MAP AND COMPASS Learning the Basics

MAP AND COMPASS Topographic Maps Where things are and how to get to them Describe the shape of the land Define and locate natural and man made features Distance between two places Direction from one point to another A topographic map tells you where things are and how to get to them, whether you’re hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, or just interested in the world around you. These maps describe the shape of the land. They define and locate natural and man made features like woodlands, waterways, important buildings, and bridges. They show the distance from one point to another. DIRECTIONS North is toward the top of most maps. The bottom is south, the left side is west, and the right side is east. A map often will have a true-north arrow in its margin. DISTANCES Bar scales can be used for measuring feet, meters, and miles on a map. SCALE The scale of a map compares its size to the size of the area it represents. A map scale shown in the margin as 1:24,000 means one unit of distance on that map (an inch, for example) equals 24,000 like units of distance on the ground (24,000 inches in this example). DATE A map’s date tells when it was drawn or last revised. An older map will not show new buildings, roads, trails, or other changes on that land.

MAP AND COMPASS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP SYMBOLS Primary highway Overpass - Underpass Secondary highway Buildings Light-duty road School -- church Woodland Unimproved road Trail Orchard TOPOGRAPHIC MAP SYMBOLS Most topographic maps are multicolored, and each color has a special meaning. In general, Black is used to show man-made features; railroads, buildings, trails, boundaries, locations names. Blue indicates water; streams, marshes, lakes. Green areas are covered with forests or shrubs, while white stands for open country of meadows, talus slopes, beaches, and alpine tundra. Red is reserved for improved roads and for grid lines and numbers that, when used with a compass, can improve the accuracy of your navigation. Railroad: single track Scrub Railroad: double track Well water – spring Bridge Rapids Tunnel March (swamp) Footbridge Falls

MAP AND COMPASS Map Problem ANSWER 4. At I. Because I is scrub woods. U is an orchard Problem 5. Which trail would you take – J or K? Why? PROBLEM 6. Which is the easier way to reach P – Trail L or M? Why? ANSWER 6. The closer contour lines of M show a steeper climb. PROBLEM 4. Where would you most likely find firewood – I or U? Why? ANSWER 5. K. J goes through a swamp. PROBLEM 3.Would you cross the river at G or H? Why? PROBLEM 1. For local information or in case of emergency would you go to B, C, or D? Why? It’s July. Let’s suppose you’re starting a hike at A and heading for Q. ANSWER 3. Use the footbridge at G. H is a railroad bridge. ANSWER 1. C has telephone lines next to it. B is a school and probably closed in summer. D is a cemetery. PROBLEM 2.The Wahootchee River flows NW to SE. To paddle downstream, would it be safer to launch canoes at E or F. Why? ANSWER 2. Launch them at F. The map shows rapids between E and F. MAP PROBLEM For local information or in case of emergency would you go to B, C, or D. Why? Ans: C. Telephone lines next to it. B is a school and probably closed in summer. D is a cemetery. The Wahootchee River flows NW to SE. To paddle downstream, would it be safer to launch canoes at E or F. Why? Ans: Launch them at F. The map shows rapids between E and F. Would you cross the river at G or H? Why? Ans: Use the footbridge at G. H is a railroad bridge. Where would you most likely find firewood – I or U? Why? Ans: At I. Because I is scrub woods. U is an orchard. Which Trail would you take – J or K? Why? Ans: K. J goes through a swamp. Which is the easier way to reach P – Trail L or M? Why? Ans: The closer contour lines of M show a steeper climb.

Direction of Travel Arrow Orienting Arrow and fluorescent dots MAP AND COMPASS Direction of Travel Arrow Magnifying Glass Dial or Graduation ring Bearing Index In the early 1940’s, world famous orienteer Björn Kjellström, founder of Silva, Inc. in North America, worked with the Boy Scouts of America, as well as a variety of orienteering clubs to promote map and compass use in overnight backpacking, dayhiking, hunting and orienteering. Tungsten Steel needle with friction free sapphire jeweled bearing. Liquid filled capsule, with permanently clear anti-static liquid dampening, stops the needle in less that 4 seconds. Ultrasonically welded, waterproof. Ergonomic and comfortable, hand contoured base plate is distortion-free so you see map details clearly. Red orienting arrow for a “Red to North Red” needle match quickly gives the right direction. USGS map scale. Non-radioactive luminous points. Direction of travel arrow. Magnifying lens for viewing map details. Declination correction scale. Rotating dial with Index Line sets the course. 2° Graduations. Guaranteed to function accurately in temperatures from -40°F to +140°F. Compass needle – Red points North Orienting Arrow and fluorescent dots North-south lines or orienting lines

THE SYLVA SYSTEM – Easy as 1-2-3 MAP AND COMPASS THE SYLVA SYSTEM – Easy as 1-2-3 Point the baseplate to your destination Point the baseplate to your destination – Orient the map to north and place your compass on the map with the edge along the desired line of travel.

THE SYLVA SYSTEM – Easy as 1-2-3 MAP AND COMPASS THE SYLVA SYSTEM – Easy as 1-2-3 Set Compass Heading Set Compass Heading -- Turn the compass Dial until “N” points to the North on your map. Your direction in degrees is read at the Index Line on the Dial.

THE SYLVA SYSTEM – Easy as 1-2-3 MAP AND COMPASS THE SYLVA SYSTEM – Easy as 1-2-3 Follow Your Heading Follow Your Heading – Remove the compass from the map and hold it level, so the Magnetic Needle is free to turn. Turn your body until the red end of the Needle aligns with the Orienting Arrow and “N” on the Dial. Using the Direction of Travel Arrow, sight a distant landmark and move to it. Repeat this process until you reach your destination.

MAP AND COMPASS