Orienteering Techniques
Orienteering is the practice of finding your way with only a map and compass. It is used in the military, and by hikers and backpackers.
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Compass
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A compass is a tool used by orienteers to find true north and take a bearing. It is usually comprised of a magnetic needle suspended inside a graduated dial.
Topographical Map
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Unlike a road map or atlas that show a flat representation of a specific piece of land, topographical maps show the contours, or rising mountains and sloping valleys, giving orienteers a much clearer idea of what the land looks like.
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Declination
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Declination is the difference between "true north," meaning the North Pole, and the North Magnetic Pole in Canada. Orienteering maps will usually note this difference in degrees somewhere in the margin.
Taking a Bearing
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To take a compass bearing in the field, lay the compass flat in your hand with the direction arrow pointing directly toward your land mark. Turn the dial on the compass until the "N" marked on the dial lines up with the red end on the needle.
Pace
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Orienteers measure their pace, or the amount of steps it takes them to cover 1,000 meters while walking, before going into the field. This allows them to calculate distance as they travel.
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References
- Photo Credit Creativecommons.org
