How I Use a Map & Compass to Navigate Off Trail - The Basics

This is how I use my Suunto compass to navigate off trail in the woods while hiking.

IG: @climbwithchristina

[thexoftexas]

I was in the Army 20 years when a map and compass were the only navigation aids. Your explanation was exactly correct. It is so refreshing to see that someone can actually navigate by using their God given talents. Great video.

[lew]

You're a natural born teacher (clear and concise, focus on the facts, no rambling, excellent and pleasant speaking voice). GREAT JOB CHRISTINA!!!!

[sherryflavour]

bruh i watched 10 videos and this is the only one that made sense. thanks

[MikeJones-xwte]

Christina, great video of a subject that was and to some extent close to my heart.
I'm ex British Army, where we used both the prismatic and Silva compasses.
I presented this subject on training days in my regiment and to new recruits during basic training.
I still carry a Silva compass and maps with me when my wife and I travel, but being 66 years old and what we call a grey nomad (towing our caravan), down here in Australia, we just stick to the roads, using map reading skills.
It's so refreshing to see a young person like yourself using the older ways.

[TobinHolz]

I've watched a dozen or more YT videos looking for the simplest guide for land navigation using a compass. Yours is the most straight forward and includes some gotchas that other don't mention. I like that you don't spend 30 minutes explaining magnetic declination but just simply adjust for declination based-on your map. It may have been worth mentioning the declination screw adjustment that comes on many compasses. The only other thing was that I really wanted to see how you go about finding your current coordinates on the map. I'll have to look to see if you have a video on triangulation to find your location on the map. It is also useful to line up your map and compass facing Grid North and look around in the real world for any landmarks that may appear on your map... that can give you a pretty good idea of where you are on the map.

[hankhager]

You did an excellent job explaining map and compass one of the best videos I’ve seen yet

[djohnson]

In a recon platoon in vietnam we used the shoot a point and count steps method, often only a few yards between points.Two or three guys were counting steps, putting rocks from one pocket to another to keep track every hundred steps.we were able to hit small clearings after moving thousands of kilometers of dense brush and jungle.Important as these were assembly points for widely separated troops.

[Lue_Jonin]

Six of the seven years that I spent long distance hiking on the National Scenic Trails and survival living in cold climate National Forests across the USA I used nothing more than my old Army compass and paper maps I acquired along my It wast til my seventh year that I purchased a phone with the Gut Hooks trail GPS map aps ... I never did buy or use one of the SPOT devices.
I'm pleased to see a video showing the skills of land navigation explained so clearly.... Very well done young hiker 👍 ❤ 👣 The only information that would also help in this video would've been that every person wanting to learn this form of land navigation, would be to learn the types of land formations on a map and to be able to recognize said land formations by visual sight

[wr]

Adding my voice to the many comments of praise. I’m an absolute newbie and have struggled understanding these concepts after watching so many videos. You are a great teacher. Direct and to the point. Clear explanations. No extra junk thrown in. Brava!

[marcmartel]

Planning to use your video in an English second language class. You are easy to follow, understand and there is no background music. Good work!

[bendover]

As others have said, this is an excellent presentation with clear explanations.

An alternate method of accounting for declination is to orient the map to the compass at the beginning, while offsetting for declination. Then, as long as you don’t move the map after it’s oriented, each bering that you take from that point on will be a magnetic bering that has already had declination accounted for. This cuts down on the possibility for errors. Also, all you have to focus on is putting red in the shed. It also helps with triangulation, if you don’t know where on the map you are located. The big thing is knowing the declination for the area you are operating in.

[magnus]

We used to play Orienteering games in the Army. It brings a little stress into finding your way, which is good. Who would not want to do this in the fall in Bavaria? What a beautiful place.

[terrystephenson]

You did a great job with this video. Clean, simple, and no BS. Well done!

[JB-]

Excellent video. The whole concept was explained clearly and was so easy to follow and understand. The “bras with underwire” comment, though very salient, absolutely cracked me up!

[chedbaker]

Nice job, Christina! Clearest explanation to date I've seen, and I really appreciated the tips of things to watch out for. Good job on the flipped direction, too. Keep it up!

[prakashdhage]

It's the best video I have ever seen on understanding compass, bearings, declination, elevation and use of compass for orienteering... Concept simplified to the core...👍
Thank you!

[grand.pitcher]

The simplest and most complete video about how to use a compass within a map. Thank you!

[Havoc_Prime]

From 3 years in the future, this was the most concise and helpful video ive seen so far. Thanks

[erindoyle]

Thank you so much for this! I was so confused until I watched this video. You explained it in a way that totally clicked for me, thank you!

[stog]

That was good. You might have pointed out two things. The vertical lines on the map are longitude. I think most people would know that, but if they don’t it wouldn’t hurt to learn. The other is that most good compasses can be adjusted for declination so north points north without making a second calculation. Of course, it needs to be kept up to date, and if you go to a new area you’ll need to reset that adjustment, but google declination for whatever area you’re in and you’ll get the figure.