[at-l] LandNav 101

[pmags at yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

LiteShoe mentioned that it would be good to do a map
and compass course for a Gathering workshop.

By coinicidence, I was mentioning to Jim and Ginny at
the last gathering  how I think it would be a good
idea for a workshop myself. At their CDT workshop was
a litte astounded when a person thinking of doing the
CDT did not know what a contour line was. After that
comment, thought doing some map and compass basics
would be a good thing!

I instruct a map and compass class for my outdoor
group 2x a year. It is broken up into two sessions.
One is the "classroom" session. We go over the basics
of the compass, how to take bearings, magnetic vs.
true north, how to read a map, different types of maps
(ie. 7.5" topos, FS maps, typical hiking maps) etc.
Then we go over the basics of a GPS. How it can be
used to complement (not replace!) a map and compass.
Show how to use it.

Usually the following Saturday we do the field
exercise. In this exercise I have people do a bearing
exercise. They plant a flag and take compass bearings
from what I have printed out on a 3x5 index card. If
they follow the bearings correctly, they wind up back
at their flag. Next, I have everyone plot out a course
on a 7.5" topo from the area and plant the flag. Then
I get sneaky and have them find each other's flag. :D

We also use the topo to match up the feautures in the
area to the map.


Probably could modify the class a bit for the
Gathering. Should mention that my class is about 6-7
hrs total. (2-3 hrs of classroom, 3-4 hrs field).
Would be a bit abbreviated for the Gathering, but
think it would be a good class. As there is a good
chance I will be onthe CDT come October '05, will have
to wait until Oct '06. :-)

Here's the "syallabus" I hand out when I instruct this
class:
http://www.magnanti.com/miscwritings/landnav101.htm



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The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau
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