[pct-l] Snow Navigation & maps

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

When you aren't sure where you are in relation to the trail, you know that 
you're near it, but you want to know exactly and your GPS has died, turn to 
your trusty USGS color topos and look for the following color clues:

-blue lines:  creek directions, shapes, slopes, waterfalls, marshes
-blue circles:  lakes, bodies of water--look for their shapes and 
orientation to the topography in which they sit
-green boundaries:  tree lines, edges of meadows, avalanche paths, creek 
edges--their shapes, direction, density
-brown contour lines:  shapes indicate rock or dirt 
outcroppings/depressions, ridges, peaks, valleys, points on a ridge, etc. as
well as slope steepness (obviously, these appear as black if reproduced).

Now, look around you to identify the shapes of what you can see. Does 
anything have a similar shape, slope, direction, or position relative to 
what's around it compared to your map? Can you see any points of reference 
up high like a peak, prominent rock outcropping toward which you can orient 
your map? Does the creek have a distinguishing curve that can be found on 
the map? How about the shape of the meadow or lake?

So many clues are all around you all the time. If you are "mindlessly" 
hiking down the easy trail, you are not paying attention to the details of 
"what's out there," so it's simple to not know where you are.

Color maps help tell you the clues to watch for as you hike through your 
day. Once you know the clues to see (gee, sounds like a song we know!), you 
can go most anywhere and constantly be assured that you're on the right 
path, because you already have reviewed on your map what you expect to see 
so, when you don't see the clues, you know to stop and reassess.

None of this requires a compass, just awareness and a keen eye. You're out 
there to see and appreciate the Wilderness. Paying attention not only 
blesses your soul with things you might have otherwise missed, but keeps you 
certain of where you are, how far you've come, an expectation of what's 
ahead, and how far you have yet to go (if you're out of daylight, maybe you 
should stop at this creek or lake or meadow!). The other blessings of this 
awareness is peace of mind, confidence, security, self-assurance, 
independence, and, of course, safety.

Simple! Now, go and practice for yourselves!


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca.
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry Teschlog" <tokencivilian at yahoo.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 8:57 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Blackberry GPS


Or, instead of relying on electronic gizmos, learn how to navigate with a 
map and compass. It's not that hard. All one needs is a bit of experience, 
practice and attention to detail. The guidebook maps are more than adequate 
(yeah, black and white, but they're 50k to 1 versions of the USGS 24K:1, 
which are better maps, that is more detailed, than the Ley full color ~62k:1 
maps).

Try a local orienteering meet or three to help practice map and compass 
navigation.

The above is based on my personal experience in 2006, Kennedy Meadows date 
of June 14th, straight through to VVR. I didn't totally break free of the 
snow until nearly Sierra City in Mid July. Also, Fuller ridge wasn't all 
that bad.

On non snowy parts of the tral, navigation is pretty much a non-issue.


TC




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