This channel is brilliant, I love how clear and simple the tutorials are compared to most on here. I'm experienced with a map and compass but never get tired of hearing other people's opinions and learning new tips. You have a new subscriber 👍
Night navigation in the army was fun ,you had to use a red lens in your torch ,but it wiped out contour lines on the map ,so you didn't know if you where going up or down hill .We would put in a green filter ,but that upset those in charge lol
My first night navex (Oz Army term for night navigation exercise)was on a tank range, it started at midnight and was be completed over 3 or 4 legs around 6 hours later, pissing down rain, around 2-3 c, no cover for the maps, only one torch between 6 or so diggers, no wet weather gear, imprecise grid references, the declination data was NOT given. We had a ball😂 after 2-3 hours of stumbling around, falling in water filled tank tracks and craters we said bugger this and found a half decent bit of cover and brewed up until the bastard organisational staff came out to find us. Do you think we were set up?😂 probably one of the best lessons given during a week of tactical exercises. Never forgotten, I was 20 years old then, I turn 72 in a couple of months. Love your work, proper job.👍🏼🇦🇺🦘
I really enjoyed this video 😊. I didn’t know about the 10% rule of thumb (!) and now I do, plus the difference between mist and fog plus, my favorite tip: carry two headlamps. Yes! I have a spare cheap-o one but I’m certain some day I will be very grateful for it. Thanks again-fun and helpful video.
This channel just gets better and better 🎉! Absolutely love night navigation 😮 I'm going to try it next weekend and hope i don't get bitten by a midge or see any angry sheep😅😂
Excellent video on an important topic! Awesome Vista with the micro Grand Canyon in the background! It underscores your point of learning Land Nav in reduced visibility. Stumbling over that canyon or a deep ravine in the dark could be someone's final hike. I envy the UK because as far as I'm aware you don't have to contend with Mountain Lions, Bears, Wolves, or Bob Cats Knowing those critters are out there adds an element of anxiety to a hike. Also, you have beautiful hiking scenery in all of your videos. Very nice! P.S., THANK YOU for the route card.
Mountain Lions, Bears, Wolves, or Bob Cats - they are nothing. We have the midge. Oh and I once saw a particularly angry sheep, does that count as ferocious 😊 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_midge
How many times have you taken a compass bearing off of a distinctive silhouette in the distance, only to walk about 20 m and discover its a bush! Or is it just me!
Tips; it takes about 20 minutes to acquire night vision. Using a headtorch will ruin this. If possible, get used to using the available light to see much further than one can with a headtorch. Moonlight works well. I once skied a mountain route by the light of Venus. Red light isn't damaging to night vision, so this can be used for map reading. Shining a modern LED based headtorch into someone else's eyes is not a friendly act, so be careful. Use headtorches when necessary, but take the opportunity when you can to acquire the heightened awareness that goes without using them.
Thanks for another great tutorial. I would say 2 torches + set of batteries + torches should use the same type of batteries. After some time in rucksack, both torches will lose some energy. And everyone who usually walks only during the day forgets about checking the charge level before leaving home.
Plan your week-long hikes around a full moon.... So heaven forbid you have to hike out early, it'll be a little bit safer 👍👍. Of course if you have to exit early because of bad weather the full moon won't help at all😊😊 So check the weather too.
For me night orientateering is frequent ,and i then have the additional trouble with snow coverage up to 1.5m Thick and drifts that can hide a whole cabin altering terrain and hiding things like small streams, rocks 1m high and the like
Best tip I ever got is its ok to stop and take a break and think the situation through or even prepare to shelter until the conditions are better to proceed. Ive spent a few nights out in the New Zealand bush due to rapidly changing conditions. Staying put and preparing a makeshift shelter to wait it out was the best decision each time.
My top-tip for headtorches is don't always put them on your head! If your torch is on your head, when you look at anything that's relatively close to you, the light will obliterate any shadow around objects on the ground. This can make uneven ground look pretty featureless and easier it's easier to trip. If you hold the torch in your hand, as low as possible, the torch beam will cast long shadows around objects close to you, making it much easier to see those pesky trippers!
