Compass Help

[fnc]

Now my question is, im trying to be safe and i know that a compass wont get me to my exact location i was in. But i would like to know how to use a compass without a map.

Many times a map and compass will give you such exact results, that you
could not ask for more. If you can identify landmarks, you can sight on these,
and find your position. Each landmark will give you one line of position.
The closer the landmark, the more accurate the line of position.
Silva Ranger or a similar sighting compass can do this EASILY.
(Direction sheet on my Ranger was short and easy: perfect.)

Also, a line of position can be a known trail, highway, river, etc.

Here is a good book that has been around forever.
http://www.amazon.com/Be-Expert-Map-Compass-Orienteering/dp/0020292651
Check your library for this or similar books. Most library catalogs are
accessible, by anyone, from the internet.

Like, just to get the general direction of where i started and any tips you guys may have for me.

Do not ask for so little, you can do much better.

Though the simplest use of a compass is just to "find direction",
it is very useful for staying on course. For example, finding
the road when no landmarks are available. You know the road is
eastward so you use your compass to keep going eastward.

This would work for a road, power-line, river, etc. but would not
be a good method for finding a base-camp or cabin.

The newest GPS's from Garmin and Magellan can do pretty well in
trees, according to the reviews. Even a GPS with large scale map
(no detail and no topo) would be a useful addition: $180.

Big sports stores, like REI, occasionally offer courses on the type of
navigation, that you need to know.

Try to enjoy the learning process; it ain't that hard.

 

[kenk]

I would not rely on GPS in the woods. Trees can block signals pretty easily.

Not sure if you've had a chance to use one of the newer GPS units with a high sensitivity receiver, such as the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx, GPSMAP 76Cx, or one of the newer eTrex "H" units.

They do a fantastic job of locking onto satellites even in pretty dense tree cover.

I find folks in outdoor-related forums tend to blow off the GPS as an electronic gadget that is highly prone to malfunction, but I've used GPS receivers for quite a few years without any malfunctions. Heck even my old Garmin GPS III+ still works as good as it did the day I bought it. With that said, I'll admit that I tend to carry a spare GPS with me - I carry a Geko 201 (tiny tiny tiny) just in case my 60CSx dies on me.

While I would still encourage people heading outdoors to carry a map & compass, and have the skills to use them, a GPS is a powerful navigational tool that provides substantial untility to outdoor travelers. The ability to know exactly where I am, the ability to keep a record where I've been, AND the ability to have the GPS calculate the bearing and distance to my intended destination is a wonderful thing.

BTW, I don't keep the GPS on to create a track record. For the most part my travel is based off the map, without the GPS or a compass. When needed I turn the unit on to determine where I am and/or to capture a waypoint of my current position. I write down the bearing and distance to my destination and then turn off the GPS to save battery power. At that point I rely on using a compass to maintain direction.

 

[johnny reb]

Without a map, a compass will only tell you what direction you are lost in. An accurate map can be a life saver. I would rather have a good map without a compass, than a compass and no map.

 

[el dub]

http://www.map-reading.com/intro.php