Duane, A question. Lets say in your story that you reached into your pocket and there was a new compass put there by your significant other before you left home. How would you use it to find your way back? Jim
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Jim, first no SO. Assuming I found the compass after I had camped and knew where I was, but snow prevented me from seeing very far to get back and the tracks were covered, I could get my coordinates in relation to where I needed to go using my map, send my partner out ahead of me in the direction of travel on the correct tangent, have him stop in the line of travel, I would then move up to him, repeat. Very little compass use so I'll have to go by feel here. If I was alone and could use or see some trees, I would use the trees or prominent rock features or the like. The one time we did such a thing was in the Survival class and I thought it was too simple. I know there is more to plotting things out, declination and so forth but never have taken a class or been shown.
Duane OK Fair... Start by going to REI.com and watch the compass classes, they are really good.
What I was aluding to was, if you were lost before you found the compass in your pocket, then we assume that you also probably did not have a map, or else you would have had a compass.
I don't want to find your quote, but it was to the effect of "gee I wish I had a compass [and presumeably a map]" , and I was just wondering how the compass that simply materialised would have helped you find a heading to your TH, not that you couldn't cleverly follow it, but frankly those are clever ways, and easier than dragging a long pole. I keep trying to get Bigfoot to leave the pole and club at hi cave but when you camp with a guy who catches and eats raw fish, well, as long as you camp up wind from him its cool and entertaining. Jim
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
I knew the area a bit, just had only been that way one other time. I've come in by the trail that comes out of Lily Lake by Glen Alpine Springs four times maybe, that passes to the north and above Upper Echo Lake if you take a fork in the trail, but have only come in by Lower Echo Lake one Memorial Day weekend for a three night snowshoe trip about six years ago, so things difinitely look different and trying to remember things. Would be real tough to get lost in there as you can follow the shoreline from close to my camp as a last resort to get back to the lodge then the road to the SnoPark. Thank you, headed to Winterfest sponsored by mtnsteve the end of the month, outside Lassen Park for a change, due to the large crowd I think.
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