Map Reading Section 3 - B Continuation of Compass section
Finding your location Suppose you are lost and know that you are located someplace on this map You can see two mountains that show up on your map If you had the skill to measure the two lines as shown, you could find your location by the intersection of the two lines Let’s do it
Measure a Bearing Line up your compass with the red MN needle pointing towards the North sign on the compass Point the compass towards the top of the mountain Read the baring to the top of the mountain Do this for both mountains
You now have two bearings but You could be anyplace on the map
You know Round Mt is 180 o bearing from your location But, you don’t know your location You do know the location of Round Mt You are going to have to measure from Round Mt
Drawn a 138 o line from the top of Round Mt This line is going in the wrong direction You calculated the bearing from you to Round Mt, not the other way around
=318 You are off by 180 so do the math
Place a protractor on Round Mt and mark 318
= Draw a 318 o line from R.M.
I you don’t have a protractor when in the field, you can make one. Trace a water bottle or a compass onto a piece of paper
Draw the lines
=318 You have a magnetic bearing, but to draw on a map you have to convert
=318 TB = MB + D MB = TB - D = You now can draw your line
=318 TB = MB + D MB = TB - D = = –360 = = 26 Now do the other mountain
Additional Pointers Some compass's have a built in declination adjustment. You set the 10 o and the compass converts declination for you. Don’t forget to adjust this if you are not in CB. If using old maps, update the declination by using key words “magnetic declination “ on the internet. You must orient your map.
TN Orient the Map Once in the field you must orient the map. Place your compass on the map near the declination marking
TN MN Turn the map till the red line on your compass lines up with the grid on your map
TN MN The map is oriented with TN but if you don’t have declination built into your compass, you must turn the map more to line up with MN
TN MN Your map is now oriented You are ready to navigate
Traveling with a compass 1. Determine the bearing you will travel. 2. Select a landmark in the distance that lines up with the bearing. This can be a mountain, or in the dark it could be a partner with a light. 3. Travel towards the distant landmark … this prevents you from always looking at the compass. 4. Occasionally check the compass and select a new target when necessary. 4. When going around an obstacle (such as a pond or a hill) select a landmark on the other side. 5. Travel to the landmark and when you arrive select a new landmark as your target. 6. You can use time to measure the distance traveled … you can travel about 1 to 2 miles per hour on a trail but less than this if you are bushwhacking.
End of Compass Section Next section G. P. S. Global Positioning System