Compass and Map reading tips
Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:34 pm
This started as a thread on one of the other sections - as this is meant to highlight saftey and other things.
To the matter in hand.
Getting the right Compass
Personally I am of the belief - one essential thing you need out on the moor is a good quality compass, get one you are comfortable with!
Silva make very good compasses and I believe one around the £50 mark is what is required.
Having one with individual marks for the degrees and being a sighting compass is probably more beneficial.
However, having said that I used a basic compass for many years before getting my sighting compass, with great success. Though the latter does make life so much easier.
Maps
As for a map.
A water proof map is also essential, I managed to get one where you can draw on it with pencil and wash it off.
Replace your map regularly as they are constantly updated with more accurate information being added all the time, persoanlly I recommend at least every five years - if it hasn't worn out first.
Yes I can show the difference between maps - I collect stupid things like that - the oldest one I have is a 1933 map of Dartmoor in comparison with todays map.
On one occasion I was doing a navigation exercise using only maps and no compass where I missed a point on the exercise because my point had worn out due to excessive folds in the paper -
Navigating with the Map alone
As the map is marked out in Kilometres try to work out how many steps you take to walk 100 metres (for myself I walk 116.5 steps).
Why do I say this? It is possible to lose your compass and end up with only a map to navigate with.
OK I can hear some of you saying "How do I navigate with only a map?"
Well put simply... you have to orientate your map to the landmarks around you and then choose a direction you need to go in (this is where the numer of paces comes in) then walk from there to your destination following the map. Ok I admit that is the simplistic thing to say - but practice makes perfect.
Practice your exercises - do it in the garden - do it in your local park.
Navigating with a compass and coming across a BOG
The answer is simple if you really think about you want to go from A to C you know how far it is so you pace it out... but B is in the way so what do you do - you go around it obviously - and the most common thing on the moor is either a huge rock/tor or a bog.
But i the event of fog - you lose sight of the target - or the target is on the map and you have gone after it after you have plotted it on the map.
The trick is to turn 90 degrees (in this case we have turned to the right) and count the number of paces you go to one side then turn back onto your base course until you have passed the obstacle then you turn left 90 degrees again and count back the number of paces you counted earlier the turn back onto your base course again, theoretically you should now be back on course again and continue your number of paces.
To the matter in hand.
Getting the right Compass
Personally I am of the belief - one essential thing you need out on the moor is a good quality compass, get one you are comfortable with!
Silva make very good compasses and I believe one around the £50 mark is what is required.
Having one with individual marks for the degrees and being a sighting compass is probably more beneficial.
However, having said that I used a basic compass for many years before getting my sighting compass, with great success. Though the latter does make life so much easier.
Maps
As for a map.
A water proof map is also essential, I managed to get one where you can draw on it with pencil and wash it off.
Replace your map regularly as they are constantly updated with more accurate information being added all the time, persoanlly I recommend at least every five years - if it hasn't worn out first.
Yes I can show the difference between maps - I collect stupid things like that - the oldest one I have is a 1933 map of Dartmoor in comparison with todays map.
On one occasion I was doing a navigation exercise using only maps and no compass where I missed a point on the exercise because my point had worn out due to excessive folds in the paper -
Navigating with the Map alone
As the map is marked out in Kilometres try to work out how many steps you take to walk 100 metres (for myself I walk 116.5 steps).
Why do I say this? It is possible to lose your compass and end up with only a map to navigate with.
OK I can hear some of you saying "How do I navigate with only a map?"
Well put simply... you have to orientate your map to the landmarks around you and then choose a direction you need to go in (this is where the numer of paces comes in) then walk from there to your destination following the map. Ok I admit that is the simplistic thing to say - but practice makes perfect.
Practice your exercises - do it in the garden - do it in your local park.
Navigating with a compass and coming across a BOG
The answer is simple if you really think about you want to go from A to C you know how far it is so you pace it out... but B is in the way so what do you do - you go around it obviously - and the most common thing on the moor is either a huge rock/tor or a bog.
But i the event of fog - you lose sight of the target - or the target is on the map and you have gone after it after you have plotted it on the map.
The trick is to turn 90 degrees (in this case we have turned to the right) and count the number of paces you go to one side then turn back onto your base course until you have passed the obstacle then you turn left 90 degrees again and count back the number of paces you counted earlier the turn back onto your base course again, theoretically you should now be back on course again and continue your number of paces.