What happens when your cell battery dies? How about if the government decides it is too dangerous for the public to have access to the same GPS that they use, and they shut it off? How will you know how to get around?
In my time as a Zombie, I excelled at orienteering using one of these...
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| My Cammenga lensatic compass |
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| This is my compass, there are many like it, but this one is mine... |
...and one of these.
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| A topographical map of one of my favorite areas to hike, The Cat Rocks in Bigelow Hollow State Park |
Click on the map photo to enlarge and check out those contour lines just to the left of Breakneck Pond. During the ancient seismic upheavals, many places in Kommiecticut that had horizontal layers of strata were moved and turned vertically. It is a "knifes edge" cliff with lots of "caves" that are actually voids between layers of rock that broke off and fell, stacking up like a child's blocks. Some are the size of a small house and the voids are large and easy to get in and out of. Just be sure to have a flashlight to look inside first in case the void is occupied by a bruin or large cat. A map and compass aren't needed to get there because the trails are well marked and mapped by the state.
My unit did orienteering annually as a refresher and my team always came in first place and got the prize (usually a case of beer). The team relied on my abilities to navigate, find landmarks, and properly estimate and pace off distances. Before we headed to the next waypoint, I made sure everyone understood and agreed to go the next direction and distance required before proceeding.
While this is more advanced terrain navigating, how many people know how to read (or even possess) a paper roadmap? I keep a AAA version for CT, MA, & RI and a separate one for NY in my bike's trunk. When we are in the parking lot after breakfast trying to figure out a loop ride to take, it is so much easier to visualize a route on a spread out paper map and not on a little cell phone screen.
I have several of them, stashed in various kit bags, etc.
ReplyDeleteI learned to use one as part of the Land Nav phase at Mackall..
To be able to hit a fence post from clicks away, day or nite, rain or shine under less than ideal physical conditions too, was something that I'll never forget, probably one of the best training evolution's i went thru.
I never go out into the woods or elsewhere, w/out i can access..
Their Tritium wrist compass is pretty handy too.
Love the blog, keep it up..
Fellow PO'd deplorable...
ps..let us not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day