Knowing how to orientate a map is just one facet of the wider skill of knowing how to read a map. Turn your map so that north on the map corresponds to the needles orientation. PART 1 Basic Land Navigation Module 6 Map Information WARNING This presentation is intended as a quick summary, and not a comprehensive resource. To use your lensatic compass to find the direction of your intended azimuth (which you probably got from your map, using your protractor): 1. NY 10036. This video shows how to orient a map with a compass and briefly discusses magnetic declination. Turn your map so that north on the map, points in the same direction as the needle. How To Get Your Map and Compass To Face the Same Direction. Put that hand up to the compass, steadying the compass by placing your index finger along the compass's side, and wrapping your thumb between the bezel ring and the rear sight. Contours are king. Make sure the degrees of the dial are readable. Point position. You should notice that the direction of travel arrow should be pointing at the top of the map, and the black orienteering lines should also be parallel to the north-south gridlines on the map. Line up your map with what you see around you. Plot a line on the map using the mountains rear bearing. Line it up with that. To use this method (a) Open the cover to a 90-degree angle to the base. Double-check by making sure the map title or legend text is the correct way up, or find the maps north arrow. There is some technical difference between the two, but for all practical civilian purposes, the words are interchangeable. A visualization depicting the Soldiers Manual of Common Tasks (STP 21-1-SMCT) task Orient a Map Using a Lensatic Compass (071-COM-1011). Pull your elbows firmly into your sides; this will place the compass between your chin and your belt. Youll want to turn it until that black arrow outline is lined up with the 4E hash mark. It is easy to learn and it can be done with just a map and compass. Lay the compass down on your map. Looking at the map is an easy way of finding which direction north or east are relative to your current position. Youll line up your needle with the tape arrow instead of the arrow on your compass. 4. Now were going to find out where exactly we are on that line. As we can see, the area Im in has a declination of 4E. In this case, it would be 204 (24+180). In your case, however, your declination is 004 degrees West, meaning you'll have to add 004 degrees before you set your compass. 1. There is no declination, and you do not need to adjust your compass. To make sure you receive a correct bearing, youll have to perform some arithmetic with all of your bearings. Place map on flat surface (not metal) 2. No worries. Your cheek should be resting on the base of your thumb. When this happens, its time to orientate using a compass. Sometimes limited visibility means terrain features may not be visible. 8; Page 11 G. LOCATING POSITION USING INTERSECTION 1. A map so lined up is easier to interpret and follow than a map spread out haphazardly. If youre in the Adirondacks, add 14 degrees to get a correct bearing of 194 degrees. This webpage may also be used to get current declinations. Open the compass all the way so that the cover locks into position against the base, forming a straightedge along the left side. Youre in the right place! Its declination is recorded as 14E. If the contour interval is 10 meters, then what is the change in elevation of each intermediate contour . 2. But it isnt just magnets there are other culprits at play, here. We may use the map to identify any landmark we observe in our landscape once we know our point location. Thats your bearing from point A to point B. In Part I, we covered how to properly use a compass, how to shootyour bearings, and the best map for navigating: the topo map. Its a subtle difference, but its a roundabout way of saying lensatic compasses are less prone to interference than others. Go to your map. Look at which way the red needle is pointing. Ethan Allan thats the peak you saw. The map is now oriented to the terrain. You can also plot a known compass bearing on the mapthe reverse process. When map reading, there are two ways to orient a mapby eye and with a compass. Wrap your middle, ring and pinky finger around your thumb for support. We can find out easily enough, though. It will be clearer why we need to compensate for declination in the first place. Your compass is now set. At this point, your map is almost oriented. Method #2. On the map, you are where the line connects with the highway. 5. Look directly down on the top (smaller card) of compass to view general orientation cardinal points. Move the lens holder: Slightly push forward the lens holder. When you return from using your lensatic compass, take it apart as much as possible to detect any moisture. That can make a huge difference! SEE IT. Now hold the compass on the map and rotate yourself and the map/compass together until the orienting arrow and the compass needle are aligned to magnetic north. 5. Magnetic north is now off the coast of Greenland, but true north is at the very top of the world. Theyre not traditionally used for camping trips or simple navigation, but if youre serious about prepping, this is a must-have in your EDC bag and bug out bag. Open it up using the cloud-based editor and begin editing. Youll want to stick to areas that are cool and dry, and dont offer any immediate threats to technological devices. That would be 130. Note that we will be moving and adjusting the compass on the map. In such orientation we use a lensatic scale. Your action from here depends on the value and direction of your declinationeast or west. This visualization has been approved for public release.Storyboard developed from the STP 21-1 Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks Warrior Skills Level 1, September 2017Approved by the Center for Initial Military Training (CIMT) G-3/5/7, Initial Entry Training, Fort Eustis Virginia. [10] 4. Lets go to the other side of the country. Reserve! The degrees are in red, and are the ring's inner measurements. Take a bearing on the mountain thats southwest from you. New York, With the thumb loop all the way down under the compass, put the thumb of one hand all the way inside the loop, and place the index finger of that same hand along one side of the compass. Home / Educational Resources / Math Resources / Compass: Definitions and Examples. 4. Get my Land Navigation coursehere. Well, that is, unless you're doing something silly like holding the compass backwards. If your compass doesnt have a declination adjustment key, simply make the adjustment on the spot. This makes it easier to relate what you see on the map with what you see on the ground. Spatial awareness refers to having knowledge about where everything in the environment is located relative as well as understanding how objects relate with each other spatially. The orient a map to the ground by map-terrain association is one of the most basic skills that you will need in order to survive. Its not unheard of for hikers to accidentally read their map upside down and end up facing south, rather than north. The North-seeking arrow of the compass must fall within 3 degrees (50 mils) of the angle shown in the grid-magnetic (G-M) angle on the map's declination diagram. You can use this feature to set your compass in the dark. Youll see that it shows two arrows when you turn your headset or controllers around to show the new orientation of a map."}}]}. The instructions on this page might make orienting a map seem a highly technical thing. I guess the military needs the extra accuracy now and then say, for example, to precisely place artillery fire. First things first. A lightweight, well-engineered orienteering compass from the Finnish company that helped set the gold standard in navigation. So in this installment, well go over the skills you need to do just that. Turn your compass on its side. With the map level, place the compass . Where the line intersects with the highway is where you are on the map. PART 1 Basic Land Navigation USING THE MILITARY LENSATIC COMPASS Module 6 Map Information. Place your map in such a way that the terrain features line up with your maps features. As mentioned in Part I, true north and magnetic north arent the same. The term "lensatic" comes from the fact that there is a lens on the rear side of the compass that aids in the orienteering process. A lensatic compass features a small pop-out area for your thumb, and a lid on top of the main compass body. Whether or not you participate in orienteering, I'm confident you'll find that a properly oriented map is a huge help in finding your way. Because my magnetic declination is 4E, Ill move the black arrow outline to the red hash marks next to E DECL.. The two basic techniques for using the lensatic compass . But I wish I had the simpler kind that just automatically points to the direction on the compass that I am . Program, Strengthen Your Tribe: A Report on the Atomic Athlete Vanguard, The Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers! Whenever the luminous magnetic arrow lines up with the luminous short line, you're following your intended azimuth. You cant shoot a bearing on the end point in your terrain since you cant see it. The rear bearing is at a 50-degree angle. Kieran James Cunningham is a climber, mountaineer, and author who divides his time between the Italian Alps, the US, and his native Scotland. Huzzah! When moisture seeps into the lens case of your lensatic compass, it causes major problems. All you have to do is shoot a bearing towards the unidentified peak. 1. A Cumbrian born and bred, his native English Lake District has a special place in his heart, though he is at least equally happy in North Wales, the Scottish Highlands or the European Alps. There's another way to orientate a map using a compass that starts slightly differently to what was explained above. It will make it easier to understand why we adjust for declination in the first place. You notice another mountain peak out in the distance, but you dont know what its called. Basically, the compass needle will point someplace east of true north in locations west of the agonic line, whereas it will point somewhere west of true north in areas east of the agonic line. Half the activity of their sport is keeping their map oriented so they can navigate faster and with more accuracy. The needle on your compass dial will always be pointing north, so when placing the compass on the map, the needle on the compass should match the map's north in order to orient yourself. This way you can see the object and the bezel at the same time. Turn your entire body as a unit until your predetermined azimuth falls under the fixed black index line. Orienting the Map with an Orienteering Compass. 2. Hold the compass steady and level, and up to your face. You learn that it has a 176 bearing. You can use this feature to set your compass in the dark. Yeah, book is the most effective tool that can be made use of for affecting your life. Thanks so much for sharing! Make an "L" shape with the index finger and thumb of your other hand. Place your map on a horizontal surface and then place the compass on the map so that the orienting arrow points to true north on the map. Adjust the compass bezel so that north on the compass corresponds to north on the map. 2. When you point your compass towards true north, the needle will point a bit to the west. To obtain a heading from our map, we may use our compass as a protractor. To determine the direction, or bearing, from one point to another, you need a. compass as well as a map. In this guide, we will be covering the following: The first step to successful navigation with a map and compass in the backcountry is correctly orienting your map. 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Also known as setting the map, orientating helps to relate your position and the landscape around you to the map, therefore making onward navigation more straightforward. Turn the compass dial so that the bearing intersects the index line (2). Doing that with a lensatic compass is much like doing that with any other compass. It's important to hold your compass stable, squarely in front of you, and level. With a little bit of compass work, you can figure this out. Assume youre going on a short trek from one location to another. On your map, shoot the back bearing that you just took with your compass from the top of Saddle Mountain. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: You can use the arrow keys, or you can hold down shift and move in any direction to rotate a map around its axis. 3. That has the potential to make a significant impact! Spatial awareness refers to having knowledge about where everything in the environment is located relative as well as understanding how objects relate with each other spatially. Lay the map out flat in front of you. The base is the compass dial, bezel, and the thumb loopthe thumb loop is used for stability to garner a more accurate reading. However, we should be able to figure it out rather quickly. When your compass cant adjust for declination, you may make your own declination arrow out of masking tape and attach it below your compass under the right declination degree hash (This will only work if your compass has a clear base). Sometimes we may use GPS technology or navigational apps to find our way, but we will always have the option of a map and compass stashed safely in our hiking backpack. Experience is the best way to learn and wed highly recommend booking a navigation course to really hone your skills. How to Use a Compass to Get Your Bearings. When you have a line position, you know that youre on some identifiable line on the map (trail, ridge line, etc. ), but youre not sure where. Because this method of orienting your map requires having visuals on features or landmarks in the terrain, good visibility is a must. Step 2: line the compass up with the map. Then, slide your compass around so that its edge passes through the landmark on the map, while the orienting arrow continues to point north. Improve your reading skills with the KWL Method Compass 101 - How to Use a Baseplate Compass Buying a Compass for Land Naviga-tion Basic Navigation with a Compass and a Map How to orient a map and take a . You now have your target's bearing. More or less, where the second line meets the first is where you are on the map. Once you reach your landmark, align yourself again to make sure youre on the right path. Step One: Take a Compass Bearing on the Ground. Bear in mind that an east declination value will be a positive number, and a west declination value will be a negative number. Sight: Now peek through the rear sight slot, aligning the sighting wire or the front sight to the desired direction or object. To do so accurately, however, we must first adjust our compass for magnetic declination so the reading taken from the compass arrow . Rotate the compass until the north on the bezel points to the top of the map and the compass housing orienting lines are parallel to the maps vertical grid lines, using your position as a pivot. Open the cover completely and pull back the rear sight. Take your compass and turn the compass housing (bezel) until the red orientating arrow is in line with the direction of travel arrow. The red end of the needle must be pointing to the top of the map. Lay the compass on the map, using the straight edge to create a line from your starting point to your destination. Making sure you don't move to change directions, turn the glass compass housing until the short luminous line is directly lined up with the luminous magnetic arrow. For bearings of one to 179 degrees, rotate the bezel counter-clockwise. Simply look for distinguishable landmarks that are marked on the map, and turn so that both you and the map are facing this object. It has its advantages and disadvantages over the orienteering compass. The edge of the compass baseplate is now pointing in the direction of the visible landmark from which you took your bearing. Center-hold. As long as youre lined up with your direction of travel arrow (keeping that north arrow visible for reference), you need to look through the sighting line and pick a landmark ahead of you. He climbs when he should be writing, writes when he should be sleeping, has fun always. Brunton TruArc 8010 Classic Map Luminous Compass Brunton TruArc 8010 Classic Map Luminous Compass Item # WX2- 715075 / Mfg. Once you are physically at your starting location, it's time to put your compass to good use. 3. Customize the template with smart fillable areas. Orient your map so that its lined up with magnetic north (see above). How to use the Lunatic Compass Map Orientation by compass Magnetic Azimuth A magnetic azimuth of any object is the compass reading of a direct line across the center of the compass to the object. You see that its 310 in relation to you. The floating dial is used to determine the direction in which you are pointing your compass. We still need to understand where we are in reference to our map how to orient ourselves before we can start really navigating, which well cover in Part III of this series. You will not be using it for the center-hold technique. Open the cover completely and pull back the rear sight. Look at the red needle to see which direction it is pointing. Compass adjusted for declination. Well say the declination value is 10 degrees. From point A to point B, thats your bearing. First, open the compass to its fullest so that the cover forms a straightedge with the base. Click heretolearn about the three different types of compasses. Declination is the angle formed by true north and magnetic north. There was a problem. Brett May 23, 2016 Last updated: June 2, 2021. Below, we offer a short, straight-talking guide to how its done. 2. Position of the point. Your action from here depends on the value and direction of your declinationeast or west. Find the magnetic declination on your map. The instances navigation needs to be most spot-on are when visibility is compromised. Note: This procedure places the fixed black index line of the compass parallel to north-south grid lines of the map. Housing lines should be parallel to the vertical grid lines on the map. Identify where you are on the map and place the compass edge over this location. Keep it in a case, or wrapped up in a thick cloth to prevent those damages. Hold it square and straight in front of you like you mean business. A compass needle aligns with the magnetic fields in the Earth, which is what it uses to help you find true north. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do you do map orientation? Thats 130 degrees. Navigate to your map. The lensatic compass must always be held level and firm when sighting on an object and reading an azimuth. You can see that the mountain is 24 degrees away from you. SPECS dimensions:4.1" x 2.4" x 0.6" |10.4 x 6.2 Read More. You should then be able to roughly work out which way is north, east south or west using your maps gridlines. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A: To rotate a map in Beat Saber, you can hit the trigger button on your controller. But not to you, I trust. Related Tags. Navigation has taken on many forms over the years. Well, we can use our compass as a protractor to take a bearing from our map. 3. 2. Survival Compass, Military Compass Hiking, Orienteering Lensatic Compass, Waterproof Navigation Compasses, Survival Emergency Luminous Sighting Compass. 3. Adjust for magnetic declination. 3. Once you are physically at your starting location, its time to put your compass to good use. Then tilt the mirror until you can see straight down into the bezel. He has climbed a handful of 6000ers in the Himalayas, 4000ers in the Alps, 14ers in the US, and loves nothing more than a good long-distance wander in the wilderness. With that bearing, we can use our compass to start traveling in the direction we need to go in order to get to our endpoint. 4. You can also use this website to get up to date declinations. True north is at the very top of the earth, while magnetic north is currently off the coast of Greenland. In my online video land-navigation course, I explain in lecture 20, how to orient a map. Before we can start actually navigating, which well get to in Part IIIof this series, we still need to learnwhere we are in relation to our maphow to orient ourselves. What happens if you dont compensate for declination with your compass? The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. Last but not lease, lensatic compasses are prone to scratching. Look through the sighting slot and find some target (a tree, boulder, whatever) that lines up with your sighting wire. If youre in the Adirondacks, youll want to add 14 so your true bearing would be 194. See the line labeled the agonic line? As long as you can hold the compass level and steady, the exact grip doesn't matter. Most compasses are marked with the four cardinal. When you do know exactly where you are in relation to your map, you have your point position.. 4. In this video below,the user walks through the elements of a USGI lensatic compass, and how to properly use one. Your map (and yourself) are now be orientated north. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Assume youve climbed to the top of Camels Hump in Vermont. See that little black outline of an arrow? Youll notice the north/south symbol on a corner of your map with a straight 90 line going up. This is sometimes referred to as putting red in the shed. We know were somewhere along HW 115 and south of Saddle Mountain. Hold the compass with your thumb fully in the thumb ring, and your index finger wrapped around and gripping the circular part of the underneath of the compass's base. Lets say youre out hiking. Lets go back to our Muir Woods example. Weve compiled a detailed guide on how to adjust for magnetic declination, but at its most basic level it goes like this: Your map should state what the magnetic declination is in degrees for the region you are in. Dont worry that your red orientating arrow doesnt point exactly map north. 1 color. Return from Lensatic Compass to How to Use a Compass. Get my Land Navigation coursehere. What if you dont have a compass that allows you to adjust for declination? Another trick for declination when your compass cant adjust for it is to create your own declination arrow out of masking tape and tape it beneath your compass under the correct declination degree hash (This will only work if your compass has a clear base). If your local declination is east of the agonic line, youll need to add the declination to your compass bearing; if its west of the agonic line, youll need to remove the declination from your compass bearing. Lensatic compasses are made up of three parts: cover, base, and reading lens.