So far in the last year I've stayed on trails, large or barely there, or a few feet away from them. I'd really like to go further away from trails, but if I go far into a NWR like Bond Swamp NWR in Georgia I don't know how to get back to where I started.
I know how a compass works, of course, as far as it shows you what direction you're heading, and I know how a GPS works also as far as showing you your current location, but how would you use either to get back to a specific location?
If you are using a magnetic compass, figuring your return direction is very easy. Let's say you're walking away from a known point, like a trail head, and your compass reads 340 degrees (20 degrees West of North), your direction to return (your 'back bearing') will be 340-180=160 degrees (20 East of South). This assumes you do not have to deviate around an obstacle. If that's the case, things get a little more complicated.
If you search for 'Orienteering' you'll get lots of hits. Here's one site: How to use a Compass.
I don't own or use a GPS unit. Perhaps I'm old fashioned (or just plain old ) but I've been using a map and compass for many years and I've never been lost. The nice thing about a magnetic compass is that you don't have to worry about the battery going dead when you really need the thing.
--P
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 7, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Google "gps instructions" for lots of tutorials..
I'd recommend staying on developed trails and not starting new ones to protect sensitive habitat.
I'm much like Preston with recent modifications.... If you call 10 years recent. Come to think of it, that IS recent in my life span.
I started using a handheld GPS in small boats on the water here in Alaska because they can be loaded with "blue chart" marine navigation charts just as they can with topo maps for land use. Once I owned one, it was only natural to carry it on land, too.
I've found several applications that make them better for me than map or compass, though I still carry those too:
I tend to wander like crazy, and the GPS has helped me "cut corners" for returning to a starting point.
I've lost gear along a route, and the GPS is so accurate in many cases that I can backtrack my route across solid rock or through dense vegetation and walk right up on the lost gear. Me? Lay something down and forget it?
And a GPS is invaluable for returning from the hills after dark, especially if you weren't really sure where you were when it got dark. I am a fair hand at celestial navigation and have returned to my point of origin using the stars after dark, but that only works when you can see the stars.
Posted by Kent Staubus on August 7, 2011 at 4:31 PM
There are two things to consider if using a GPS as your only means of finding your way in a swamp. The first is trees overhead might block the signal. The second is if you run out of batteries or drop the GPS into the swamp, you're sitting in the middle of nowhere with little idea of where you really are.
Kent in SD
Posted by Luke Ormand on August 7, 2011 at 6:55 PM
When in the field I use my iPhone with the google earth application so I know where my location is and can see where I want to go and return to. It's not perfect and of course battery life is a concern if you are doing an all day adventure but it proves very useful on many occasions. plus you can look up weather and the radar which is always nice to have.
Barbara. I bought a Garmin hiking GPS just for this reason (GPSmap 62st model). It came with a carabiner that attaches it to my belt and I can get many trails downloaded to it. That way I can easily see where the trail is when I want to get back to it. I used to think I could navigate my way around the woods pretty well until I got lost one day and lugged my camera equipment 10 miles out of the way, which is when I decided to buy the GPS. I absolutely love it and will not go into the woods without it any longer.
Posted by Jim Bullard on August 8, 2011 at 9:01 AM
GPS is great but I recommend learning navigation with a compass and map too. Batteries don't fail often but it only needs to happen once.
To clear the air on one point, it's smart and even mandatory to carry spare batteries (two AA's) for a GPS. The nice thing about turning one off to change the batteries is that it doesn't lose your trail or track. Once you turn it back on and give it a minute or two to find the satellites, all the information you need is still there.
An earlier point about vegetation is well taken. Much tall overhead vegetation is needed, but it can happen briefly at moments when the canopy completely obscures the sky. But walk 100' or so to the next opening and function is restored. When moving cross country I've learned to anticipate the "outages" due to vegetation and to take a quick bearing with my compass before proceeding.
And they certainly don't like water! But as I've learned on rainy days in boats, they continue to function perfectly in a ziploc bag. Various manufacturers also make waterproof covers, but I buy my own for pennies each in boxes of 24 or 48.
Thanks for all the personal experience information!
Posted by Mel Ladewig on August 9, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Modern GPS units will track your movement on an interval you select. My Garmins both have a backtrack option you can select and it will reverse your track for you.
However, like Preston, I prefer a map and compass when I need one. The topo capability of a GPS is fine, but I can see a much larger area at once on a USGS quadrant. I find that when I'm traveling off trail in the mountains where I live, there are usually strong orientation guides like valleys and peaks. I also find that its helpful to stop and look back occasionally, especially when leaving forested areas for open areas.
