Elem Map and Compass
Elem Map and Compass
Elem Map and Compass
The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is that the shape of the Earth's surface is
shown by contour lines. Contours are imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation
on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface such as mean sea level.
Contours make it possible to measure the height of mountains, depths of the ocean bottom,
and steepness of slopes.
A topographic map shows more than contours. The map includes symbols that represent
such features as streets, buildings, streams, and woods. These symbols are constantly
refined to better relate to the features they represent, improve the appearance or readability
of the map, or to reduce production cost.
1) A rotatable bezel, dial, or protractor to measure angles between 0 and 360 degrees, a full
circle, mounted on a clear, transparent, plastic, rectangular, base plate.
a) Typically the angles are identified numerically every 20 degrees with the intervening
angle divided by short lines (or ticks) into two degree increments.
b) North (N) is 0 degrees and after completing a full circle, it is 360 degrees.
c) East (E) is 90 degrees. South (S) is 180 degrees. West (W) is 270 degrees. These, along
with north, are the Cardinal directions.
d) The angular degrees increase in magnitude in a clockwise direction when facing the
compass from above.
2) A "Read Bearing Here or Direction of Travel arrow on the clear, transparent, plastic,
rectangular, base plate.
3) Straight edge.
4) A ruler for measuring inches and millimeters.
5) A housing or capsule, filled with a liquid, for immersion of the needle, to dampen its
oscillations.
6) A mirror to aid in accurately obtaining a field bearing.
7) A means of compensating for declination (variation). For purposes of this discussion it
should be assumed that the compass, being used, is uncompensated.
8) Magnets for compensating deviation, (error due to the presence of ferrous materials),
normally used only in compasses for automobiles, airplanes, and ships.
9) Illuminated or luminous dial for taking readings at night.
Note: It is recommended, as a minimum, that a compass with the first five
capabilities be used.
D) Compass Cautions:
1) A compass needle is a small magnet therefore it is attracted by, other magnets, ferrous
materials such as iron and steel, electrical currents that produce magnetic fields, and
sometimes deposits of iron ore in the earth. Beware of automobiles, belt buckles, power
lines, iron bolts in picnic tables, nails, spikes, axes, knives, steel toed shoes, and metal
fence posts.
E) What is a Bearing?
A bearing is the angular measurement between the direction of north (either true or magnetic)
and the direction of some distant object, obtained at the position where the measurement is
being taken. The units of angular measurement are degrees between 0 and 360. The angular
degrees increase in magnitude in a clockwise direction when facing the compass from above.
A bearing is to a compass as distance is to a ruler or odometer.
2) Symbols:
There is a huge number of symbols that represent different types of natural and man-made
features. Some of these are shown in the references.
3) Colors:
a) Green: Woodlands, shrubs, orchards, and vegetation
b) Brown: Land features and contour lines
c) Black: Man-made structures, place names, and boundaries
d) Blue: Water, lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, permanent snow and ice, marshes, swamps
e) Red: Major highways and land survey lines
f) White: No trees, above the timber line
g) Purple: Revisions since the previous issue
4) Contour Lines:
A thin brown line connecting all points of equal elevation above a datum reference, usually
mean sea level. Every fifth line is printed slightly wider, with the elevation printed in
brown somewhere along the line. On any given map, the elevation difference between any
two adjacent contour lines is identical and stated on the map. This elevation difference is
called the contour interval. The elevation difference between two adjacent lines on one
5) Location:
The degrees of longitude (meridians) and latitude that pinpoint the map location on the
surface of the earth are identified. Longitude lines, each drawn between the north pole and
the south pole, are the lines of constant angular eastwest location, measured from the
Prime Meridian running through Greenwich, England. Latitude lines are parallel lines,
each of constant angular north-south location and are measured north and south of the
equator.
6) Place Names:
The names of rivers, peaks, valleys, roads, towns, are identified on the map, along with the
name of the map and the eight adjoining topographical maps.
N) Determination of Position:
With the map correctly oriented, you may be able to locate your position by observation of
nearby features. If not possible by observation, identify two prominent features printed on the
map. Obtain a compass bearing on each of the two prominent features. With the angles
obtained, draw a line through each feature on the map. The point of intersection of these two
lines is your position. Use features which are as close to 90 degrees apart as possible.
