One of the things that i really like about your videos is the fact that, as experienced as you are, you allow us to see that you, like everyone, have stressful times and moments of indecision and doubt. I agree, it's so important to at least know and practice the basics of map and compass navigation. Electronics can fail.
Kudos to Miranda's land navigation skills using a map and compass. In America's most DANGEROUS hike no less. Why learn land nav w/ map & compass? If electronics fail (and they do) map and compass won't steer you wrong. Plus it's a fun skill to practice!
I use google maps and carry both road atlas and city maps when I travel. Having visual points of reference is the key to navigating anywhere and with G maps I use street view every time I go to maps.
If you do enough walking and hiking, you should know how many steps equate to a tenth of a mile. Count your steps, count your tenth of a mile... you should get a fairly accurate distance that you have covered. In my case, every 18 to 20 steps equals a tenth of a mile.... so if I counted 180 to 200 steps then I have covered one mile.
THIS is why cairns are so important and why leaving stacked rocks for fun can be detrimental to backcountry hikers in emergencies. Technology sometimes fails and it is imperative that outdoor enthusiasts learn orienteering without digital technology.
More succinct, declination is the angular difference between true and magnetic North at a specific location. Why is that important? Maps are based on true North. Compasses are based on magnetic North. Miranda said she set the declination on her compass before going out on this hike. The declination for a particular location can be found on the internet.
I feel like we did an exercise in JROTC where we counted how many average steps we took over a distance so that we could tell about how far we have gone based on counting steps. I sure wouldn't have thought of doing that if I were on this trip, but in case it would be helpful to anyone planning something like this?
also this is clearly not where she uses the compass typically, so she should have added/subtracted magnetic declination. Presumably she did that, but it may have been helpful for viewers trying to reproduce her procedure.
You might be safer with map and compass. A gps will show you where you are on a map. Sure. But so will map and compass when you find landmarks, which are everywhere. You can triangulate, but you dont need to. Look, then you know where you are. You will do this even with gps. Direction? Walk toward a landmark. You could follow a compass course, or a gps course, but a landmark is more certain. A landmark cant run out of battery power, and neither can a compass. Use these methods anyway, to conserve your gps battery. There you are! One can navigate thru the BWCA with only map and compass - one had to b4 gps. Even now its best to use real compass bearings even with a gps. Why? PEACE OF MIND. Not using up your battery. The BWCA is harder because landmarks are not so obvious. but its still easy peazy. You start at a known point on a lake. Look for your next waypoint, perhaps a portage. Find landmarks, such as islands or rock out cropings. Then find a compass bearing, such as 270 degrees, just like a gps will do. Go where the compass points. The beauty of this? Your gps is safely off - no battery drain - until you really need it, if ever. Me - I have done a trip in the Maze with just map and compass (solo for that). Also the BWCA. Gps is complicated. You could miss name a waypoint. Or select the wrong waypoint, one that will lead you over a cliff. You could enter Lat/Lon numbers wrong. Or download the wrong GPX file. An electronic map might show less detail than a paper map. And its digital, than means its reliability is limited to bits, bytes, and computer instructions. Scared? you should be.
One of the things that i really like about your videos is the fact that, as experienced as you are, you allow us to see that you, like everyone, have stressful times and moments of indecision and doubt. I agree, it's so important to at least know and practice the basics of map and compass navigation. Electronics can fail.
Interesting fact. Declination changes over time. It can be helpful to check the current declination if your map is kinda old.
Kudos to Miranda's land navigation skills using a map and compass. In America's most DANGEROUS hike no less. Why learn land nav w/ map & compass? If electronics fail (and they do) map and compass won't steer you wrong. Plus it's a fun skill to practice!
Pace beads would have been great for this.
I enjoyed your trip as much as you did, a great job
Thanks for watching Bob!😀
I use google maps and carry both road atlas and city maps when I travel. Having visual points of reference is the key to navigating anywhere and with G maps I use street view every time I go to maps.
I was so lost from the beginning. It all looks the same. I need to learn how to use a compass.
If you do enough walking and hiking, you should know how many steps equate to a tenth of a mile. Count your steps, count your tenth of a mile... you should get a fairly accurate distance that you have covered. In my case, every 18 to 20 steps equals a tenth of a mile.... so if I counted 180 to 200 steps then I have covered one mile.
We have some petroglyphs not too far from my house! ❤ So neat. 😁
That's one of my favorite places on earth.
Ranger Beads!
THIS is why cairns are so important and why leaving stacked rocks for fun can be detrimental to backcountry hikers in emergencies. Technology sometimes fails and it is imperative that outdoor enthusiasts learn orienteering without digital technology.
More succinct, declination is the angular difference between true and magnetic North at a specific location.
Why is that important? Maps are based on true North. Compasses are based on magnetic North.
Miranda said she set the declination on her compass before going out on this hike.
The declination for a particular location can be found on the internet.
Im impressed. I would of loved to be able to do that or just take that hike with you.
I feel like we did an exercise in JROTC where we counted how many average steps we took over a distance so that we could tell about how far we have gone based on counting steps. I sure wouldn't have thought of doing that if I were on this trip, but in case it would be helpful to anyone planning something like this?
Now I feel old 🤣But seriously I'm surprised maps are sold anymore.
very cool. certainly a lost art.
Hi can you tell me what the hat is that you wear with the elastic band to tighten it?
it is a sighting compass (the best) but you don't seem to be using it as such
also this is clearly not where she uses the compass typically, so she should have added/subtracted magnetic declination. Presumably she did that, but it may have been helpful for viewers trying to reproduce her procedure.
@@alexbreiding She mentioned it at the end of the video.
19:09
Isle Of Lizards
Always bring a dumb watch, knowing the time and sunset times when navigating with map
What is the compass?
Suunto MC-2
You might be safer with map and compass. A gps will show you where you are on a map. Sure. But so will map and compass when you find landmarks, which are everywhere. You can triangulate, but you dont need to. Look, then you know where you are. You will do this even with gps.
Direction? Walk toward a landmark. You could follow a compass course, or a gps course, but a landmark is more certain. A landmark cant run out of battery power, and neither can a compass. Use these methods anyway, to conserve your gps battery. There you are!
One can navigate thru the BWCA with only map and compass - one had to b4 gps. Even now its best to use real compass bearings even with a gps. Why?
PEACE OF MIND. Not using up your battery.
The BWCA is harder because landmarks are not so obvious. but its still easy peazy. You start at a known point on a lake. Look for your next waypoint, perhaps a portage. Find landmarks, such as islands or rock out cropings. Then find a compass bearing, such as 270 degrees, just like a gps will do. Go where the compass points.
The beauty of this? Your gps is safely off - no battery drain - until you really need it, if ever.
Me - I have done a trip in the Maze with just map and compass (solo for that). Also the BWCA.
Gps is complicated. You could miss name a waypoint. Or select the wrong waypoint, one that will lead you over a cliff. You could enter Lat/Lon numbers wrong. Or download the wrong GPX file. An electronic map might show less detail than a paper map.
And its digital, than means its reliability is limited to bits, bytes, and computer instructions. Scared? you should be.
Seems to me it is all trails and cairns.
Hahaha...Scouts learn to do that in the backcountry at an early age. It's easy and reliable.