compass. Our map and compass course will introduce you to the techniques and tools essential for wilderness navigation. Without moving the map or compass, turn the compass dial until the orienting arrow boxes the red part of the magnetic needle. Backcountry navigation using the map, compass, gps and altimeter to find your way the declination adjusted compass remember, the required compass has the following attributes. Map and compass navigation the basics treelinebackpacker. Navigation for the backcountry using a map and compass. Take the time to go through this course at your own pace. You will be able to navigate safely and accurately in terrain youve never. How to use a compass once you master the concept, compass navigation becomes second nature.
When using the device ensure you hold its body flat on the map. There is tremendous satisfaction to be gained from learning a basic survival skill such as map and compass navigation. In this video i navigate to a lake with map and compass only. Land navigation with a compass high country supply. Gps devices are great, but they can break, get lost, or easily be hampered by weather conditions, making basic map and compass skills essential for anyone who spends time outdoors. This is orienteering, a sport of quick thinking and backwoods navigation where a wrong move will get you seriously lost. Then identify your current location and the location you want to reach on the map. Land navigation with map and compass by kevin estela. This comprehensive 2day course covers the essential skills of backcountry navigation using the most reliable equipment. What is the field manual for map reading and land navigation. Oct 15, 2014 kevins popular land navigation with map and compass handout is now available in pdf form. For map reading and orienteering any type of compass can be used, but the orienteering compass is the type found best for scouting work. My online land navigation course includes four hours of video instruction, and two downloadable pdf books, all for about the same price as a typical paperback book. Gain confidence in finding your way and knowing where you are whether youre ontrail or traveling crosscountry.
Youll need a compass and pencil to do some of the problems. Holding the compass level in front of you, turn your body until the north arrow on the bezel matches up with the compass s needle. Take this quiz and see how much you and your scouts know about wilderness navigation. Download pdf version download flashcards online flashcards email to a friend. These devices have a mirror that flips up over the compass which. Land navigation skills importance many emergency situations will not become survival situations if you do not become lost. It should take between three and eight hours to complete the text, depending on your previous experience and knowledge. Goal to be fully versed and practiced in land navigation using a topographic map, magnetic compass, and a gps.
The definitive land navigation training material on. Tracking present locationdetermining distancesense of directionhow to read a topographic map terrain and map associationspatial skillsplanning safe, practical routesand more navigational skillsthe best way to learn land navigation is to get dirt time, that is, get out there with a map and compass. Navigation education materials institute of navigation. Those who explored and mapped out our great nation had no gps, only the maps they made and a compass to guide them. In this lesson this lesson is devoted to two of the most basic tools.
Mar 15, 20 in this video i navigate to a lake with map and compass only. The techniques shown below are the very heart of land navigation with a map and compass. Amc map and compass course section hikers backpacking blog. Place the compass on the map so that either of the edges or one of the long lines of the base plate is touching both your starting point and finishing. Sign up for our backcountry navigation or basic map and compass online course. Its when you use both compass and map that the compass becomes really handy. Nowadays most sailors tend to rely on modern equipment like differential gps or radar to navigate them through hazardous waters. Armywide implementation a mandatory core of critical map reading and land navigation tasks and a list of electives will be provided to each.
Well also talk about magnetic north, true north, and magnetic variation. Unfortunately, they are also the most complex to explain and to use because north on the map is different than north according to the compass. Navigation with map and compass backcountry attitude. A ranger at tower a would see smoke in the distance and take a bearing to it on his compass. A leaders guide for group instruction of outdoor navigation skills, with exercises and games that help make map and compass training a fun and sporting experience. Irrespective of whether you carry a gps or not see below, the ability to interpret a map and navigate with a compass are fundamental backcountry skills that every serious hiker should know. What is more when the chips are down, the batteries have. Tracking present locationdetermining distancesense of directionhow to read a topographic map terrain and map associationspatial skillsplanning safe, practical routesand more navigational skills. Navigation on land using map and compass lo1 part 1. Since posting the first version different color layout with wlc logos, this handout has received over 100,000 views and thousands of downloads on slide share. During this field outing, well help you see three dimensions of the land in the two dimensions of a topographic map by teaching you how to read contour lines, landmarks and other map features.
Using a compass can be difficult for those new to this navigation tool. Land navigation a comprehensive guide rebuilding civilization. Map reading is an essential skill for any explorer or outdoor enthusiast. These instructions are on the outer edges of the map and. The basics of compass usage are surprisingly simple and can be mastered quickly. A great course for individuals new to navigating with a compass. Gps smartphone navigation just got easier using geospatial pdf, an extension to adobes portable document format that lets you encode gps features with pdf documents. Refer to the compass owners manual for instructions on. The art of staying found im pretty sure you cant get there from here. If youre planning on using a map and compass to navigate through the bush, we highly recommend picking up a sighting compass also known as a prismatic or hand compass.
I lace my snowshoes and head in the forest bushwacking to my destination. You will use a navigational gps to locate transect start points, keep track of meters walked, check the juno. Gps navigation with pdf maps on smartphones section. Imagine being able to download a pdf map to your phone for a state park or ski resort and having the ability to find your location or map a track on it using your phones. In other words, an oriented may will have the top part of the map pointing true north, and the right side pointing east. Learning how to use a compass is a basic skill, something everyone should know. Once the basics of using a map with a compass are understood you can test your mapping and compass handling skills with a land navigation with map and compass lesson plan. An instructional manual for personal development of your outdoor navigation skills, using map and compass, and 2. Sep 30, 2014 amc map and compass class at harvard cabin in new hampshire. Online army study guide land navigation map reading. This selfstudy course was prepared specifically to introduce you to the basics of map interpretation, compass use, and familiarize you with the united states geological survey usgs topographic maps, and. Hold map and compass together and turn until the compasss magnetic needle aligns with the compasss orienteering arrow red on red. Weve teamed up with steve backshall to record a series of videos to remind you of the basics and help you feel confident with your map. Your direction of travel arrow should now be pointing towards your destination.
Many people carry compasses without knowing how to use them. Geological survey usgs fact sheet 03501 march 2001 part of a 7. Land navigation with map and lensatic compass land. A detailed inspection is required when first obtaining and using a compass. Compass basics a compass is one of the most basic navigation tools any hiker can own. The key to being a proficient navigator is paying attention. Aug 12, 2015 primitive navigation techniques can help you find your way in the wilderness without the help of a map or compass. Mar 10, 2014 map and compass navigation the basics posted on march 10, 2014 march 10, 2014 by treelinebackpacker everyone should know how to navigate with a map and compass, but surprisingly few can. People using gps for navigation just arent building a mental map in the same way you do in traditional map and compass navigation, where you are constantly relating the map to the terrain around you. Triangulation is the process of pinpointing the location of something by taking bearings to it from two remote points. Practice navigating with your map and compass on a familiar, local walk. Outdoor navigation with map and compass this manual can serve as. Now turn your body so your compass looks like this.