Finding Your Way with a Map and Compass

When you use both a compass and map then you will be able to navigate safely and accurately in terrain you never have been before without following trails.

First, a quick summary of what you will learn:

Align the edge of the compass with the starting and finishing point.
Rotate the compass housing until the orienting arrow and lines point N on the map.
Rotate the map and compass together until the red end of the compass needle points north.
Follow the direction of travel arrow on the compass, keeping the needle aligned with the orienting arrow on the housing.

Here is a map made for orienteering, and it is laking detailed. map with compass You want to go from the trail-crossing at A, to the rock at B. Of course, to use this method successfully, you'll have to know you really are at A.
What you do, is that you put your compass on the map so that the edge of the compass is at A. The edge you must be using, is the edge that is parallel to the direction of travel arrow. Next place the same edge you used for A. Use the edge. The edge of the compass, or rather the directionarrow, must point from Ato B! As a warning if you make a mistakeif you'll walk off in the wrong direction of what you want. So take a second look. Beginners often make this mistake as well.

map with orienting
lines aligned Keep the compass and map on a steady surface. What you are going to do next is that you are going to align the orienting lines and the orienting arrow with the meridian lines of the map. The lines on the map going north, that is. While you have the edge of the compass carefully aligned from A to B, turn the compass housing so that the orienting lines in the compass housing are aligned with the meridian lines on the map. During this process, you don't mind what happens to the compass needle.

There are a number of serious mistakes that can be made here. Let's take the problem with going in the opposite direction first. Be absolutely certain that you know where north is on the map, and be sure that the orienting arrow is pointing towards the north on the map. Normally, north will be up on the map. The possible mistake is to let the orienting arrow point towards the south on the map. Then keep an eye on the the edge of the compass. If the edge isn't going along the line from A to B when you have finished turning the compass housing, you will have an error in your direction, and it can take you off your course.

When you are sure you have the compass housing right, you may take the compass away from the map. And now, you can in fact read the bearing of the housing, from where the housing meets the direction arrow.Be sure that the housing doesn't turn, before you reach your target B! Know you need to figure out the declination for the area you are in.
. arrow
aligned Hold the compass in your hand. And now you'll have to hold it flat, so that the compass needle can turn. Then turn yourself, tell your red direction arrow is in the middle of the two black lines, just make sure the compass housing doesn't turn.
The mistake is again to let the compass needle point towards the south. The red part of the compass needle must point at north in the compass housing, or you'll go in the opposite direction.

It's time to walk off. But to do that with optimal accuracy, you'll have to do that in a special way as well.you'll want to go with a friend.Hold the compass in your hand, with the needle well aligned with the orienting arrow. pointing at a tree Then aim, as careful as you can, in the direction the direction of travel-arrow is pointing. Fix your eye on some special feature in the terrain as far as you can see in the direction. Then have your friend go there. Be sure as you go that the compass housing doesn't turn.If you're in a dense forest, you might need to aim several times. Hopefully, you will reach your target B when you do this.good luck!!