I’ve seen similar advice for mountain biking. Bright lamp on the head projected down the path in the distance and another set projected down towards the ground in front of your front wheel to provide 3 -D shadowing of rocks and holes.
I have a question. How do you know if your compass is working or not? Won't it go crazy if you accidentally dropped it or faces a hard impact? So in that situation, how do you know if you should trust your compass or not?
I'd like to propose a topic for the next video: How to navigate if you just broke your only compass and you only roughly know where you are? During day and night. 🙂
Thanks for your videos, which are the best ive found. My question is, how bright should your headlamp be, when you need to walk in the mountains at night, either when you're unexpectedly finishing a hike at night, or if spending the night, and have to change your camp, say due yo weather, or a pesky bear that wont leave?
Good advice here. You made me consider buying a second (slightly expensive) headlamp. Maybe I’ll buy a different model, but I love mine so much (Lupine Penta in neutral warm light) that I just might buy another one.
Carry a spare head torch... amen! Good luck opening one of these in the field without destroying your fingernails... and what if you are in a freezing wind?? There. Always have two AND the spare batteries.
Fully agree with two lights. I like one head lamp and one more powerful handheld lights that can illuminate much farther than your headlamp. Helpful to find that landmark you know you are close to but just can't find
Thanks for the very informative videos, never knew navigating with a map and compass could be this interesting until I stumbled across your channel. Might just be that I'm stupid but something I've been wondering about lately and haven't had any luck finding information about on google is how to relay your position to another person using a map. So lets say that I'm stuck in the wilderness for whatever reason mabe I'd broken a leg or something. Now I more or less know where I am on the map but my ony means of communication is a two way radio, how do I communicate to whomever is on the other end of the radio where to come and find me.
Just one thing, route plans can and do change. So leaving a route plan at home could be incorrect when you start your walk. I would message the basic route details by phone prior to stating the walk. Any thoughts? 😊 woffal all you want. 😮
When walking around the hills at night on your own, you turn your head-torch and all you can see are the reflections of the eyes of a whole flock of sheep looking at you. Let’s just say it makes you think 😊
Use a blue filter on your light source. Always amazed whilst in the Armed Forces that it would be stressed to use a red filter at night… all your contour lines will disappear. Use blue - and if you can’t identify streams and lakes by contours (blue light etc) you really need more map studies.
… neither does blue, or green. White light does. That’s because light is ‘additive’ colour’ not ‘subtractive’ colour. You’ve never used PNVG, CWS have you? (psst - they’re green too)
I always carry an extra pair of glasses in my emergency bag. A fall or maybe a small twig, low hanging branch, could flick the ones I am wearing off. Big trouble then.
I would treat thick fog as any other type of reduced visibility navigation. Prepare for if things go wrong. Keep your plans simple. Use basic navigation techniques. Have the right equipment and clothing.
Hi Mike , just saw your remarks. The piece of advice I would give you is to be with another person and for you to both share navigating duties. You can experience a "white out" condition in thick fog, very similar to that experienced in snowy conditions and this can bring on vertigo and migraine type headaches, as you can't see a horizon. Best of luck with your hunting. Happy Trails.
This channel is brilliant, I love how clear and simple the tutorials are compared to most on here. I'm experienced with a map and compass but never get tired of hearing other people's opinions and learning new tips. You have a new subscriber 👍
«Your compass won’t lie to you,
but at nighttime your
brain can do»
a famous quote 👍🏻
Night navigation in the army was fun ,you had to use a red lens in your torch ,but it wiped out contour lines on the map ,so you didn't know if you where going up or down hill .We would put in a green filter ,but that upset those in charge lol
Not too difficult to upset leadership! Lol
My first night navex (Oz Army term for night navigation exercise)was on a tank range, it started at midnight and was be completed over 3 or 4 legs around 6 hours later, pissing down rain, around 2-3 c, no cover for the maps, only one torch between 6 or so diggers, no wet weather gear, imprecise grid references, the declination data was NOT given. We had a ball😂 after 2-3 hours of stumbling around, falling in water filled tank tracks and craters we said bugger this and found a half decent bit of cover and brewed up until the bastard organisational staff came out to find us. Do you think we were set up?😂 probably one of the best lessons given during a week of tactical exercises. Never forgotten, I was 20 years old then, I turn 72 in a couple of months. Love your work, proper job.👍🏼🇦🇺🦘
Prepare and practice.🏕️🌎🧭 angle, aspect and altitude. Great info. Thanks Sir🥾
The carry two torches is good advice and a timely reminder, because I am getting ready to order some more gear for my hiking pack.
