[pct-l] navigation without GPS

Tue Mar 12 10:02:01 CDT 2013

Hi Martin,
For me
navigation encompasses several skills, it isn’t just being able to line up a map and compass. You
need to be able to evaluate your own performance (or that of your group) so
that you can reference back to the last point at which you knew were you were: are
you walking downhill at the beginning of your day in perfect conditions? Or are
you cold, wet and miserable at the end of a long knackering day going up a big
and difficult hill in zero visibility? You need to be able to place yourself on the map in poor
conditions where you might not be able to see ten metres in front of you, or
when there are very few geographical features to reference, or when the trail
itself has been lost under a snow field or when you realise you've taken a wrong turn. In these conditions you’ll also need to know you are not about to walk off a cliff, and inthese conditions you also need to know how to route find, in order to find the safest and most efficient way
round/over an obstacle, ensuring you meet the needs of everyone with whom you
are travelling. You also need to be able to assess weather
conditions to make sure you’re not summiting a mountain in a lightning storm or
traversing a river that could have been easier/safer/more enjoyable had you
been able to navigate your way there better.

Apart from
knowing how to line up a map and compass, I find it is difficult to teach these
sorts of skills in a classroom setting, the only way you really learn is to
give it a go. In the early weeks I doubt the trail will present too many of
these navigational challenges, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity learn how
to navigate without putting yourself in any real danger. You can learn as you go along by testing
yourself every time you stop. Make a point of trying to locate
yourself on the map without help and ask yourself the following questions:

How long
have I been walking since the last stop? Did it take as long as I estimated to get to where I am now? If not why not? Is the sun in the right place for the time of day and the direction in which I am heading? If not why not? What
were the major features of the last section I just walked? Do they line up with
what I was expecting? If not why not? What should I expect in the next section? How long should
it take? Etc…

After a
while you will do all this instinctively at which point you’ll be well on
your way to navigating your way anywhere you want. I.e Canada!
Regards
Patrick
> From: martin.m.clark at gmail.com
> Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:55:32 -0400
> To: danielzellman at gmail.com
> CC: pct-l at backcountry.net; jenny.haas at me.com
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] navigation without GPS
> 
> I'm going to say that it seems to me ironic we are all goof into the backcountry with little navigation skills. I found the link from Princeton forwarded to me was most helpful so far.
> 
> Also there is also some pretty good videos online from the green mountain club.
> 
> 
> Cursing myself for not doing boyscouts!
> 
> Martin M. Clark
> 804-334-2009
> 
> On Mar 12, 2013, at 8:32 AM, Daniel Zellman <danielzellman at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > I had pretty much the same experience with the REI course, I have to say.
> > Hoping I can suss it out on my own in the next couple of weeks using a
> > Compass & Map Navigation book I picked up along with Youtube, etc.
> > 
> > On Sat, Mar 9, 2013 at 9:36 PM, Jennifer Haas <jenny.haas at me.com> wrote:
> > 
> >> I took the REI class and found it pretty useless.  We had class in the
> >> store room and triangulating the stairwell meant nothing to me...as did the
> >> over-photo copied maps of Timbuktu we were using.  The only thing I took
> >> from the class was keeping Red Fred In The Shed.  I youtubed instruction
> >> and took notes.  Learning in a true outdoor environment with a map of where
> >> you are is much better.
> >> 
> >> Sent from my iPad
> >> 
> >> On Mar 8, 2013, at 8:28 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> >> 
> >>>> On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 7:43 AM, Martin M. Clark
> >>>> <martin.m.clark at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>> Fellow PCT hikers,
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> I gave a question regarding navigation without a gps. I am planning on
> >>>> hiking the PCT starting may 13th and have little experience with map and
> >>>> compass reading. I am planningnon printing and carrying halfmiles maps
> >> and
> >>>> am wondering what suggestions the community has for someone wanting to
> >>>> develop traditional navigation skills. Thought about taming a class but
> >> rei
> >>>> wants 80 bucks for their intro class.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Any suggestions are appreciated!
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Martin M. Clark
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