Navigation Skills Using Maps and Compasses in the Wilderness

I used to think I was invincible in the wilderness. Armed with my smartphone’s GPS and a vague memory of how to read a map from my Boy Scout days, I’d venture into the back country without a second thought.

That is, until the day my phone died halfway through a week-long trek in the Rockies, leaving me utterly lost and terrified.

It was a humbling experience that taught me the true value of traditional navigation skills. Now, I never set foot on a trail without a topographic map and compass in my pack, and the knowledge to use them effectively.

The Foundations of Wilderness Navigation

Wilderness navigation needs understanding your position in relation to your surroundings and your destination. This involves a combination of tools and skills that work together to keep you on track.

Topographic Maps: Your Window to the Terrain

Topographic maps are essential for wilderness navigation. These detailed representations of the landscape use contour lines to show elevation changes, providing a three-dimensional picture of the terrain on a two-dimensional surface.

Reading these maps is crucial. Contour lines that are close together show steep terrain, while those spaced farther apart represent gentler slopes.

This information helps when planning routes and anticipating challenging sections of your path.

Always check the map’s date and confirm you have the most recent version available. Landscapes can change over time because of natural events or human activity.

Understanding Contour Lines

Contour lines connect points of equal elevation on a map. The spacing between these lines indicates the steepness of the terrain:

1. Closely spaced lines represent steep slopes
2. Widely spaced lines show gentle slopes
3. Evenly spaced lines show a uniform slope

Contour intervals, the vertical distance between adjacent contour lines, vary depending on the map. Common intervals are 20, 40, or 80 feet.

Always check the map legend for this information.

Map Symbols and Features

Topographic maps use a variety of symbols to represent natural and man-made features:

• Blue lines and shapes represent water features (rivers, lakes, streams)
• Green areas typically show vegetation (forests, grasslands)
• Black symbols often represent man-made structures (buildings, roads, trails)
• Brown lines are contour lines showing elevation

Familiarize yourself with these symbols before heading out. Practice identifying features on a map of a familiar area to build your skills.

The Trusty Compass: Your Directional Guide

While maps show you where you are, compasses tell you which way you’re facing. A baseplate compass, with it’s rotating bezel marked in degrees, is the most versatile tool for wilderness navigation.

One of the most important concepts to grasp is magnetic declination – the angular difference between true north and magnetic north. This varies depending on your location and can significantly affect your navigation if not accounted for.

Many modern compasses have adjustable declination settings. Learn how to set this correctly for your area to confirm accurate readings.

Parts of a Compass

Understanding the components of your compass is crucial:

1. Baseplate: The clear, flat bottom of the compass
2. Direction of travel arrow: Points the way you want to go
3. Rotating bezel: Marked in degrees, used for taking bearings
4. Magnetic needle: The red end always points to magnetic north
5. Orienting arrow: Used to align the bezel with magnetic north

Setting Declination

To set declination on an adjustable compass:

1. Find the declination for your area (usually noted on topographic maps)
2. Locate the declination adjustment screw on your compass
3. Turn the screw to move the orienting arrow the fix number of degrees east or west

Remember to reset the declination when traveling to a new area with different magnetic properties.

Putting It All Together: Map and Compass Navigation

Now that we understand our tools, let’s explore how to use them together effectively.

Taking a Bearing

1. Orient your map to true north using your compass
2. Identify your current location and your destination on the map
3. Place the edge of your compass along the line between these two points
4. Rotate the compass housing until the orienting lines align with the north-south grid lines on the map
5. Read the bearing at the index line of your compass

Following a Bearing

1. Hold the compass flat in front of you with the direction of travel arrow pointing away from your body
2. Rotate your body until the magnetic needle aligns with the orienting arrow in the compass housing
3. The direction of travel arrow now points in the direction of your bearing

Triangulation: Pinpointing Your Location

If you’re unsure of your exact position, triangulation can help. This technique involves taking bearings on two or more known landmarks and plotting them on your map.

The point where these lines intersect is your approximate location.

To triangulate your position:

1. Identify at least two distinct landmarks you can see both in person and on your map
2. Take a bearing to each landmark using your compass
3. Convert these magnetic bearings to true bearings by accounting for declination
4. Draw lines on your map from each landmark along the back bearing (opposite direction)
5. Your location is where these lines intersect

Practice triangulation in familiar areas before relying on it in the wilderness. It takes time to master but can be invaluable when you’re truly lost.

Challenges and Solutions in Wilderness Navigation

Even with the right tools and knowledge, wilderness navigation can present unique challenges. Here are some common issues and how to overcome them:

Featureless Terrain

In areas like deserts or snow-covered landscapes, it can be difficult to find distinguishing features. In these situations, dead reckoning becomes crucial.

