Reminder

[toolman]

I was reading an article in a Missouri Hunting magazine and I thought this was a good time to remind everyone that if you are going on a hike anywhere, to be sure take some basic survival gear with you and a little food and water.

Some Basic knowledge of survival camping will go along way with the gear to keep you alive to be found by searchers.


". . Be sure to have a good map on hand before wandering into the big woods. I live not far from the area and recall that not so many years ago a deer hunter got turned around on a late-season hunt and was caught in a sudden winter storm. It took several days for searchers to find his frozen remains, which were relatively close to his truck but off the established path."

Jerry

[the hunter]

also if your out there just to enjoy the wild life be sure and were bight orange to be seen and not mistaken for a animal

[deleted]

I just picked up a compass yesterday. Now I have to learn how to read/use it.

[DezPrado]

I just picked up a compass yesterday. Now I have to learn how to read/use it.

Well said!
The number of people I have come across in the hills that have a map & compass with them, but don't know how to use them correctly together is
nothing short of astounding. Might as well save the weight, and leave them at home. Hope you enjoy picking up your new skills

[Kody]

Just my 2 cents worth. When you buy your map, look for a Topographical map of the area you will be traversing in. Get one that has as much information as possible and one that is drawn in a scale that shows the most detail. I can't remember what scale my maps are and I can't find them without a major search. You can also download an explanation of all the symbols on the map if you don't know what they are or what they mean. There is a "Legend" at the bottom of all the maps that does explain almost every symbol but the one you need may not be in the legend. For the best security, learn how to read the topographical maps and definitely learn how to use a compass. There are some compasses that cost around $150.00 to over $200.00 and one of these precision types is the one to get. I can very highly recommend the Suunto compass displayed in this website below. You will not be disappointed with this compass

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/produ ... 052&shop=1

I used a very similar compass (it may have been the same one?) when I was surveying an Island many years ago. These are very precise in displaying the bearings and very easy to use. You can back this up with a cheaper model for about $25.00 or $35.00. If you can afford the extra cost, buy the Suunto.

Kody

[toolman]

Stacie,

Maybe you can find a class in orienteering near you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orienteering

Who knows, maybe you will find a new sport you really enjoy.

Best regards,

Jerry

I just picked up a compass yesterday. Now I have to learn how to read/use it.

[deleted]

Thank you for the responses! I'm definitely now on track to find the best maps and am committed to learning how to use the compass. LOL it's funny that often you leave a comment on these boards and nobody really acknowledges it. Then you leave a comment you don't expect anyone to reply to and people do

The orienteering sounds fun! I've always done pretty well at reading maps in general and have a good sense of direction even without a map.

[Bogo]

On orienteering. Keep track of where you are as you hike. It makes it much easier to know where you are. Look ahead along the trail on the map, and look for features you may pass. Note them as you pass them.

[Fenlason]

In Sea kayaking.. I learned to also periodically look behind you. One's landmarks can look very different when on the return trip, than they did on the way out.

[deleted]

I love this thread!

Thank you both for the additional tips. They're great!

LOL Glenn I had to do a double take where I was when I saw you here. You may need orienteering to find your way back to our usual thread

[Fenlason]

I love this thread!

Thank you both for the additional tips. They're great!

LOL Glenn I had to do a double take where I was when I saw you here. You may need orienteering to find your way back to our usual thread

[stumphugger]

I've spent 30+ years in the woods. The thing that I do and it is natural by now to do, is I notice things like a weird looking stump, or a rock, or something that sticks out, and then seeing that on the way back is reassuring. Most of the country around here is up and down and the creeks are so brushy and nasty that you do not want to follow them. Our elk make some nice trails but they don't always go in the direction we want to go. Nor can elk cut the down trees out of their way.

Remember, compasses will point to magnetic north, not true north unless you adjust them or do some math. That's called declination. I have a Brunton compass. It was fairly cheap, under $25 and can be set for the local declination.

I will confess. I used a map and compass to navigate and discovered a super secret huckleberry patch. Since then, I've tried to re-find it without a map and compass and have failed. I guess it is too secret to find again. Now, I'll have to find the map if I want to find it again...where is the map???

[Corwin C]

This is a good site to teach compass use. It covers basic, intermediate, advanced, and expert land navigation. http://www.landnavigation.org/Pages/default.aspx

The instructions are specific to a military lensatic compass, but the techniques apply to any compass.

[tony.latham]

Well... I've spent forty years in the hills (of Idaho and Alaska) professionally. I haven't taken a compass out since, let me think, maybe 1984 or 85? When I'm going off trail, the main thing I want to do is find my truck when I'm heading back. I carry a GPS and strongly believe in it. A compass and USGS topo? Yeah, maybe in the old days. Not anymore. I do believe in dragging a topo map along. You can download 'em from the net.

TL

[Vedette]

GPS!
Yes, we are in a the days of modern technology.
Using a GPS makes using a map almost un necessary. Unless you like to look at the big picture.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi