Land Navigation Course, November 2010

[teotwaki]

Think you're great with that GPS? A map and compass? I thought I was proficient, but found otherwise when I hung out with the pros at a Land Navigation course I took in November down in southern San Diego County.

Read all about it here at my blog: http://suntothenorth.blogspot.com/2010/11/adventures-with-land-navigation.html

 

[adventureduo]

Great class to take... how do you get invited? Thanks for sharing Jim,.... was your partner an Expo member? He looks familiar... from the Trestle hike we did not long ago.

 

[bobcat charlie]

I try not to go anywhere without a map to reference. Love orienteering courses!

I'm an old infantryman...map and compass = survival. Had to know where you were to call for help!

That said, I found it really interesting to do an extended trek in California's Trinity Alps, NW of Weaverville, with only a topo and a Thommen altimeter. Two weeks just me and the dog and never worried about where I was. A lot of terrain features (mountains, streams, rivers) and contour lines made orienteering an interesting game. Would have sucked in III Corp RVN...damn rice paddies lack terrain features!

I like a map/compass or topo map/altimeter and feel real comfortable with those tools...do like to know I have the Garmin in the truck though.

 

[teotwaki]

I try not to go anywhere without a map to reference. Love orienteering courses!

I'm an old infantryman...map and compass = survival. Had to know where you were to call for help!

That said, I found it really interesting to do an extended trek in California's Trinity Alps, NW of Weaverville, with only a topo and a Thommen altimeter. Two weeks just me and the dog and never worried about where I was. A lot of terrain features (mountains, streams, rivers) and contour lines made orienteering an interesting game. Would have sucked in III Corp RVN...damn rice paddies lack terrain features!

I like a map/compass or topo map/altimeter and feel real comfortable with those tools...do like to know I have the Garmin in the truck though.

Great point about the altimeter! My Suunto Vector watch and Garmin GPS have very stable temperature compensated altimeters. They've been very helpful for interpreting topo maps.