They're watching you

[GlassMan]

Those lost incidents remind me of several occassions with friends over the past few years. In both instances we were in places neither of us had been before and my friends were attempting to navigate using maps and landmarks. I didn't have a compass but I was able to accurately able to to determine that we were headed in the wrong direction and also whether we were headed North, South, Southwest, etc.

In one instance the guy was looking down at the map and then around himself completely puzzled as to why nothing on the map matched our surroundings. I told him that we were headed in the wrong direction and then pointed to where I believed we actually were on the map. Turned out I was right. He asked how I'd known since he felt we were both looking at the same things. My response? That we weren't looking at the same things. He was looking at the map and his surroundings at eye level, while I was looking up. He still didn't get it. So I had to explain the concept of navigating by the Sun or the stars. He had thought we were lost without GPS or navigation software or at least a compass.

Personally, I think we should have had at least a compass or a GPS before we left, but it's still a good idea to be able to do things the "old fashioned way" just in case all that technology isn't available or breaks.

[davedove]

Darn, they moved the river.

I hate it when that happens.

So I had to explain the concept of navigating by the Sun or the stars. He had thought we were lost without GPS or navigation software or at least a compass.

Personally, I think we should have had at least a compass or a GPS before we left, but it's still a good idea to be able to do things the "old fashioned way" just in case all that technology isn't available or breaks.

As long as I have an indication of where the sun is, I can give a basic direction. Sometimes on really cloudy days I can get turned around though.

All the modern technology is great, but you never know when the battery in your GPS is going to die. If I have a decent map I can usually orient myself pretty well.

[auld argonian]

It's all very nice to feel that one has some sort of instinct for direction finding but I've spoken to folks who have had a LOT more experience "out there" than I have and every one of them can tell at least one story about how they thought that they had a handle on the situation and turned out to be way off. Every one of them will tell you that you are taking a big chance if you don't take the compass and the map and know how to use them...most of them don't have a lot of faith in GPS because of the possibility that the batteries are going to fail. The moral to me is to learn your orienteering and don't go out without the proper kit.

GPS has its uses but take the compass and map...

Best

AA

[Yaish]

I've taught classes on orientiering and land navigation, and had plenty of opportunities to put it into practice as well. Its always good to carry a map if you can, or at least know the directions and distances to known and obvious landmarks (like roads or rivers). I almost always have at least a mini float style compass, and whenever I head into the wildness I bring my lensatic compass.

Havent had to rely on GPS yet, though I'd like to buy to mark specific sites more easily and accurately.

[Kilted KT]

I hate it when that happens.

As long as I have an indication of where the sun is, I can give a basic direction. Sometimes on really cloudy days I can get turned around though.

All the modern technology is great, but you never know when the battery in your GPS is going to die. If I have a decent map I can usually orient myself pretty well.

Yes, GPS may be great...but electricity can't be found in tree bark or under a rock. Over the last 18 or so years, almost every year one of the younger chaperones ( on my survival trip) decides to take a quick look at a flower, some colonial foundation or use the latrine, and gets lost. Almost everytime it time winds up being four or five of us ( older chaperones) heading off into the woods, spliting up and finding the poor kid a few hundred yards off the trail. Had he wandered farther without a compass, it is very possible that he could wander for several days without seeing another person or sign road.

Never head off into the woods ( for a long hike ) without at least a compass.