0) Altimeters:
Altimeter add an interesting third dimension to a backpacking trip. Topographical maps are
two dimensional but illustrate elevation. By knowing altitude, another check on location can
be made. Because altimeters measure atmospheric pressure they are subject to errors due to
changes in weather conditions and must be adjusted frequently. Altimeters should not be used
exclusively, without the benefit of map and compass.
1) The Boy Scout Handbook, 10th Edition Chapter 8, Finding Your Way, Page 179.
2) Fieldbook, Boy Scouts of America, 3rd Edition Chapter 3, Backcountry Navigation, Page 21.
3) Orienteering Merit Badge Book, 1992 Revision, Boy Scouts of America
4) Backpacking Merit Badge Book, 1983 Revision, Boy Scouts of America, Finding Your Way, Page 47.
5) Venture Orienteering Book, 1997, Boy Scouts of America
6) The Official Patrol Leader Handbook, 1988, Boy Scouts of America, Compass Games, Page 7677, 104
105, 157161
7) Cub Scout Academics, Geography, 1994, Boy Scouts of America
8) The Basic Essentials of Map and Compass, by Cliff Jacobson, 2nd Edition, 1997, ICS Books, Inc.
9) Be Expert With Map and Compass, The Complete Orienteering Handbook, by Bjorn Kjellstrom, 1994,
Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Company, (contains an excellent chapter on orienteering plus
several map and compass games for easy and fun learning)
10) The Circumnavigators, by Derek Wilson, 1989, M. Evans and Company, Inc. (a great dissertation on the
difficulties of long distance navigation)
11) Compass and Map Navigator, The Complete Guide to Staying Found, by Michael Hodgson, 1997, The
Bruton Company and ICS Books, Inc.
12) De Magnete, by William Gilbert, 1600, Translated in 1893 by P. Fleury Mottelay, Dover Publications,
1958 (William Gilbert is the early discoverer of the earths magnetic properties)
13) Early Sea Charts, by Robert Putman, 1983, Abbeville Press (an interesting history of early maps)
14) The Essential Wilderness Navigator, by David Seidman,1995, Ragged Mountain Press
15) Finding Your Way in the Outdoors, by Robert L. Mooers, Jr., 1990, Popular Science Books (excellent
practical information)
16) The Green Berets Compass Course, by Don Paul, 1991, Path Finder Publications
17) Land Navigation Handbook, by W. S. Kals, 1983, The Sierra Club (very easy to read )
18) Lost in the Woods, by Colleen Politano, ICS Books, Inc., Merrillville, Indiana (How to teach a youth, of
any age, what to do when lost)
19) The Map Catalog, Joel Makower, Editor, 1986, A Tilden Press Book. Vintage Books, A Division of
Random House
20) Map, Compass and Campfire, by Donald E. Ratliff, 1992, Binford & Mort Publishing
21) The Mapmakers, by John Noble Wilford, 1981, Alfred A. Knopf (a great history book on map making)
22) Maps and Compasses, Second Edition, by Percy W. Blandford, 1992, Tab Books, (A long time Boy
Scout)
23) Orienteering and Map Games for Teachers, by Mary E. Garrett, 1996, United States Orienteering
Federation
24) The Outward Bound Map and Compass Handbook, by Glenn Randall, 1998, The Lyons Press
25) Staying Found, 2nd Edition, by June Fleming, The Mountaineers
26) GPS Made Easy, by Lawrence Letham, The Mountaineers
27) Kiwisport Orienteering, Coaching Manual, A Hillary Commission Programme, New Zealand Orienteering
Federation, 1990
28) The Orange County Council Basic Backpack Awareness Training Course presented by The Orange
County Council High Adventure Team in the fall and spring of each year.
29) Los Angeles Orienteering Club, c/a Joel Thomson, 5131 W. 134th Place, Hawthorne, CA 902505621,
3109784595
30) Allied Services, 966 North Main Street, Orange, Ca. 92667 (They advertise that they stock over 250,000
topographical maps from every state in the union)
31) Finding Your Way in The Wild, by Kenton Jones, 1990, (35 minute video), Quality Video, Inc.
32) January 1999 Leadership Training Conference, Orange County Council, Charles L. Hand
32) http://maping.usgs.gov