Mini PSK contents question

BigNate said:
I hear what your getting at but if you are dropped into the bush with no idea where you are, (plane crash?) one thing I was taught was to map the area your in, and the areas you pass through. Even if it's just notes to yourself on a small paper. If you get a landmark from a high vantage point and get a bearing you can maintain your heading while in the thick without having to climb for a vantage point. Ever been in a swamp? It all looks the same when it's thick.
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You are the minority. Most dont notice a thing about basic landmarks and get turned around in 360 degree direction blindness.

Happened to me when I was a kid. It is absolutely scary once you realize any direction you choose is probably wrong.

Skam
 
a compass and pace count could be useful if you would have the need/desire to have a look around and return to your starting point.
 
You can get small compasses at BCB and EDC Depot. I got some Brunton watchband-style compasses on Ebay from Ben's Backwoods. He was clearing them out because the compass capsules were falling out of the rubber holder, leaving a perfect compass for a mini PSK.

I agree that the Suunto Clipper is the better of the watchband rigs. I put one on a paracord survival bracelet and used a buckle with a whistle built into it.

As to those who think a compass is useless--- what in the heck else is going to do a better job of keeping you oriented? I can just see the interview after SAR finds your frozen backside: "Wella yup, I didn' think a compass wud hep me, so I did' bring wun." Now that is going to make you look like a friggin' genius. You'd probably kill a couple SAR folks from laughter.

A compass is just one part of orienteering. Using the sun, stars and other aids will supplement a compass. I rarely have issues as I study the area and map before I hike (Google Earth is huge for that), and a check my location once in a while as I go. For the most part, I have streams and the basic UP/DOWN of the landscape to keep me from getting too far off track. I live in Western Washington, with familiar 7000' to 14,000' peaks all around too. Take me to someplace flat and heavily vegetated like Florida, and I would want a compass all the way-- other than the sun, I wouldn't be worth a hoot on flat ground and thick cover.
 
A small compass is better than none. The people I know who get turned around are those who had no idea about the place they traveled into. Orientation on a map or an explanation by the person who brung 'em:) is mandatory. I'm never dependent upon someone else to keep me "unlost", and I make it a point to orient anyone who is with me unless they are clearly familiar with where we are headed.

As a last ditch, one should know before striking forth which direction leads "out". West to the stream then upstream to a road? South to a road? What lies north? Then navigation with a tiny compass has meaning even if it's just a general direction. :)Regards, ss.
 
DaleW said:
As to those who think a compass is useless--- what in the heck else is going to do a better job of keeping you oriented? I can just see the interview after SAR finds your frozen backside: "Wella yup, I didn' think a compass wud hep me, so I did' bring wun." Now that is going to make you look like a friggin' genius. You'd probably kill a couple SAR folks from laughter.

.
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I teach map and compass and do a lot of SAR work. The point of the compass not helping is when you finally decide to use it and you are truly lost it does little good. The true lesson is to use the friggin thing before you get lost or turned around. Dont even get me started with the 90% of the public who carry a compass and havent a clue how to use it, hunters included.:rolleyes:

How many times have I gone into the bush with students with them following me, they have no idea where they are and then I ask them where they are and what bearing they need to take to get out.

They havent a clue, why? Because the compass was in their pocket and they just followed me in with no clue of the bearing.

Dont just store the compass in your kit and think its going to help youwhen you are lost as it may but more likely not.

Navigation starts at the car and ends at the car.

Skam
 
I picked up a SOL kit (adventure medical)in a water proof bag ...it is great ! I modded mine a bit by adding a firesteel,12ft 550 paracord ,SAK (rally),magnesium shavingi in a small zip baggy.
 
At the VERY LEAST you should always have a baseline to orient to. It takes about 5 seconds to look at a map of the area you are going to be in, BEFORE you leave the car, to determine that if you walk N,S,E,W you will run into a trail, stream, road, etc. If you have ever spent time in big woods it becomes second nature to have a baseline ALL the time.

P.S. - Skammer is 100% correct about the amount of hunters that don't know how to use a compass - it drives me absolutely friggin' nuts. I think it should be a rule that before you can legally purchase a GPS you should have to pass a map/compass skills test.
 
There has been reference to this concept above, but I was taught to never go into a wilderness area without memorizing one or more linear features. All else failing, if I am west of Rt. 222, moving east will bring me to that highway.
If I had noted that I was also further south than the Town of Haven (on Rt. 222), deliberately bearing a little more south will telll me which way to turn on Rt 222 (left in this hypo) to reach the town.

All this was to back up the map. I always set out with a map.
 
I agree with Thomas in the post above - thats what I was referring to when I said have a baseline.
 
Gents,

I am not saying you have to shoot a bearing every time you walk the dog on a new trail. All I am saying is know what direction your car is and a couple major features like roads that are boundaries of the area you are entering. By doing this you have 100% certainty you will hit a target if you need to use the compass, providing you know how to use one.

It is not rocket science but some really do not have a natural sense of direction and just blindly start walking in the woods.

I get called at 3am too often to go find these types.

Skam
 
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