Silver Training Compass use Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award

Bearings / Using a Compass Often when tramping, a map and good map-reading skills are all you need to navigate between two points. This method works well in most cases, however occasionally you become unsure of where you are on the map and need another means of confirming your location. This can happen when the area you are travelling in is flat, featureless bush or a loss of visibility in mist or fog has occurred.

“Red in the shed” means that the red part of the magnetic needle should be ppointint to the red North on the dial – ie pointing to magnetic North Remember - Not all compasses look the same – some have green magnetic arrows etc

Bearings – Taking a bearing to a feature If you get a temporary look at your next target, take a magnetic bearing using a compass and use that to navigate to that point when you can’t see it. Hold the compass steady at chest level and point the direction of travel arrow at the feature Rotate the adjustable dial until the orientating arrow lies directly beneath the north end of the magnetic needle and “N” is at the magnetic needle point (red in the shed) The magnetic bearing is now set on the compass and may be read from the adjustable dial at the index line

Bearings – Following a bearing / course Sometimes it is a good idea to monitor your position as you travel, particularly when crossing featureless ground with no defined track markings. Use a compass to calculate and then follow those bearings. The angle between North and a direction line is measured in degrees clockwise Be careful not to change the settings on the compass accidentally.

Bearings – Remember TRUE NORTH is the direction towards the Earth’s geographic North Pole. This never changes position GRID NORTH is the direction of the vertical lines on a topographical map. Used when measuring bearings on a map. MAGNETIC NORTH is the direction in which the magnetic compass needle points. Ie towards the North Magnetic Pole which is in Canada.

Bearings – Travel on a Magnetic bearing Hold the compass steady in the palm of your hand and turn yourself and the compass until the north end of the compass needle lies directly above the orientating arrow and points to ‘N’ on the adjustable dial (red in the shed). The direction of travel arrow now points the way you want to go. As you travel, keep adjusting your direction so the magnetic needle is still properly lined up and follow the direction of travel indicated

Bearings – pick an object If visibility is reduced, pick an object you can see that is on the right bearing, and head for that. Then pick another object and so on….. Another technique is to have the person with the compass directly behind another person. The person with the compass keeps the front person on the right course.

Bearings – Back bearings Used when - you want to return to your starting point - you want to check the accuracy of your travel by looking back - you want to realign yourself with your bearing after a detour With the compass set at your current location (red in the shed) rotate the compass so as the other end of the red needle is now in the shed. You should now be facing in the direction you have just come from.

Bearings – following a map bearing You do not need to orientate your map for this method. Find where you are on the map, and where you want to go. Place compass on map with the long edge of the base plate along the next stage of the route, and the direction of travel arrow pointing towards your destination Rotate the adjustable dial until the orientating lines are parallel to the north-south grid lines on the map, and the orientating arrow pointing to the top of the map (grid north). The reading on the dial at the index line shows the grid bearing to your destination Now subtract the magnetic variation from that figure to give you the correct bearing to follow. Turn compass round and keep red in shed – follow the direction of travel arrow.