The compass is an essential tool in outdoor survival. Together with a good quality topographic map of the area you are visiting, knowing how to use a compass will allow you to always find the right direction. You can learn to identify its basic components, take an accurate reading of your position, and develop the skills needed for orientation with a few simple steps. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Learning the Basics
Step 1. Recognize the basic layout of a compass
Although there are several types, all include a magnetized needle that orients itself towards the Earth's magnetic fields. We will use a fixed plate compass as an example, but the same principles also apply to the other models:
- There fixed plate it is the clear, plastic base on which the compass is fixed;
- There direction arrow it is the arrow on the plate that points away from the compass;
- There compass case it is the transparent plastic circle in which the compass is housed;
- The graduated dial it is the rotating ring that surrounds the compass case and shows the 360 ° of the circumference;
- There magnetic hand it is the needle that rotates inside the case;
- There orientation arrow is the non-magnetic arrow inside the housing;
- The orientation lines are the lines parallel to the orientation arrow inside the housing.
Step 2. Hold the compass correctly
Place it on the palm of your hand and your hand in front of your chest. This is the correct positioning of the compass when you move. If you are browsing a map, lay it out on a flat surface and place the compass on it for a more accurate reading.
Step 3. Identify which direction you are facing
For a quick basic orientation exercise, you can find the direction you are moving or pointing at. Look at the magnetic needle. It should move to one side or the other, unless you are facing north.
- Rotate the bezel until the lines of the orientation arrow align with the north of the magnetic needle. Once aligned, this will tell you where the direction arrow is pointing. If it is now between north and east, it means that you are facing north-east.
- Look where the direction arrow points with reference to the degree dial. For a more accurate reading, look carefully at the graduated bezel. If there is an intersection on 23, it means you are looking 23 degrees northeast.
Step 4. Try to understand the difference between "true" and "magnetic" north
While it may seem odd that there are two types of north, it is an elementary distinction that you can learn quickly and is essential to being able to properly use a compass.
- The North real o geographic north refers to the point where all the longitudinal lines of the map meet, at the North Pole. All maps have geographic north at the top. Unfortunately, due to slight variations in the Earth's magnetic field, your compass will not point to the geographic North, but to the magnetic one.
- The North magneticinstead, it refers to the direction of the magnetic field which is displaced about 11 degrees from the Earth's axis and which, in some places, creates a difference of about 20 degrees between true north and magnetic north. Depending on your position on the surface of the earth, you will need to take magnetic slip into account to get an accurate reading.
- While the difference may seem small, traveling by as little as 1 degree wrong for a distance of 1.5km creates an offset of about 30 meters. Think what would happen after 20 or 30 kilometers! It is important to compensate by taking the declination into account.
Step 5. Learn to correct declination
It refers to the difference that exists between geographic north and the one marked by your compass, due to the Earth's magnetic field. To be able to use the compass more easily, you will need to add and subtract the degrees of declination from those measured, depending on whether you are taking the coordinates from a map or your compass or whether you are in an east or west declination area..
- In the United States, for example, the declination line runs gently through Alabama, Illinois, and Wisconsin. East of that line, the declination faces west, meaning magnetic north is a few degrees west of geographic north. In the west, it's just the opposite. Find the declination referring to the area in which you will find yourself in order to make an exact compensation.
- Let's say you take a compass reading in a west declination area. You will need to subtract the number of degrees needed to get the exact match on your map. In an area with east declination, you will add them.
Part 2 of 3: Using the Compass
Step 1. Put your readings together to find which direction you are facing
If you are in the woods or in a field, it is good to periodically check your direction to make sure you are going in the right direction. Move the compass until the arrow points in the direction of motion, even as you move. Unless you are heading exactly north, the magnetic needle will move to one side.
- Turn the dial until the orientation arrow lines up with the north of the magnetic needle. Once aligned, you will know where your direction arrow is pointing.
- Detect your local magnetic variation by turning the bezel the correct number of degrees to the left or right, depending on the declination. See where the direction of the movement arrow aligns with the dial.
Step 2. Continue to proceed in this direction
You simply have to hold the compass in the correct position, turn around until the north of the magnetic needle aligns with the orientation arrow once more and follow the indication given by the direction arrow. Check the compass whenever you need to, but make sure you don't move the degree wheel from its current position.
