Compass To Find Cache

[pilgrim4JC]

Can anyone explain how I might use my compass when I get within 20 feet of a cache and can't rely on the gps getting you to the right spot?

[+New England n00b]

Use the bearing numbers off your GPS. Really, though, it is better to just start looking around.

 

The bearing numbers should indicate the direction the cache is from your location - or where the GPS THINKS the cache is. At 20 feet, I haven't found it all the helpful except when my GPS & the actual cache coordinates are very close.

 

/Former compass user

Edited January 3, 2006 by New England n00b

[+Airmapper]

I have never needed to (Lowrance user ha ha ) but you can use your GPS to get the bearing and distance while in a area of good signal, and then use that and the compass to go to the cache. It probably wouldn't work for very long distances, but under 50 feet should work well.

[+Sonoran Privateers]

I use a compass. My GPS doesn't have one of them fancy digital compasses built in. So, like many, it doesn't give you a a heading unless you're moving. I find the compass handy, as I don't have to start walking in a direction to get the GPS woken up. I just get the bearing-to-cache from the GPS, look at my compass, pick a tree/rock/barn/nuclear reactor cooling tower in the distance and walk to it.

 

I figure I spend less time looking at a device and more time enjoying the hike.

[+Miragee]

I searched for a cache recently that said the cache was 18 paces at 300° Magnetic from the "bearing tree."

 

I set my Vista C to Magnetic, looked in the direction of 300°, and then walked the 18 paces.

 

It was a fun, memorable cache to find . . .

 

However, once you are within 20 feet of a cache, you just need to put the GPSr away and start looking for likely hiding places.

[pilgrim4JC]

I really appreciate the advice. I think I can figure out how to do it now from your posts. Just watch the gps compass bearing point and then set my handheld compass to that bearing. Sounds easy enough. Thanks all

[+Alan2]

Pilgram-I think you missed the point. If you're within 20 feet the compass won't do you any good because the info from the GPS is erratic. If you base the compass on the erratic GPS info, you have an erratic compass point to work from. Once you are that close, the inherent error of the GPS does not really help much. So put both it and your compass away and start looking.

[+New England n00b]

I really appreciate the advice. I think I can figure out how to do it now from your posts. Just watch the gps compass bearing point and then set my handheld compass to that bearing. Sounds easy enough. Thanks all

Sorta - your GPS should give you a 'Bearing' number. This is not the same as the compass. Ignore any graphical compass on the GPS unless you have a GPS that has an electronic compass. A direction pointer is unfortunately NOT the same thing.

 

What GPS model do you have?

[+Team Tired Boy]

It's not quite as simple as all that. You need to be sure that your GPSr and your compass are both using the same north. If you don't change the declination of your compass, then you need to make sure your GPSr is set to magnetic north. In my area the difference between true north and magnetic north is 14.5 degrees.

[+Renegade Knight]

Never did understand how people use a compass to cache. I just use the GPS pointer. It points at the cache and I take a bearing directly from that. Pulling out a compass would add an extra step and take longer so I don't use one.

[+Mystery Ink]

I go by the cords mostly once I hit around 200 feet from the cache I switch to the cords

We haven't upgraded gps's yet we are still using a garmin vista so the pointer sometimes spins around once we get within 200 feet. Once the new Csx comes out thats when I will upgrade.

[+DocDiTTo]

I use a compass to quickly locate ground zero if I'm having trouble locating something. By knowing what coords you want to get to, vs the ones the GPSr says you're at, the compass will quickly tell you which way to move to get them to match. If your GPSr doesn't have a compass built in, having one on hand is almost mandatory, IMHO. Once you find ground zero, it gives you a base to start searching from. At that point I put down (or hang up) my GPSr and use it as the center point of my search circle, which widens until I score. (Well, unless I'm in an urban area where people could steal it, but that's another thread.)

[+JDandDD]

I've used a compass several times to zero in. Basically what I do is get a bearing from the GPS and then use my Suunto compass to shoot the bearing. Then I move around get another bearing, shoot the bearing with compass. Doing that 3 or 4 times will give you a point where the bearings cross and you can get remarkably close to the actual cache site.

 

JDandDD

[+edscott]

I use a compass when my map does not show me exactly where the cache is located. I hike to the nearest point that I can identify from an aerial photo and then shoot a bearing from there. Shoot a bearing? Line up the edge of the baseplate connecting the spot you are, (on the map) and the spot where you want to be. (the cache) Twist the housing to align with magnetic north. Lift the compass off the map align the needle with north on the housing and follow the directional arrow for the correct number of paces to the box... sign in. Don't know how this applies to use with a GPS.. I don't have one

[+chamois-shimi & special K]

Don't know how this applies to use with a GPS.. I don't have one

Right on!!

[ImpalaBob]

Making an assumption that the coordinates for a cache location are exact ... Is a bad idea. Plus or minus 30 feet is a normal margin of error. Within 20 feet you should be putting down the GPS and compass and start looking.

 

Where the compass comes in handy is when you are getting a great GPS reading in the open field and the cache lies 100 feet into the deep woods with terrible GPS readings. I always tell newbies the magic phrase ....Distance and Bearing! When the GPS is giving you good readings pay attention to Distance and Bearing. When reading and updates are poor, rely on the past good readings and do not wander around like a druken duck. ImpalaBob

[+edscott]

Making an assumption that the coordinates for a cache location are exact ... Is a bad idea.  Plus or minus 30 feet is a normal margin of error.  Within 20 feet you should be putting down the GPS and compass and start looking.

 

Where the compass comes in handy is when you are getting a great GPS reading in the open field and the cache lies 100 feet into the deep woods with terrible GPS readings.  I always tell newbies the magic phrase ....Distance and Bearing!  When the GPS is giving you good readings pay attention to Distance and Bearing.  When reading and updates are poor, rely on the past good readings and do not wander around like a druken duck.  ImpalaBob

Yes even if you are using a GPS, having a compass along could be a great help. You should also find out what the declination is for your general area and memorize it.. and also know how it changes from east to west in the area that you normally cover. There is a way to determine declination in a specific area in the terrain with a map and compass (it can change in a few hundred yards under special conditions) but I doubt anyone really cares that much here. If you are only using the compass for a few feet it won't matter, but if you are shooting 1000 foot bushwhacks it will.

[ImpalaBob]

We SEPAGers always know if it is an Edscott cache ... their will be hiking and serious bushwhacking involved .... and it will be worth it! ImpalaBob

[+Confucius' Cat]

Of late, my technique for most "park and grab" type caches and a few that are actually in the woods, is to park as close as possible using my mobile laptop rig, then clicking the measuring tool from my GPS position to the cache plot and setting my compass to bearing and pacing off distance.

 

I leave my GPS in the car.

 

Sometimes I don't even bother with the compass.

 

It makes otherwise mundane parking lot micros a little more fun.

 

I am currently working on the technique for use in the woods and have had some success.