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Military, hunters, hikers and numerous others use i. There are tons of different types of maps, compasses and tools to use. So which is right? All of them.
My map and compass experience is mainly military minded. My terrain feature association is deeply embedded from my hunting days as a child where grandpa taught me coon hunting.
I use maps from USGS and several other sources from around the web. For local things in my GMHB I use county resources as well as a few cities and towns where I work, shop, hunt or might visit. I’m lucky in that I can simply follow the high lines from work to the house 2/3rds of the way which really simplified things should the roads be impassable.
I prefer a military lensatic compass with radioactive isotopes embedded.
When training folks I like to break it down into groups to learn of a few so that they can bounce ideas off each other. The goal is success unlike some military courses designed to wash out the weak.
I break it into categories of Maps, Land Terrain Features and compass work. Then finally put it all together.
Some things can be done in a living room while others require an outdoor area. My favorite outdoor area is the Wichita Mountains in SW Oklahoma. The terrain features are prominent and there are no trees to get in the way of viewing as we work. It’s a great place to start.
So what about phones, GPS and other electronics? Well they work great! Till they don’t. The same with the stars and the sun. So learn all the methods.
I’ll post more stuff as I go along and hopefully many others who I know have experience will jump in. I think everyone needs to know basics and in our group everyone learns.
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Other tools is to know direction of travel without compass.
If in local area make Mark’s to other special features not on most maps like caves , springs main animal trails. Cabins.
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Namelus is spot on. No one knows your AO like you so make the map yours provided your not giving away OPSEC.
You can use your own symbols or indiscriminate markings.
You should know directions without a compass in your own area.
My hunting map is riddled with markings and stuff so I can show others who are with me as we discuss and strategize.
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Pace count beads are helpful.
So as you start walking towards a point that you might not be able to see your going to have to keep track of how far you walked. In order to do this you need to know how many steps it takes you to walk 100 meters.
The mistake many make in this is they walk down a flat road with nothing and think that’s the pace count. You need to carry a pack, if your going to be when orienteering, and walk in in similar terrain. The difference could be as much as 10 steps. That’s not a lot for a few hundred meters but after a few miles or a whole day of hiking…The ranger beads/pace count beads will help you remember as you go.
When you walk 100 m you pull a bead down and at 9 you will run out and the next is a reset for 10 or 1K meters.If you will notice the maps shown have squares. Those squares represent 1K meters. This is why we do a count like this.
Clear as mud?
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I do a couple. One flat ground as is, another rolling terrain with pack and then one with steep terrain with pack.
There’s a notable difference especially as I age. It has definitely increased from the 20s army strong days.
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So in your own area how do you mark your trails?
Is it obvious or not so noticeable? Is it natural materials or man made? Is it long term or temporary?
There’s questions to answer first before doing it.
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