But I also have an affinity for navigation. I can orient direction easily even in areas I've never visited before and I can memorize maps and routes very quickly and have a strong memory of place, often being able to return directly to a place even after many years.
I'd suggest you learn orienteering first by map and compass and then by GPS. GPS can fail to capture points due to obstacles such as trees. I find that to reliably have my GPS units track, the GPS needs to be placed high up like in the top pocket of my rucksack or on the shoulder straps of my pack.
...but I can see a much larger area at once on a USGS quadrant....
That's invaluable, and the small screen is the biggest liability of hand-held GPS. Once you expand the scale large enough to see topo features many miles away, the small details in your immediate vicinity are smooshed to uselessly small scale.
I'm not questioning your ability to naturally orient, rather I'm relating to it a lot. I have much the same, but you really have to watch your hiney as you move further north in summer. On June 21 the sun comes up around 4AM on the right side of our dining room window, and at 11PM it sets on the left side of the same window. In the intervening 17 hours it completely circles us. Kinda "skews" the perception of direction in the process.
Discussion
11 repliesI know how a compass works, of course, as far as it shows you what direction you're heading, and I know how a GPS works also as far as showing you your current location, but how would you use either to get back to a specific location?
Thank you for any help with this.
If you are using a magnetic compass, figuring your return direction is very easy. Let's say you're walking away from a known point, like a trail head, and your compass reads 340 degrees (20 degrees West of North), your direction to return (your 'back bearing') will be 340-180=160 degrees (20 East of South). This assumes you do not have to deviate around an obstacle. If that's the case, things get a little more complicated.
If you search for 'Orienteering' you'll get lots of hits. Here's one site: How to use a Compass.
I don't own or use a GPS unit. Perhaps I'm old fashioned (or just plain old
--P
I'd recommend staying on developed trails and not starting new ones to protect sensitive habitat.
I started using a handheld GPS in small boats on the water here in Alaska because they can be loaded with "blue chart" marine navigation charts just as they can with topo maps for land use. Once I owned one, it was only natural to carry it on land, too.
I've found several applications that make them better for me than map or compass, though I still carry those too:
I tend to wander like crazy, and the GPS has helped me "cut corners" for returning to a starting point.
I've lost gear along a route, and the GPS is so accurate in many cases that I can backtrack my route across solid rock or through dense vegetation and walk right up on the lost gear. Me? Lay something down and forget it?
And a GPS is invaluable for returning from the hills after dark, especially if you weren't really sure where you were when it got dark. I am a fair hand at celestial navigation and have returned to my point of origin using the stars after dark, but that only works when you can see the stars.
Kent in SD
An earlier point about vegetation is well taken. Much tall overhead vegetation is needed, but it can happen briefly at moments when the canopy completely obscures the sky. But walk 100' or so to the next opening and function is restored. When moving cross country I've learned to anticipate the "outages" due to vegetation and to take a quick bearing with my compass before proceeding.
And they certainly don't like water! But as I've learned on rainy days in boats, they continue to function perfectly in a ziploc bag. Various manufacturers also make waterproof covers, but I buy my own for pennies each in boxes of 24 or 48.
However, like Preston, I prefer a map and compass when I need one. The topo capability of a GPS is fine, but I can see a much larger area at once on a USGS quadrant. I find that when I'm traveling off trail in the mountains where I live, there are usually strong orientation guides like valleys and peaks. I also find that its helpful to stop and look back occasionally, especially when leaving forested areas for open areas.
But I also have an affinity for navigation. I can orient direction easily even in areas I've never visited before and I can memorize maps and routes very quickly and have a strong memory of place, often being able to return directly to a place even after many years.
I'd suggest you learn orienteering first by map and compass and then by GPS. GPS can fail to capture points due to obstacles such as trees. I find that to reliably have my GPS units track, the GPS needs to be placed high up like in the top pocket of my rucksack or on the shoulder straps of my pack.
That's invaluable, and the small screen is the biggest liability of hand-held GPS. Once you expand the scale large enough to see topo features many miles away, the small details in your immediate vicinity are smooshed to uselessly small scale.
I'm not questioning your ability to naturally orient, rather I'm relating to it a lot. I have much the same, but you really have to watch your hiney as you move further north in summer. On June 21 the sun comes up around 4AM on the right side of our dining room window, and at 11PM it sets on the left side of the same window. In the intervening 17 hours it completely circles us. Kinda "skews" the perception of direction in the process.