I carry 3 in case two go wrong!
I really enjoyed this video 😊. I didn’t know about the 10% rule of thumb (!) and now I do, plus the difference between mist and fog plus, my favorite tip: carry two headlamps. Yes! I have a spare cheap-o one but I’m certain some day I will be very grateful for it. Thanks again-fun and helpful video.
This channel just gets better and better 🎉! Absolutely love night navigation 😮 I'm going to try it next weekend and hope i don't get bitten by a midge or see any angry sheep😅😂
Excellent video on an important topic! Awesome Vista with the micro Grand Canyon in the background! It underscores your point of learning Land Nav in reduced visibility. Stumbling over that canyon or a deep ravine in the dark could be someone's final hike. I envy the UK because as far as I'm aware you don't have to contend with Mountain Lions, Bears, Wolves, or Bob Cats
Knowing those critters are out there adds an element of anxiety to a hike. Also, you have beautiful hiking scenery in all of your videos. Very nice! P.S., THANK YOU for the route card.
Mountain Lions, Bears, Wolves, or Bob Cats - they are nothing. We have the midge.
Oh and I once saw a particularly angry sheep, does that count as ferocious 😊
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_midge
I would think angry sheep tops them all! And midge? I don't know what that is but it doesn't friendly. @@TheMapReadingCompany
How many times have you taken a compass bearing off of a distinctive silhouette in the distance, only to walk about 20 m and discover its a bush! Or is it just me!
Tips; it takes about 20 minutes to acquire night vision. Using a headtorch will ruin this. If possible, get used to using the available light to see much further than one can with a headtorch. Moonlight works well. I once skied a mountain route by the light of Venus. Red light isn't damaging to night vision, so this can be used for map reading. Shining a modern LED based headtorch into someone else's eyes is not a friendly act, so be careful. Use headtorches when necessary, but take the opportunity when you can to acquire the heightened awareness that goes without using them.
Have to thank you for these uploads. Enjoyed all of them. Much I knew before but in navigating one may always learn a thing or two.
Thanks for another great tutorial. I would say 2 torches + set of batteries + torches should use the same type of batteries. After some time in rucksack, both torches will lose some energy. And everyone who usually walks only during the day forgets about checking the charge level before leaving home.
Plan your week-long hikes around a full moon.... So heaven forbid you have to hike out early, it'll be a little bit safer 👍👍. Of course if you have to exit early because of bad weather the full moon won't help at all😊😊 So check the weather too.
For me night orientateering is frequent ,and i then have the additional trouble with snow coverage up to 1.5m Thick and drifts that can hide a whole cabin altering terrain and hiding things like small streams, rocks 1m high and the like
Waffle all you want - I love the information. :P
I like your waffling!☺️
Best tip I ever got is its ok to stop and take a break and think the situation through or even prepare to shelter until the conditions are better to proceed.
Ive spent a few nights out in the New Zealand bush due to rapidly changing conditions. Staying put and preparing a makeshift shelter to wait it out was the best decision each time.
Another great video. Please stay out of the woods, but if you can’t avoid it, have clear eye protection. Don’t ask me how I learned that.
My top-tip for headtorches is don't always put them on your head! If your torch is on your head, when you look at anything that's relatively close to you, the light will obliterate any shadow around objects on the ground. This can make uneven ground look pretty featureless and easier it's easier to trip. If you hold the torch in your hand, as low as possible, the torch beam will cast long shadows around objects close to you, making it much easier to see those pesky trippers!
