Compass basics
For hikers, a compass is like car insurance: you never need one except when you do. Say you’re going uphill into a fog bank and suddenly you lose all visual references of your location. You’re flying blind now. Then the trail splits. Which way to turn?
Novices who’ve just tossed their shiny new compass in their pack think they’re covered till they break it out in the middle of said fog bank and realize they have no earthly idea which way to go, based on what that little floating magnetic arrow is telling them. So, it points north. Then what?
You can train yourself to use a compass in your living room; stuff you’ll need to learn:
- How to take a bearing: all this means is looking straight ahead and figuring out where you’re going, relative to magnetic north.
- Combining a map with a compass: This is your only sane option in the aforementioned fog bank. You put your compass on the map to find a heading telling you which way to turn (this is why most compasses are transparent).
- Declination: Your map is oriented to true north, but your compass points to magnetic north. Declination is the difference between the two: for instance, Northern California is a about 15 degrees away from true north, so you have to adjust your compass readings accordingly (though if you’re hiking on established, marked trails you’ll probably never really need to worry about this. But if you’re going overland with topographic maps, it’s vital. Failing to account for declination can throw you off by several miles.)
A site called Compass Dude has all you need to know about the specifics of reading a compass. Check it out, then get out there with a map and see how it all comes together.
Once you’re good at it, you can get into orienteering — the sport of finding one’s way without trails. Steve Sergeant at the WildeBeat has this intro at his podcast.
That is a great website. Thanks.
Permalink | Posted August 27th, 2008, at 8:37 pmActually, orienteering is not just for the advanced navigators. It’s a great way to learn navigation in the first place.
You can participate in a while-level orienteering course with no more knowledge or experience than the beginner’s clinic they offer at most orienteering meets.
There’s an orienteering meet in the bay area at least 3 times each month. That’s a lot of chances to practice.
Permalink | Posted August 28th, 2008, at 5:52 pmI love the tips here. About a month ago I bought a compass just in case I needed it. I haven’t used one since I was a kid, and was unsure if I was using my new one correctly. This article and the links helped me be sure, and I learned even more.
Up until now, my hikes have been relatively short. But just yesterday I went somewhere new and bigger, and found some use for my compass, and the information I learned here.
Permalink | Posted September 7th, 2008, at 3:47 pm“they break it out in the middle of said fog bank and realize they have no earthly idea which way to go”
I’ve found that if you start navigating only after you realize that you’re lost, it’s likely to be too late.
Even when you think it’s going to be an easy trip staying aware of where you are is important, and can help keep you engaged with your environment too.
Permalink | Posted October 28th, 2008, at 4:12 am