Staying Found: An Introduction to the Magic of Map & Compass Navigation

Join Shawnté Salabert, author of Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California, for a 2-hour introduction to map & compass navigation.

Once you know how to read contour lines, and are able to use your compass to point your eyes in the right direction, you can identify peaks and valleys, search for off-trail campsites, and so much more. Navigation knowledge is truly power—the power of self-reliance and seeing the wonder of nature through fresh eyes.  This 2-hour course will serve as a basic introduction to map and compass navigation.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this Zoom Online Learning Course:

• Parts of a compass
• Finding and setting declination
• Setting a bearing on a compass
• Taking a bearing on a compass
• Basic components of a topographic map
• How to read topo lines on a map
• How to measure distance on a topo map
• Orienting your map
• Landform recognition

While you can watch your instructor demonstrate compass use onscreen, you’ll likely get a bit more value out of the class if you have one handy at home; mirrored compasses are best for use in the field.