[AlpineZone]

There are good and bad when it comes to GPS. The thing to realize is GPS has to have 3 satellites available to triangulate your position on earth and this can be very tough in adverse weather conditions to communicate with them. I have no fault in using a GPS I use one myself its excellent for finding good fishing spots on a pond,lake, stream etc (BTW there as tough as they look). That being said if the weather rolls in and your in major cloud cover ( Direct tv during a major rain storm or snow storm for example) things are going to fail for you quite rapidly. Compass is your best bet make sure to carry a map of the area I prefer military maps myself not the civilian form. If you dont know how to use a compass I suggest you learn and shoot a straight azimuth (Example 249 degrees north adjusting your compass for magnetic declination by what ever degree state you may live in). Example, I adjust my compass in new hampshire by 16 degrees west. This leave me to 233 degrees north. Now to find your back bearing its always 180 degrees forward or backwards. For example saying my compass is already set for magnetic declanation for the state I live in. I shoot a azmith of 334 degrees north to get to my destination forward to follow the back bearing precisely I would adjust my compass to 154 degrees south. When your using a compass make sure if your in a wooded area to go left around one tree and right around another using your compass to move foward as straight as possible. A few mistakes following a bearing can leave you miles off course. This is why you should practice at home shooting a azimuth into the woods and walk out about 1000 yards. Minus 180 degrees (when you come back)because your now following a back bearing. Down the road I am going to post a very simple and easy to follow navigation tutorial if no one does before hand. I am working on it. It will cover analog, digital, lensatic. Also can you imagine how to follow a direct route in a canoe being blown all over the place trying to hold a straight bearing this where a GPS shines the most. ( will take a while but will post it eventually) Hope this helps

[vthompson]

Thanks for the information AlpineZone, I will be waiting on you to post your future tutorial.

[AlpineZone]

Originally Posted by vthompson

Thanks for the information AlpineZone, I will be waiting on you to post your future tutorial.

Yeah VT will post a series of how to videos of compass navigation. I need to find the time though. I plan on it being very to the point and basic instructional with me in it doing the navigating. My first post will be shooting a general azimuth and walking out a 1000 yards in the woods and then doing a back bearing to end up in same place you started with my daughter being the landmark I started with. I will purchase the cameras when I can to do so. Will cover map/compass and just plain compass for the button compass holders. BTW for any button compass holders out there if your outside and your in an open area with no machinery around and rotating around and the compass is not moving its a piece of junk and should be scraped. You want a compass that is free floating and moves easily that will always be the most accurate.

[tjwilhelm]

Sounds great, Alpine! Lookin' forward to seeing it!

Now, we'll be buggin' ya till you her her done!!!

[Celticwarrior]

Sounds great! Can't wait for the expanded version! Navigation is one of the most important, yet least understood, survival and wilderness skills. There is a thread here somewhere where a few of us had a LOT of fun () trying to go over the basics of True North vs. Magnetic North vs. North Star. It was ..... an experience.

[Dang]

Originally Posted by AlpineZone

When your using a compass make sure if your in a wooded area to go left around one tree and right around another using your compass to move forward as straight as possible. A few mistakes following a bearing can leave you miles off course.

I also look forward to your project!

Another technique one can use in some situations is "Aiming Off". Say you are working your way back to your car parked along the roadside (road runs North/South and you are traveling East/West). If you aim directly for it, you likely will not hit it exactly dead on. And when you do hit the road you may not know which direction to head, so if you "Aim Off" to the left or right of your target intensionally, you will know which direction to go when you do hit the road.

[scorch]

Looking forward to the tutorial.

[novazer0]

i'm also looking forward to this tutorial!

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by AlpineZone

There are good and bad when it comes to GPS. The thing to realize is GPS has to have 3 satellites available to triangulate your position on earth and this can be very tough in adverse weather conditions to communicate with them. I have no fault in using a GPS I use one myself its excellent for finding good fishing spots on a pond,lake, stream etc (BTW there as tough as they look). That being said if the weather rolls in and your in major cloud cover ( Direct tv during a major rain storm or snow storm for example) things are going to fail for you quite rapidly. Compass is your best bet make sure to carry a map of the area I prefer military maps myself not the civilian form. If you dont know how to use a compass I suggest you learn and shoot a straight azimuth (Example 249 degrees north adjusting your compass for magnetic declination by what ever degree state you may live in). Example, I adjust my compass in new hampshire by 16 degrees west. This leave me to 233 degrees north. Now to find your back bearing its always 180 degrees forward or backwards. For example saying my compass is already set for magnetic declanation for the state I live in. I shoot a azmith of 334 degrees north to get to my destination forward to follow the back bearing precisely I would adjust my compass to 154 degrees south. When your using a compass make sure if your in a wooded area to go left around one tree and right around another using your compass to move foward as straight as possible. A few mistakes following a bearing can leave you miles off course. This is why you should practice at home shooting a azimuth into the woods and walk out about 1000 yards. Minus 180 degrees (when you come back)because your now following a back bearing. Down the road I am going to post a very simple and easy to follow navigation tutorial if no one does before hand. I am working on it. It will cover analog, digital, lensatic. Also can you imagine how to follow a direct route in a canoe being blown all over the place trying to hold a straight bearing this where a GPS shines the most. ( will take a while but will post it eventually) Hope this helps

I look forward to it,I think this should be taught to all grade school kids.

[SwampRat1]

Looking forward to the tutorial. Many people, even in the military, rely so much on gps that they forget how to use a map and compass. Then when the gps fails for whatever reason, they panic because they have forgotten these skills.