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#86614 - 01/09/08 08:51 AM using a compass
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I did a search for a post I read on the basics of using a compass and map, but cant seem to find. Like what if the batteries fail on the GPS. Need to hone my old forgotten skill.
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#86615 - 01/09/08 08:55 AM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
midnightsun03 Offline
member

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 2936
Loc: Alaska
Chaz...

Did you set the search engine to search posts from the last YEAR? The default is to search the last week.

MNS
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#86616 - 01/09/08 09:18 AM Re: using a compass [Re: midnightsun03]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Yes, Using a compass. Newer that 1 week and older than 1 year. ??
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#86617 - 01/09/08 09:24 AM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
midnightsun03 Offline
member

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 2936
Loc: Alaska
Newer than 1 year, period.
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#86618 - 01/09/08 09:30 AM Re: using a compass [Re: midnightsun03]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
thanks, I daft like that sometimes. Maybe I should carry a compass all the time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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#86619 - 01/09/08 10:00 AM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
also, eliminate the word "a" in your search. It will find EVERY post that has "a". <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
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#86620 - 01/09/08 10:27 PM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Chaz, there are a couple of websites with basic compass lessons. Also, the Sierra Club has a book called Land Navigation that is pretty good.
compass lesson

Learn orienteering
This site is pretty good too. A guy in Norway owns the site and put up the lessons.
another compass site

There are more sites-use "learn to use a compass" as your search terms on Yahoo.


Edited by TomD (01/09/08 10:51 PM)
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#86621 - 01/10/08 03:41 AM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
leadfoot Offline
member

Registered: 07/16/03
Posts: 954
Loc: Virginia
Also try an orienteering meet. If you didn't have compass skills going in, you'll have it by the end of the run. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

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#86622 - 01/10/08 10:36 AM Re: using a compass [Re: TomD]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Thanks Tom for the links. It's been many years since I was a boy sprout and have forgotten the basics of the most usefull tool of all.
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#86623 - 01/10/08 05:32 PM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
Xelif Offline
member

Registered: 07/04/07
Posts: 241
Loc: Bay Area, California, USA
In the right weather you can really give your compass a workout. I was on a local mountain and it was a complete fog-out, unable to see more than about 20 feet sometimes. I felt pretty weird not knowing which way was north!

Learn to use it, then go out in heavy fog <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> close to home <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
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#86624 - 01/10/08 06:56 PM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
One suggestion: Before you study the specifics of a map and compass, study some physics and physical geography. Learn (relearn) how the magnetic fields of the earth work. Once you have a grasp on that it's much easier to understand why a compass works, especially with declination.

As with most endeavors, learn concepts before specifics.

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#86625 - 01/10/08 09:49 PM Re: using a compass [Re: chaz]
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
Chaz,

Try "Be Expert With Map and Compass" by Bjorn Kellstrom. He invented the protractor (Silva) compass and literally "wrote the book" on its use.


If, on the off chance, you have a military style lensatic compass you'll be better off using a military manual for understanding the exact use of it, though Kellstrom's book is still a great guide for common orienteering problems.

Eric
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#86626 - 01/11/08 04:40 PM Re: using a compass [Re: Trailrunner]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
Both Trailrunner and 300winmag make valid points as well as other posters here. Book learning only goes so far especially with a topic such as this, best to go afield.
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