MAP & COMPASS

Learn how to acquire information from a map Learn how to use and navigate with a compass Learn how to plot a route on a map and apply it to the field with your compass Become comfortable relying on your map and compass skills in the woods. Objectives

Parts of a map Colours Name Index Edition Scale Glossary Grid square Grid reference Contour lines Mean declination Map Datum

Name

Edition Where else on your map can you find the edition?

Index for 1: map of Halifax # don’t always follow each other Which map would you choose?

Index for 1: maps for large area

Scales A reference for distances on a map we use maps with 1: scale and most commonly a 1: scale The chequered squares in front of the 0 are for smaller increments

1: :10 000

Glossary Symbols representing objects on a map NOTE: maps and their symbols can only be as accurate as the “map makers” can make them. The maps are made with from the data of that specific time period. When was your map made? North American Datum (NAD)? 1983

Glossary: Roads

Glossary: Symbols

Glossary: Waterways and woods

How do you determine where you are? Grid Squares The lines one your maps make squares called grid squares They help you find yourself more easily They can give you a very precise location Grid squares are always 1 km by 1km (Canadian maps)

How to use the Grid Squares UTM: Universal Transverse Mercator Grid Maps have horizontal and vertical grid lines (like latitude and longitude) Full grid numbers are found on the corners of the map (ex: left bottom corner northing and easting) Applicable grid numbers are found along the grid lines and correspond to the bold number

Grid numbers

Reading the grid square 1st Eastings: lines that describe your position eastward/westward, lines that are vertical 2nd Northings: lines that describe your position north/southward, lines that are horizontal To determine your grid square – start at the bottom left corner of the grid square and read ‘into’ it OR get into the elevator then go up OR jump over the line, then climb into the square

Grid Square 34_ 71_

Using a romer A B A = 47_ 68_B= 48_ 66_

MAP EXERCISE Describe what you find at the following grid references Hatchet Lake Campground Building Cochrans Island Dan Hill Water Tower

CONTOUR LINES Contour lines connect a series of areas of EQUAL ELEVATION and are used to illustrate relief and dept on a map

Contour line exercise

Contour lines can determine the direction of water flow Along waterways, contour lines form a ‘V’ shape The ‘V’ points toward the origin of the river, and therefore, The river flows away from its origin

Contour lines used to indicate direction of water flow

Water flow exercise Go to to McGrath Falls. There are two rivers north of it. Which direction is the river flowing from? Croucher Lake. There is a river south east of the lake. Which direction is the river flowing from? Why does the direction of river flow important?

COMPASS 360° dial with North sign Direction of travel arrow Index line Orienteering lines Magnetic needle Base plate Ruler Scales

Your compass

2 Ways to use your compass 1. Use it in the field To get a bearing of the direction you are travelling To orient yourself to a bearing you already have  Use the RED (action) arrow when you’re out being active!  Red in the Bed! 2. Use it to get your direction on a map ◦ Use the orienteering lines within the dial to line up with the lines on the map

Bearing = a number in degrees that depicts a direction (from a map or from a compass)

1. Taking a compass bearing in the field Hold your compass, cradled flat in your palm, in front and away from your body Ensure the direction of travel arrow (arrow on the base plate) is pointed at your target Turn the 360° dial until the Red Needle sits in the Red Bed (NOTE: this is North, but its not necessarily your bearing!) Read your ‘magnetic’ bearing at the “index line” on the dial (it may be the same as your direction of travel arrow)

Lets stand up and try it!

Back Bearing Put the RED in the opposite bed. You get the complete opposite bearing, and it should correlate with where you were just coming from.

Outside effects on a compass Anything magnetic Power lines Cell phones GPS Large amounts of metal Large metal objects Large metal veins in rocks

Map and Compass together! Map and Compass together!

1. Getting a bearing from a map ◦ Determine point A and B ◦ Draw a line ◦ Set the edge of your compass on the line **with your direction of travel arrow actually pointing towards your direction of travel !! ◦ Turn the dial – **with the North on the dial pointing North (top of map) – and line up the orienting lines with the gridlines on the map ◦ Read the bearing number at the index line (lines up with direction of travel arrow) ◦ This is a MAP bearing

ORIENTING MAP & COMPASS A B N

Other ways to get a MAP bearing Instead of using your compass to get the bearing, you can use a protractor. You can also use a transparent square grid. Using a ruler to calculate distance is very easy. 360°/0° 270° 90° 180°

Quick bearing taking 360°/0° 315° 45° 270° 90° 225° 135° 180°

MAP BEARING EXERCISE S F 12 = ______ S1 = ______ 23 = ______ 34 = ______ 4F = ______

True North vs Magnetic North There is a Rotational North/South Pole, and a Magnetic North/South Pole The magnetic pole is located on Prince of Wales Island in northern Canada (about latitude 73° N, longitude 100° W) The angle between the True North or Grid North and the Magnetic North is called the MEAN DECLINATION Notice that the declination can be towards the east or towards the west, and there is no declination close to western Ontario (Thunder Bay). The study of the planets magnetic fields is called Geomagnetism.

Mean Declination

How to apply Mean Declination In mainland Nova Scotia, we have an approximate 20° west ‘mean declination’ When we apply magnetic information (compass) to a map, we have to subtract that 20° When we apply map information to a compass, we have to add 20° MAP → +20 ° → MAGNETIC MAGNETIC → - 20 ° → MAP

4. Continue on original course Staying on course while going around barriers Direction of travel 20 ° 1. Stop at barrier 2. Pick landmark on other side 3. Walk around the landmark Direction of travel 20°

Going around trees

Staying on course while going around a barrier you can’t see through Direction of travel 20 ° Walk to barrier, and flag or mark point Check back bearing 200 ° Resume direction of travel 20 ° 290 ° 100 Paces 20 ° Until the barrier is cleared 110° 100 Paces

Map & Compass Field Exercises

Pacing: measuring how many steps you take to measure 100m. Triangles Straight navigation Pole navigation Navigating a pre-plotted course on a map (afternoon)

What you are looking for??

Good luck, have fun and be safe!! We will see you on Saturday morning at __________!!

Introduction to GPS’s Tool that can calculate your location on earth by reading satellite signals in the sky Advantages:can tell you where you are in grid numbers ◦ Can show you the path that you took ◦ Can input pre-determined locations, then allow the GPS to guide you to them Disadvantages: battery operated ◦ Needs access to satellite input (clouds, tree cover,…) ◦ Shows you the path, not the obstacles (unless you have a new model that has maps incorporated)

Introduction to woodslore Staying safe: what should you bring in with you ◦ Compass ◦ Fire tool (mandatory) ◦ Whistle (mandatory) ◦ Water ◦ Large orange garbage bag Water Leave no Trace

Triangulation “how to find yourself on a map” Triangulation requires good map reading skills. You need to be able to recognize landmarks out in the field, and relate them to symbols/points on your map. You pick three distinguishable landmarks, then take a compass bearing pointing at them, then mark them on your map. Where the three lines intersect, is where you are standing.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M 3 - gradual, consistent slope 5 (or 8) - draw or valley with stream 13 (or 4) - cliff face 12 - hill with ridge 9 - spurs on a mountainside 10 - a depression 4 (or 13) 7 - Steeper slope high, gradual low 1 - consistent slope 2 - gradual slope high, steeper low 11 - a saddle between two hills 8 (or 5) 6 - simple round hill