GPS technology has made navigation so easy that most people have lost the ability to find their way without it. That works fine until your phone battery dies, your GPS unit breaks, or you find yourself in a canyon with no satellite signal. At that point, knowing how to navigate with a map and compass, or even without any tools at all, becomes the difference between finding your way out and wandering in circles.
These are not difficult skills.
They just require practice and a basic understanding of how to read the landscape around you.
Map and Compass Basics
A topographic map and a baseplate compass are the foundation of backcountry navigation. Together they weigh a few ounces, never need batteries, and work in any weather. Learn to use them and you will never be truly lost.
Start by orienting your map to north.
Place the compass on the map and rotate the map until the compass needle aligns with the north arrow on the map. Now your map matches the terrain around you, and everything you see should correspond to features on the map.
Identify your current position by looking for recognizable terrain features. A trail junction, a stream crossing, a hilltop, or a lake shore can all pin your location on the map.
Once you know where you are, you can plot a course to where you want to go.
To take a bearing to your destination, place the compass edge along a line from your current position to your target on the map. Rotate the compass housing until the orienting arrow points to map north. Read the bearing at the direction-of-travel arrow. Now hold the compass in front of you, turn your body until the needle sits inside the orienting arrow, and walk in the direction the travel arrow points.
Check your bearing frequently.
It is easy to drift off course over long distances. Pick a visible landmark along your bearing line, walk to it, then sight another landmark on the same bearing and continue.
Terrain Association
Experienced navigators do not stare at their compass constantly. They read the terrain. This is called terrain association, and it means matching what you see around you with what the map shows.
Ridgelines, valleys, saddles, and drainages all create recognizable shapes on a topographic map. If the map shows you should be descending into a valley with a stream at the bottom, and you can see a valley ahead with the sound of running water, you are on track.
Handrails are linear features you can follow without precise navigation. A river, a ridge, a road, a power line, or a fence line all serve as handrails.
If you know your destination is near a river, you do not need a precise bearing. Just head toward the river and follow it.
Backstops are large features that tell you when you have gone too far. If a major road runs east-west two miles south of your camp, that road is your backstop. If you hit the road, you know you passed your target and need to turn around.
Navigating by the Sun
The sun rises in the general east and sets in the general west.
At midday in the northern hemisphere, the sun is due south. These are rough directions, not precise bearings, but they are enough to maintain a general heading when you have no compass.
For a more precise reading, use the shadow stick method. Push a straight stick vertically into the ground. Mark the tip of the shadow with a stone. Wait 15 to 20 minutes and mark the new shadow tip. A line from the first mark to the second mark points roughly east-west, with the first mark on the west side.
A line perpendicular to this gives you north-south.
Navigating by the Stars
In the northern hemisphere, the North Star (Polaris) indicates true north. Find the Big Dipper and follow the line created by the two stars at the edge of the cup (the pointer stars) about five times the distance between them. They point directly to Polaris, which sits nearly above the North Pole and stays fixed while other stars rotate around it.
In the southern hemisphere, the Southern Cross constellation provides a rough south indicator.
Extend the long axis of the cross about 4.5 times its length and drop an imaginary line straight down to the horizon. That point is approximately due south.
Natural Navigation Indicators
Moss does not always grow on the north side of trees. That old myth is unreliable in most environments. However, there are natural indicators that can help confirm direction when used together.
Snow melts faster on south-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere because they receive more direct sunlight. Vegetation tends to be lusher on south-facing aspects in northern latitudes. Spider webs are more common on the south side of trees in many areas because spiders prefer warmth.
Wind patterns in your area can indicate direction if you know the prevailing winds. In much of North America, weather generally moves from west to east. Trees exposed to constant wind lean away from the prevailing direction.
Water flows downhill. If you are lost and need to find civilization, following water downstream will generally lead to larger waterways, roads, and eventually settlements.
Staying Found
The best navigation strategy is to never get lost in the first place. Check your map frequently, not just when you think you are off course. Note landmarks as you pass them. Look behind you periodically so the terrain looks familiar on the return trip.
Tell someone your planned route and expected return time before every trip. If something goes wrong, rescuers knowing where to start looking dramatically reduces search time.
Practice these skills on easy, well-marked trails before you rely on them in challenging terrain. Navigation is a perishable skill. Use it regularly or refresh it before heading into unfamiliar country.