This involves keeping track of your direction and distance traveled from a known point.

Solution: Use pacing to estimate distance. Count your steps and know how many it takes you to cover 100 meters.

Combine this with careful compass work to maintain your course.

Improving Your Pacing

To improve your pacing:

1. Measure out a 100-meter course on flat ground
2. Walk the course several times, counting your steps
3. Calculate your average number of steps per 100 meters
4. Practice on different terrains to understand how slope affects your pace

Remember that fatigue, heavy packs, and difficult terrain will affect your pace. It’s often better to underestimate your distance traveled when navigating in challenging conditions.

Dense Forest

Thick vegetation can limit visibility and make it hard to spot landmarks or maintain a straight course.

Solution: Use handrails – linear features like rivers or ridgelines – to guide your travel. Take frequent compass readings to confirm you’re not veering off course.

Using Handrails Effectively

Handrails can be natural or man-made features that run parallel to your intended direction of travel. They might include:

• Rivers or streams
• Ridgelines or valley bottoms
• Trails or roads
• Power lines or fence lines

When using a handrail:

1. Identify the feature on your map and in the terrain
2. Determine which side of the feature you should stay on
3. Use your compass to maintain a general direction parallel to the handrail
4. Periodically check your position relative to the handrail

This technique can be especially useful in low-visibility conditions or when traveling through dense vegetation.

Magnetic Anomalies

In some areas, local magnetic fields can interfere with compass readings.

Solution: Be aware of areas known for magnetic anomalies. If possible, use many navigation techniques to cross-check your direction.

Identifying and Dealing with Magnetic Anomalies

Magnetic anomalies can be caused by:

• Large metal deposits
• Electrical equipment or power lines
• Some types of rock formations

Signs you might be experiencing a magnetic anomaly:

1. Your compass needle moves erratically
2. Readings change significantly over short distances
3. Your compass doesn’t agree with other navigation methods

If you suspect a magnetic anomaly:

1. Move away from the area if possible
2. Take many readings from different locations
3. Rely more heavily on map reading and terrain association
4. Use celestial navigation if conditions allow

Advanced Techniques for the Seasoned Navigator

As you become more comfortable with basic navigation, you can start incorporating more advanced techniques:

Celestial Navigation

Using the sun, stars, and other celestial bodies to decide direction and location. This can be particularly useful when visibility is good and you have a clear view of the sky.

Basic Solar Navigation

The sun’s position can give you a general sense of direction:

• In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is due south at solar noon
• In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s due north at solar noon

To find solar noon:

1. Check sunrise and sunset times for your location
2. Calculate the midpoint between these times

Remember that this method is approximate and varies with latitude and time of year.

Star Navigation

In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star (Polaris) can be used to find true north:

1. Locate the Big Dipper constellation
2. Find the two stars at the front edge of the Big Dipper’s “bowl”
3. Draw an imaginary line through these stars and extend it about five times the distance between them
4. This line will lead you to Polaris

In the Southern Hemisphere, the Southern Cross can be used to find south:

1. Locate the Southern Cross constellation
2. Draw an imaginary line through the long axis of the cross
3. Extend this line about 4.5 times the length of the cross
4. Drop an imaginary line straight down from this point to the horizon

This point indicates approximate south.

Natural Navigation

Learning to read nature’s signs can complement your map and compass skills. This includes understanding how certain plants grow in relation to the sun, or how prevailing winds shape trees.

Reading Tree Growth Patterns

In many areas, prevailing winds can shape trees:

• Trees may lean away from the prevailing wind direction
• Branches may be more developed on the leeward side

In the Northern Hemisphere, southern slopes often receive more sunlight:

• Trees on southern slopes may have fuller growth on their southern side
• Northern slopes may have denser vegetation because of retained moisture

Moss and Lichen Growth

While the old adage that moss always grows on the north side of trees isn’t universally true, it can be a helpful indicator in some regions:

• In the Northern Hemisphere, moss often grows more abundantly on the north side of trees and rocks
• This is because of the north side receiving less direct sunlight, creating a cooler, moister environment

Remember that local conditions can significantly affect moss growth. Always use many indicators when navigating by natural signs.

While these techniques can be valuable, always use them in conjunction with your map and compass, not as a replacement.

Exercises to Hone Your Skills

Map Symbol Scavenger Hunt

Grab a topographic map of your local area and try to find as many different map symbols as you can in the real world. This exercise helps you connect map symbols to actual landscape features, improving your map reading skills.

