The Happy Camper does a quick and easy approach on navigating with a map and compass. First step is knowing how to use a compass and understanding declination.
Hey Kevin: This was possibly the clearest compass use I've seen in a long time. Once out partridge hunting near Salmon lake I did one of those circle trips. I still rely heavily on the advise my dad gave me . Every 25 paces stop & look back to see were you've been & can recognize it on the way back. Thanks, Brian 77
I volunteer at a school and we are hoping to teach our oldest class orienteering and this video series is where we're going to start. Where can we get some good compasses for teaching?
Thanks for this series, Kevin. Something I've always been meaning to learn but have had several different explanations from various, obviously very experienced, family members... All of them rubbish I think. You've made it sound very simple and jargon free.
I love your videos, and I'm thrilled to see a video on orienteering and compass use. I was just going to add my two cents about declination. It's not at all complicated and the easiest way to figure out what you need is by looking up a map (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_Magnetic_Declination_2015.pdf) and picking the closest contour to your location. The good thing is that for most basic orienteering it is totally ok if your declination is off just a bit (a few degrees), but it definitely matters (although not a great deal for your current location ;), I'd be willing to bet your declination is close to 0, I live near the +10 isocline) I was also going to mention that declination has less to do with gravity and more to do with the deviation of earth's magnetic poles and true geographic poles. The magnetic poles drift around and thus it's important to use the most recent declination map you can find! I'm glad you mentioned the bit at the end about metal, back when I was doing geology field work we depended on our compasses for measurements as well as orienteering. Many people had large field belts to hold their tools and field book, which often had a large buckle fastening it to their waist. If you use the method of bringing the compass to your chest you will find that a large ferrous belt buckle is enough to throw off your measurements. Also, I see people using a compass and map on their car hood occasionally, this should be obvious but your measurements won't be correct while leaning upon your 5000 pound steel vehicle.
So what you are saying is, Mr. T. would be screwed if he needed a compass. lol Great series Kevin. This is something any one who ventures in to the backwoods should really know. Atleast the basics.
Sorry, you have weird large necklaces if you don't have a Corvette? Thought it was the opposite. Also, was just on holiday with a bunch of Canadians. How many times am I supposed to say sorry?
You said (@ approx. 1.40) that gravity caused declination (or, at least, that's how it sounded). Magnetic declination is simply the number of angular degrees (i.e. the difference) between True North and Magnetic North which varies with time and location.....it has nothing to do with gravity.
The reason for declination adjustment, of course, is not that the compass goes crazy. Craziness is a human trait. It's simply that there's a difference in the location of magnetic north and true north. Magnetic compasses point to magnetic north, but maps are typically constructed based on true north. So, you have to compensate for the difference between your compass reading and any map you might be using. Subtle point maybe, to the extent that geography is subtle, but without compensating, you may miss your destination. And that would be crazy.
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Hey Kevin: This was possibly the clearest compass use I've seen in a long time. Once out partridge hunting near Salmon lake I did one of those circle trips. I still rely heavily on the advise my dad gave me . Every 25 paces stop & look back to see were you've been & can recognize it on the way back. Thanks, Brian 77
Thanks. Love the info. about every 25 paces.
Your timing is amazing Kevin! Just bought a compass from MEC the other day - after my GPS kacked out. Thanks for all the help.
Finally some clarity!
Great Series Kevin. I've watched several videos on this topic and yours are the only ones that really make sense to me.
I volunteer at a school and we are hoping to teach our oldest class orienteering and this video series is where we're going to start. Where can we get some good compasses for teaching?
Thanks for the run down of the basics!
Thanks for this series, Kevin. Something I've always been meaning to learn but have had several different explanations from various, obviously very experienced, family members... All of them rubbish I think. You've made it sound very simple and jargon free.
Thanks. Glad it helped.
love it very nice mate helps me out heaps
Great lesson and you make it seem so simple.
Thanks. Simple is better......
I love your videos, and I'm thrilled to see a video on orienteering and compass use. I was just going to add my two cents about declination. It's not at all complicated and the easiest way to figure out what you need is by looking up a map (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_Magnetic_Declination_2015.pdf) and picking the closest contour to your location. The good thing is that for most basic orienteering it is totally ok if your declination is off just a bit (a few degrees), but it definitely matters (although not a great deal for your current location ;), I'd be willing to bet your declination is close to 0, I live near the +10 isocline)
I was also going to mention that declination has less to do with gravity and more to do with the deviation of earth's magnetic poles and true geographic poles. The magnetic poles drift around and thus it's important to use the most recent declination map you can find!
I'm glad you mentioned the bit at the end about metal, back when I was doing geology field work we depended on our compasses for measurements as well as orienteering. Many people had large field belts to hold their tools and field book, which often had a large buckle fastening it to their waist. If you use the method of bringing the compass to your chest you will find that a large ferrous belt buckle is enough to throw off your measurements. Also, I see people using a compass and map on their car hood occasionally, this should be obvious but your measurements won't be correct while leaning upon your 5000 pound steel vehicle.
Some great detail here. Thanks. Just wanted to keep the explanation simple so not to overwhelm others. Thanks for adding this.
When you put the compass against your body, are you not worried about metal zippers?
So what you are saying is, Mr. T. would be screwed if he needed a compass. lol
Great series Kevin. This is something any one who ventures in to the backwoods should really know. Atleast the basics.
Mr T and a compass. Hilarious.
It's definitely just the basics. The course I teach is 6 hours. So.......
Sorry, you have weird large necklaces if you don't have a Corvette? Thought it was the opposite. Also, was just on holiday with a bunch of Canadians. How many times am I supposed to say sorry?
Eeer Gravity? Don't you mean the Earths magnetic field. The compass needle will only be effected by ferrous metals. love the videos.
Thanks for the correction. I think I was just paranoid of explaining all that and loosing everyone's attention.
Don’t stand on the railroad tracks or have your gun barrel close to your compass while trying to use it. 🇨🇦👍
You said (@ approx. 1.40) that gravity caused declination (or, at least, that's how it sounded). Magnetic declination is simply the number of angular degrees (i.e. the difference) between True North and Magnetic North which varies with time and location.....it has nothing to do with gravity.
The reason for declination adjustment, of course, is not that the compass goes crazy. Craziness is a human trait. It's simply that there's a difference in the location of magnetic north and true north. Magnetic compasses point to magnetic north, but maps are typically constructed based on true north. So, you have to compensate for the difference between your compass reading and any map you might be using. Subtle point maybe, to the extent that geography is subtle, but without compensating, you may miss your destination. And that would be crazy.
Never mind