Navigation

The ability to avoid getting lost is handy when you are in the outdoors. Understanding and reading maps helps with planning and executing outdoor adventures; and basic navigation skills also help you avoid hazards and make sure your trip is as fun as possible along the way. A map and a compass are the core tools of Scout navigation, and everyone should be comfortable with the use of both.

Map Reading

Topographic maps are the bread and butter of mapping for backcountry navigation. Below is a video from REI that recaps some fundamentals of topgraphic map use.

With regard to map reading, it is important to understand:

  1. Contour lines
  2. Terrain association
  3. Scale
  4. Reading the legend
  5. Declination

Compass

A map is good for showing you where you want to go, but a compass is the tool to make it so you actually get there. Below is another video from REI. This one goes over compass fundamentals.

With regard to compass use, it is important to understand:

  1. Declination (note that your compass may not have the easy adjustment like the one in the video so you'll have to do math)
  2. Reading a bearing from a map
  3. Taking a bearing in the outdoors
  4. Triangulation

CalTopo

You can purchase quality topographic maps at local outdoor retailers as well as various sources online. Or you can print your own for free. Printing your own has some extra advantages besides just the great price: you can customize your area of interest, you only have to bring a normal sheet of paper rather than a big rolled up map, and their are great online tools to help you plan things out before you even print your map.

My favorite online mapping tool is http://caltopo.com. CalTopo allows you to view all sorts of maps: satellite imagery, forest service, as well as our good friend, topographic maps. There are also some great tools to trace your intended route to see things like distance and elevation changes. You can add all sorts of additional information to the map including snow levels, stream flow data, and forest fire history. Using these, CalTopo is a great tool for trip planning. When you are done, you can share the web address of your map with other team members, and save the map as a PDF for sharing or printing.

When printing your map, it is important to consider the scale. When we are looking at maps for backpacking trips, we are typically looking at what are called 7.5' maps (pronounced seven and a half minute maps), also called, "USGS quads." These provide a nice scale for detailed route finding: 1:24,000. I'd recommend targeting a similar scale when printing your own map for backcountry travel.