by Asahatter

Created on: April 12, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

We tend to have become complacent with regards to navigation in the modern world with the advent of Global Positioning Systems (GPS). These technological marvels can pinpoint your position to a few feet, and if you are traveling on established roads they can advise you on when and where to turn.

All that tends to count for very little, however, when you are in the big outdoors and off the beaten track. It's fine knowing where you are, but if you don't know how to get to where you want to be you're stuck, and a long and lonely night could await you. It's vital, therefore, not to rely solely on your little box of electronic wizardry - you do have to acquire a solid grounding in those old staples: map and compass.

* The Map - beginners

A map is simply a two dimensional version of the area you wish to traverse shrunk up to a scale that you can hold in your hand. It's the first tool you want to use in order to plan your activities and your constant companion in showing your progress.

To the novice a map may look like a set of arcane symbols dotted randomly on a folded sheet of paper - but it doesn't take much effort to begin to make sense of these symbols, particularly if you start studying a map of an area that you know. Most maps you will use will be oriented so that North is at the top, and thus the bottom is South, the left is West and the right - yup, you've guessed it - is East. It will show all the major features of the landscape including roads and tracks, rivers, forests, major buildings etc. Find a map of your local area, head outside so you can see a road or a similar linear feature and find that feature on the map. You can now turn yourself and the map with you so that the feature on the map aligns with the feature in the real world. Check the direction of something close by on the map - if it's not where you think it should be then try lining up the map again. Once your map is aligned with the real world you have "set" the map and you can instantly work out where the various compass points are.

You can now use the map to navigate streets etc, remembering to keep the map aligned with the real world as you see it. This may mean turning it sideways or even upside down, but that's why maps use symbols more than words and with practice you will be able to turn the map round in your head.

If you don't recognize a symbol, simply look it up on the map's "legend" - the area of the map which puts words to the squiggles.

You should also have an idea of a the "scale"

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