I’ve seen similar advice for mountain biking. Bright lamp on the head projected down the path in the distance and another set projected down towards the ground in front of your front wheel to provide 3 -D shadowing of rocks and holes.
The most important tip is know the size of the job and when to turn back.
I have a question. How do you know if your compass is working or not? Won't it go crazy if you accidentally dropped it or faces a hard impact? So in that situation, how do you know if you should trust your compass or not?
I'd like to propose a topic for the next video: How to navigate if you just broke your only compass and you only roughly know where you are? During day and night. 🙂
Like this ?
th-cam.com/video/M3Mnp5CyilA/w-d-xo.html
Two head torches, got ya
Thanks for your videos, which are the best ive found. My question is, how bright should your headlamp be, when you need to walk in the mountains at night, either when you're unexpectedly finishing a hike at night, or if spending the night, and have to change your camp, say due yo weather, or a pesky bear that wont leave?
I tend to go for something between 400 and 600 lumens
Good advice here. You made me consider buying a second (slightly expensive) headlamp. Maybe I’ll buy a different model, but I love mine so much (Lupine Penta in neutral warm light) that I just might buy another one.
Carry a spare head torch... amen! Good luck opening one of these in the field without destroying your fingernails... and what if you are in a freezing wind?? There. Always have two AND the spare batteries.
Your buddy moves the pickup and you keep trying to go to where it was. while tracking a shot deer
Fully agree with two lights. I like one head lamp and one more powerful handheld lights that can illuminate much farther than your headlamp. Helpful to find that landmark you know you are close to but just can't find
The really enjoyed the lessons on how to use the compass and map . Thank you for sharing your skills and wisdom.
Thanks for the very informative videos, never knew navigating with a map and compass could be this interesting until I stumbled across your channel.
Might just be that I'm stupid but something I've been wondering about lately and haven't had any luck finding information about on google is how to relay your position to another person using a map.
So lets say that I'm stuck in the wilderness for whatever reason mabe I'd broken a leg or something. Now I more or less know where I am on the map but my ony means of communication is a two way radio, how do I communicate to whomever is on the other end of the radio where to come and find me.
See here
th-cam.com/video/p12fL4FZOeg/w-d-xo.html
Just one thing, route plans can and do change. So leaving a route plan at home could be incorrect when you start your walk. I would message the basic route details by phone prior to stating the walk. Any thoughts? 😊 woffal all you want. 😮
Yes you're 100% right. Any major changes to the plan - let someone (not walking with you) know.
Thanks for joining the conversation.
What about zombies ?
When walking around the hills at night on your own, you turn your head-torch and all you can see are the reflections of the eyes of a whole flock of sheep looking at you. Let’s just say it makes you think 😊
@@TheMapReadingCompany Hahaha 🤣
Use a blue filter on your light source.
Always amazed whilst in the Armed Forces that it would be stressed to use a red filter at night… all your contour lines will disappear. Use blue - and if you can’t identify streams and lakes by contours (blue light etc) you really need more map studies.
Red light doesn't burn out your night vision.
… neither does blue, or green.
White light does. That’s because light is ‘additive’ colour’ not ‘subtractive’ colour.
You’ve never used PNVG, CWS have you?
(psst - they’re green too)
👍
I always carry an extra pair of glasses in my emergency bag. A fall or maybe a small twig, low hanging branch, could flick the ones I am wearing off. Big trouble then.
I am going hunting soon for elk high in the mountains where there is fog. Is it still possible to navigate through fog with just your bearing?
I would treat thick fog as any other type of reduced visibility navigation.
Prepare for if things go wrong.
Keep your plans simple.
Use basic navigation techniques.
Have the right equipment and clothing.
@@TheMapReadingCompany thank you very much
Hi Mike , just saw your remarks. The piece of advice I would give you is to be with another person and for you to both share navigating duties. You can experience a "white out" condition in thick fog, very similar to that experienced in snowy conditions and this can bring on vertigo and migraine type headaches, as you can't see a horizon. Best of luck with your hunting. Happy Trails.
Solid advice again in a video on this channel.
I felt the same!🎉😊
Boop