Top Tips For Successful Backcountry Navigation
Chuck Fitzgerald
As an outdoor enthusiast you will at some point make a decision
to learn how to navigate in the backcountry. Whether you use a
map, compass, GPS receiver or all three, there are several
things you should know about successful navigation. Your
safety and the safety of your companions depend upon it.
Backcountry activities such as hiking, orienteering, hunting,
climbing, geocaching, fishing, four-wheeling and camping are
all loads of fun - until you get lost. That’s why you should
know how to navigate. But navigation doesn’t start when you
find yourself hopelessly lost. Navigation begins BEFORE your
adventure begins so that you don’t place yourself in harm’s
way. Let’s take a look at the top tips for successful off road
navigation.
The first three tips pertain to getting ready to go:
* Prepare your body. I cannot overstate the necessity for
proper preparation. If you are not in good physical condition
when you begin your adventure, you are placing yourself in
danger. No matter what your current physical conditioning is -
improve it before you start. An exhausted body will negate any
acquired navigational skills.
* Prepare your mind. If you are using tools, and you should
be, such as a map, a compass or a GPS Unit make sure you know
how to use them. In order of priority: Maps are most
important to understand and use, proper use of a magnetic
needle compass is next and finally a GPS unit. Do not rely
solely on your GPS. GPS’s only work well when you’re moving
and they don’t work at all with dead batteries. Take a class
on using your compass with a map. It is not only interesting,
it is also a required life skill for the outdoor enthusiast.
* Have a plan and tell someone about it. Whenever you go into
the vast backcountry, be sure to tell someone back home where
you plan on going, how you plan on getting there and when
you’ll be back. If you break your leg, it would be nice if
help could find you.
Now that you are a prepared navigator, you’re ready to go.
Here are the remaining tips:
* Trust your compass. Many people get lost by trusting their
“instincts” instead of their compass.
* Always orient your map to the landscape. The best way to do
this is to orient North on the map with the North bearing on
your compass. I also face north when making directional
decisions off of a map. A miss-oriented map can easily lead to
confusion.
* Be sure of your Declination. The difference between True
North and magnetic north is called your declination. This is
critical for accurate compass use. If you don’t understand
declination, you weren’t paying attention in your map/compass
class. If your map is fairly new, use the declination value on
the map and adjust your compass as required. If your map is
older than 5 years…you’re not very well prepared. Most modern
GPS Units calculate the declination value for you. This value
should match the value on your map.
* Always measure for yourself. You’ve prepared for your trip,
now you should use what you learned. Bearing (direction of
travel) and distance (number of steps or lapsed time) are the
two most important measurements to you when traveling in the
backcountry. Always measure for yourself, do not rely on
anyone else for this. If your partner comes up with something
different, sort it out. If you come up with the same thing as
your partner, then move on in confidence.
* Never travel at night. Although a star lit sky can offer
accurate navigational data, traveling at night is risky. Only
experienced travelers should travel after dark. The major risk
of traveling at night is injury. It is difficult to judge
“footfall” distances and terrain in the dark.
* Keep a log book. If you are traveling from station to
station (map feature to map feature) keep a written log of the
bearing and distance decisions you’ve made. This will aid you
in recovering from navigational errors and will also aid you in
returning to a known location.
* If you think you’re lost S.T.O.P. Oftentimes admitting you
are lost is the toughest thing to do. It is also the most
important thing you can do. Once you’re lost, Sit, Think,
Observe and Plan. S.T.O.P. will save you.
Some final thoughts:
* It’s OK to write on your map.
* You should know how many steps you take to travel 100 yards.
Write this number down on your map and in your log book.
* When a new land feature presents itself to you, compare it
to your map.
* Keep your compass hanging around your neck, not in your
pack.
* Never use your compass on the hood of your car or truck.
Compass accuracy is adversely effected by metal objects.
* Always travel with extra batteries for your GPS.
* Pay attention to natural and manmade features such as fence
lines, power lines, railroad tracks, ridges, valleys and
rivers.
Backcountry activities are fun…until you get lost. That’s why
you should know how to navigate. Take a map reading class,
read an orienteering book and practice. Like most life
skills, navigating in the backcountry is easy to learn. Use
this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get
Outdoors!
Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona
based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the
“Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor
enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely
educational information. Please visit
http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to
receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir.” (800)
316-9055.
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