Use a Compass
Almost all of us carry instantly updated maps and GPS systems in our pockets these days in our phones, reducing the threat of being lost to almost nil.
But what would happen if you didn't have your phone, or the battery died, or your Tom-Tom took a swim? What if you just don't get any signal where you are?
Lets look at the old fashioned, never-fail navigation tool: the humble compass.
Learning how to use a compass is really easy. Its usually used together with a map, but it doesn't have to be. A compass will always tell you which direction is North, West, South, and East.
There are thousands of types of compasses available. We prefer two types: a Lensatic compass like the military uses, and an Orienteering compass which is simple to start with. Lets look at how they work.
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Pointing A Compass North
See the red arrow in the photo below? It always points towards magnetic north. (Just make sure its not near any large metal objects or magnets, or it might not since the metal may affect the sensitivity of the small magnet in the compass needle.)
But wait, you say. The compass needle in the photo isn't pointing toward the N on the dial. That's because the arrow is facing North but the dial on the compass isn't.
If you were holding this compass you could turn your body so the arrow is under the N. Now you are facing north.
Say someone tells you to head West. Look at the compass. Turn your body (not the dial) until the compass needle is pointing to the N. Then look to your left. That's West! If you look to your right, that's East. Behind you is South.
Congratulations, you now know how to use a compass. Wasn't so hard was it? Grab one and play with it. Try figuring out what directions things are around your house or yard.
NOTE: there is a difference between the Magnetic North Pole and Geographic North Pole. The compass needle points towards magnetic north pole. The magnetic north pole is not located under the geographic north pole. And its moving!
The difference in degrees between magnetic north and true north is called the declination. That's an advanced topic and necessary when using a map, or when navigating towards the earths poles. Read the Wikipedia links above if you want to learn more about those concepts.
Compass Degrees
But wait! you say. What are all the little numbers on the compass face for? On the Cammenga the red numbers are degrees.(The black are mils, you can mostly ignore them.)
A compass is nothing more that a circle. A circle has 360° degrees. Do you remember degrees from school? 90°, 180° and so on? If not you might want to brush up here.
You can use degrees to keep you on a specific course as you move from place to place. They can be used with a map to plot your course between two objects.
This works because the Compass Needle will always face the same direction, North, so you have a reference point to be able to orient the degrees listed on the face and stay on track.
Example One
Here's how it works. Lets say we are using a Cammenga Lensatic Compass. Open it up, and wait for the arrow to point North. Look out from where you are standing. Pick some landmark that isn't directly N, W, E, or S from you. Turn your entire body to face that direction.
Now turn the dial on the face of the compass so that the small white line #1 lines up with the compass arrow as it is in the photo. The black line #2 should be facing in the direction you want to go.
Now look at the number underneath the black line, where the #3 is. That is your bearing. In photo above its 105° degrees.
You should write that down to remember it. If you wanted to head in that direction you would make sure that you kept the #2 black line on top of the 105° marking as you are moving.
Once you set the dial and the #1 white line DO NOT MOVE IT until you are done navigating. You will lose your bearing based on where you were when you set it.
This requires practice! Go outside and try it and move around so you get the feel for how this works. Its simple but might be a new concept for you and will take a couple of tries to get used to it.