Step 3. Focus on distant points
To accurately follow the direction arrow's indication, observe the arrow and focus your gaze on a distant object the arrow points to (for example, a tree, telephone pole, etc.) and use this as a guide; however, do not focus your gaze on something too distant (such as a mountain), as large objects are not accurate enough to orient yourself accurately. When you reach a guide point, use the compass to find another one.
If visibility is limited and you can't see distant objects, get help from your travel companion if possible. Stay still, then ask him to walk away following the path indicated by the direction arrow. Use your voice to correct her direction as she walks. When he reaches the limit of visibility, ask him to wait until you reach it. Repeat as needed
Step 4. Report direction on a map
Place the map on a horizontal surface, then rest the compass on the map so that the orientation arrow points to true north of the map. Now move the compass so that the edge passes through your current location (with the orientation arrow continuing to point north).
Draw a line from the edge of the compass and through your current location. If you keep this bearing, the path from your current location will follow the line you drew on the map
Step 5. Learn how to detect a direction from the map
To find out which direction you need to move to reach a certain point, you need to place the map on a horizontal surface and put the compass on the map. Using the edge of the compass as a ruler, place it so that it creates a line between your current location and where you intend to go.
- Rotate the degree wheel until the orientation arrow points to true north on the map. This will align the compass orientation lines with the north-south direction of the map. Once the degree dial is in place, put the map away.
- In this case, you will correct for the declination by adding an appropriate number of degrees in an area with west declination and subtracting them for an area with east declination. It's the opposite of what you do by first taking measurements from the compass - it's an important distinction.
Step 6. Use the new direction to move
Hold the compass horizontally in front of you with the direction arrow indicator pointing away from you. Eventually, you will use the direction arrow to navigate to your destination. Turn around until the north of the magnetic needle lines up with the orientation arrow once more. You are now correctly oriented towards the destination identified on the map.
Part 3 of 3: Finding the Right Orientation
Step 1. Choose three obvious landmarks that you can see and even locate on the map
One of the most difficult and advanced features of a compass, but one of the most important, is finding out where you are when you don't know the exact location on the map. These points should be distributed around your field of view in the widest possible area, so that you never lose references.
Step 2. Orient the compass direction arrow towards the first reference point
Unless this is oriented north, the magnetic needle will move to one side. Rotate the degree dial until the orientation arrow lines up with north on the magnetic needle. Once aligned, you will know which direction the direction arrow is pointing. Take into account the local magnetic variation, depending on the area you are in.
Step 3. Report the direction of the landmark on the map
Place the map on a horizontal surface, then rest the compass on the map so that the orientation arrow points to true north of the map. Then move the compass so that its edge passes through the reference point (with the orientation arrow continuing to point north).
Step 4. Triangle your position
Draw a line along the edge of the compass and across your approximate location. This is the first of the three lines you will draw to triangulate your position by forming a triangle with the other three lines.
Repeat this process for the other two landmarks. Once done, you will have three lines forming a triangle on the map. Your position is within this triangle, the size of which depends on the accuracy of the detections. More accurate detections reduce the size of the triangle and, with a lot of practice, you may be able to intersect the lines at a single point
Advice
- You can also hold the compass perpendicular to your body by squeezing the sides of the compass base between your hands (roughly making an L with your thumbs) and resting your elbows on your hips. Stand in front of your target, look straight ahead, and align with the target you are taking the tracking of. The imaginary line extending from your body will cross the compass following the direction arrow. You can also keep your thumbs (against which the compass rests) on your stomach for a firmer grip. Instead, make sure you don't have a belt with a large metal or other magnetic buckle near the compass.
- Trust the compass: in 99.9% of cases it is pointing you in the correct direction. Many landscapes look similar, so once again trust the compass.
- It is often easier to use features in your immediate vicinity to pinpoint your precise location. Triangulation is more useful if you are really lost or are in a wilderness with no particular reference.
- For maximum accuracy, hold the compass over your eye and watch the direction arrow for references, guide points, etc.
- The indications on the compass are usually red or black. The indication of north is usually represented with an N, but if for some reason it is not, try to determine which is north, with the help of certain points of reference or with the position of the sun.
