153
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Why would one aim off when navigating with a map and compass?
The reason is that you could miss your destination and hit a trail and know that you are almost there, but not know which way to turn.
So if you were to go straight for the destination, and because ...
- 69.4k
133
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Why would one aim off when navigating with a map and compass?
In addition to the case described by Charlie (and to show that I also can make drawings in Paint), there is the case where you want a stopping line to know when you are going too far. This is mainly ...
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101
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
The Map is not the Terrain
Doubtless you've heard this aphorism, and perhaps it seems out of place for your question but I think it's actually the key point. The aim of the navigation course is to ...
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97
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
The reason is that it is irrelevant if the map is on an electronic device or on paper - if you misinterpret the information, it won't help you in any way, you will only be lost/stuck more accurately. ...
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52
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
Maps and compasses are independent of any power source, so it is usually recommended to take them with you. GPS devices can fail, also because the GPS signal can be switched off or blocked. ...
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51
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How do you know you have reached North or South Pole without GPS?
Amundsen's team used a meter on their sledges to get close (dead reckoning) and then sextants to confirm the position.
Using Amundsen's diary, Roland Huntford (in The Amundsen Photographs) ...
- 69.4k
51
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How do you know you have reached North or South Pole without GPS?
I'll expand a bit on how one would use a sextant to locate the north or south pole.
The basic arrangement needs a horizontal reflective plane, for which Amundsen used a pool of mercury. A precisely ...
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46
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
A massive advantage of paper maps over electronic is the combination of area and resolution. You can take a bearing to a mast on top of a hill several km away, when zooming out that far on a GPS ...
- 27k
41
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Compass compatibility: Can I use my US compass in Australia?
I double checked a couple of websites (thanks a lot for the comments to the question) and I'm sure that my compass is not compatible with Australia.
As a result of these magnetic variances, the ...
41
votes
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What advantage does the what3words coordinate system have over other, traditional systems?
They don't really pitch it as a replacement for lat/long, but more postcodes and street addresses. A building number and postcode can (and has, IME) have an entrance on a different street, under a ...
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34
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How to temporarily mark a trail?
Today GPS systems are relatively cheap and widely available. You don't even need a dedicated GPS receiver. For example, I often use a Android tablet with a built-in GPS, and software that can record ...
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23
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
I'll answer both as a geomatician who makes maps (both paper and digital) and deals with GIS data for a living. I'm also a mountaineer, trail runner, backcountry skier, and outdoorsman with extensive ...
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21
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Are there any general rules of thumb for route finding up a mountain without any trails?
I'll try to give a fairly generic answer to this broad question...
Avoid Dangers
This is obvious really, but first and foremost you'll want to avoid any kind of routes which lead you close to ...
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20
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Can I record my route electronically when underground?
How would GPS trackers work when underground?
Poorly
I have no personal experience with Alltrails, but the GPS apps which I have used in the past mostly did not cope well with GPS reception being ...
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20
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Are there any examples of orienteering (off-trail) route-finding software?
This is a hard problem.
First you have to define "best".
In open terrain, not too steep, it's easy - just a straight line, and handheld mapless GPSs have been able to do that for 20+ years.
...
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19
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Compass compatibility: Can I use my US compass in Australia?
Having used my Europe compass in America as well as in Australia, I would say you do not need a new one.
It will still point one end of the needle to the north and the other to the south, only the ...
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19
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How to temporarily mark a trail?
In the wooded forests near me a practice I've seen is to lean a small stick (maybe 1 or 2 feet long) against a live or standing tree. The stick is natural to the area so it blends in. It will ...
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19
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Should I buy a GPS to calculate elevation gain/loss?
Vertical difference to summit: If you are just interested in reaching a minimum, it is often sufficient to compute the difference between the start and the summit, e.g. start at 1000m summit at 1800m ...
- 7,850
17
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I have a compass but no watch, how can I tell when it will get dark?
You don't need a compass, nor any mechanical tool at all. You just need your fingers. I've linked an article with illustrations at the end, but here is the basic idea:
Stand facing the sun, extend ...
- 5,188
16
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Why would one aim off when navigating with a map and compass?
I was in the Army Infantry in the '90s when we still used maps and compasses to get through the woods.
People have a tendency to veer off to the side of the hand holding the compass when they are ...
- 161
16
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
The default expedition map in the UK is Ordnance Survey. The apparent most popular GPS map app for walking in the mountains is the Ordnance Survey app*. That's all very well and plausible, but the app ...
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16
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Can I record my route electronically when underground?
Assisted GPS is different from inertial navigation. It uses ground stations to transmit GPS almanacs and ephemeris for faster GPS start-up. There are also wide-area augmentation services such as ...
- 4,799
15
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Would there be any practical uses of a geological map for a hiker/backpacker?
I thought about this for a while, but to be honest I can't see many immediate uses for backpackers that wouldn't be covered by other means and sources more effectively.
For example, if the only ...
- 13.4k
15
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As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
The most important reasons have already been given in other highly upvoted answers. Planning, coverage, resolution, etc. I want to address the cost aspect.
Given the low price and weight of ...
- 27.5k
14
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Is it normal for a compass to develop an air bubble at high altitude?
I wouldn't call it normal, but it does happen and if the bubble is large enough it will effect your accuracy. In that case you may want to purchase a new one or if possible send it back to the ...
- 69.4k
14
votes
Are there any reliable plants to use for navigation?
I doubt there are specific plants, but in general, yes, plants can be indicators of direction.
In the Northern Hemisphere, for example, snow will stay longer on the north facing slopes and pile up on ...
- 69.4k
14
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Accepted
Did any lighthouses provide directional navigation signals?
Well, firstly, there's generally no need, given that any reasonable navigator carries a compass, thereby allowing the direction to be determined. With two or more known lights in sight, a simple ...
- 4,799
13
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Accepted
How to identify latitude & longitude with a compass?
You need something else.
You need a sextant and a marine chronometer (a fancy watch). The sextant measures the inclination of a star or the sun, and helps to determine latitude. Once you know that, ...
- 5,188
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