Part 3 - Basic Navigation In part one of this article I covered off the basics of map reading including how to choose the right map, learning to identify the various geographical features came in part two, along with what they look like in reality compared to a printed map. Planning your route The next step along the path to navigating is route planning. Through what we learnt in part 1 and 2, it … [Read more...]
How to Navigate with a Map & Compass
Part 2 - Identifying Landforms In Part 1 of How to navigate, we looked at the reasons why learning to navigate with a map and compass is a great idea (not to mention fun), whilst kicking off with the basics such as; which maps to use, how to use grid references to describe a location and also measuring distance. We continue with identifying more of the basics of topographic … [Read more...]
How to Navigate with a Map & Compass
Part 1 - How to Read a Topographic Map One of the major excuses I hear from people (mostly women) not wanting to step up and lead hikes or outdoor adventure trips is their lack of navigation skills. I feel that like so many other things in life, although some people may demonstrate a natural ability with directions (like an inbuilt GPS), it is possible to learn how to navigate, with practice and … [Read more...]
The Road Less Travelled – Off Trail Hiking
For people who've only ever walked on defined tracks and trails, the concept that there's a whole other world of exploring and adventuring out there, may come as a shock. It's the world of off trail hiking. I know it came as a shock to me when early in my bushwalking club days, I signed up for a day walk that in the description said, "includes 1km rough off-track section". I honestly didn't … [Read more...]