1. Choose a small area on your map (about 1 square mile)
2. List all the different symbols you see in this area
3. Go to the location and try to identify each feature in person
4. Note any discrepancies between the map and reality

This exercise improves your map reading and teaches you to be observant of your surroundings.

Compass Course

Set up a course in a local park with several waypoints. Practice navigating between them using only your compass.

This helps you become more comfortable with taking and following bearings.

1. Choose 5-10 distinct features in a park or open area
2. Mark these as waypoints on a simple hand-drawn map
3. Starting at one point, use your compass to navigate to each subsequent point
4. Record the bearing and estimated distance for each leg of your progress
5. Compare your results with actual measurements

As you improve, try this exercise in more challenging terrain or with longer distances between waypoints.

Micro-Navigation Challenge

Choose a small area (about 1 square kilometer) and practice navigating to specific features using your map and compass. This exercise hones your ability to read fine details on a map and translate them to the real world.

1. Select a small, feature-rich area on your topographic map
2. Identify 10-15 small features (boulders, trail junctions, small ponds)
3. Plot a course that takes you to each feature in a specific order
4. Navigate this course using only your map and compass
5. Time yourself and try to improve your speed and accuracy with practice

This exercise is particularly useful for orienteering and other precision navigation activities.

Night Navigation

With proper safety precautions, try navigating a simple, familiar route at night using your compass and a headlamp. This challenges you to rely more heavily on your compass skills and teaches you to navigate in low-visibility conditions.

1. Choose a safe, familiar area with clear boundaries
2. Plan a simple route with 3-5 waypoints
3. Navigate this route during the day to familiarize yourself
4. Return at night and attempt to follow the same route
5. Use only your compass and a dim light source

Always prioritize safety when practicing night navigation. Bring a buddy, tell others of your plans, and carry emergency equipment.

Create a Mental Map

Before consulting your physical map, try to draw a rough map of your surroundings from memory. This helps develop your spatial awareness and terrain association skills.

1. Spend 10-15 minutes observing your surroundings
2. Without looking at a map, sketch the area including key features and landmarks
3. Note estimated distances and directions between features
4. Compare your mental map to an actual map of the area
5. Identify areas where your perception was accurate and where it needs improvement

This exercise trains you to be more observant and to create mental maps as you travel, a valuable skill in emergency situations.

Key Takeaways

1. Always carry a map and compass, and know how to use them
2. Understand and account for magnetic declination in your area
3. Practice triangulation to pinpoint your location
4. Use many navigation techniques to cross-check your position and direction
5. Regularly practice your navigation skills, even in familiar areas

People Also Asked

How do I read a topographic map?

Topographic maps use contour lines to show elevation changes. Closely spaced lines show steep terrain, while widely spaced lines represent gentler slopes.

Familiarize yourself with map symbols representing features like water bodies, vegetation, and man-made structures.

What’s the difference between true north and magnetic north?

True north is the direction towards the Earth’s geographic North Pole, while magnetic north is where a compass needle points. The angular difference between these is called magnetic declination, which varies depending on your location.

How do I adjust for magnetic declination?

Many compasses have an adjustable declination setting. Find the declination for your area (usually noted on topographic maps), then use the adjustment screw on your compass to move the orienting arrow the fix number of degrees east or west.

What’s the best compass for wilderness navigation?

A baseplate compass with a rotating bezel marked in degrees is versatile for wilderness navigation. Look for features like a clear baseplate, a magnifying lens, and luminous markings for low-light conditions.

How can I navigate without a compass?

Natural navigation techniques include using the sun’s position, star patterns, and observing natural signs like tree growth patterns or prevailing wind effects. However, these methods should supplement, not replace, map and compass skills.

What’s triangulation in navigation?

Triangulation is a technique to pinpoint your location by taking bearings on two or more known landmarks and plotting them on your map. The point where these lines intersect is your approximate location.

How do I take a bearing with a compass?

To take a bearing, point the direction of travel arrow on your compass at your target. Rotate the compass housing until the needle aligns with the orienting arrow.

The number at the index line is your bearing.

What should I do if I get lost in the wilderness?

If you get lost, stop moving and stay calm. Use the STOP acronym: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan.

Try to decide your last known location, use your map and compass to orient yourself, and look for recognizable landmarks.

How can I practice navigation skills in urban areas?

You can practice navigation skills in urban areas by creating compass courses in parks, doing map symbol scavenger hunts in your neighborhood, or trying to navigate to specific locations using only a map and compass.

What’s the importance of declination in compass navigation?

Declination is crucial because it can significantly affect your navigation if not accounted for. Even a few degrees of error can lead you far off course over long distances.

Always adjust for declination to confirm accurate compass readings.