How do I learn map skills?

[Guest cleenjeep]

Here is a whole can of worms. I got here by a link in another message board. I was fascinated by the ways you can use a GPS, so I pull out my Garmin 12 and I cannot find the manual.. oh well.. I can figure out how to place a waypoint later I guess. Then I decide to place a few caches. So I got carried away (6 in one day). But I know my parks well, and a few other places less known.

So, here I stumble upon a new realization.. I dont know squat about maps. I have a compass, but I dont know what to do with it, other than which way is north, etc. What is a good way to go about learning how to use maps, topo and the like? I am a kayaker and jeeper, and hiker, yet I have never navigated with a map that was more advanced than a mapquest map. I would like to learn these skills so that I may become a better navigator on my boat, in my car, heck, in my yard even.. gotta start somewhere..

Michael

 

------------------

Webmaster and List Admin for Southern Michigan Rockcrawlers

Personal Site is url=http://www.modempool.com/cleenjeep]Cleenjeep's Site[/url]

[Guest Moun10Bike]

Most of my navigational "knowledge," if you can call it that , comes from loving to pore over maps, and from orienteering with the Boy Scouts. However, there are a couple of books in my library that have been a great help in learning and brushing up on the skills: Land Navigation: A Complete Guidebook for Backcountry Users of the NAVSTAR Satellite System"

by Michael Ferguson, Randy Kalisek, and Leah Tucker, and "Be Expert with Map and Compass" by Bjorn Kjellstrom (clicking these links will take you to info and reviews at Amazon.com).

 

By the way, if you want a new copy of the manual for the Garmin 12, you can download it from http://www.garmin.com/products/gps12/manual.html.

 

[This message has been edited by Moun10Bike (edited 04-10-2001).]

[Guest Moun10Bike]

Most of my navigational "knowledge," if you can call it that , comes from loving to pore over maps, and from orienteering with the Boy Scouts. However, there are a couple of books in my library that have been a great help in learning and brushing up on the skills: Land Navigation: A Complete Guidebook for Backcountry Users of the NAVSTAR Satellite System"

by Michael Ferguson, Randy Kalisek, and Leah Tucker, and "Be Expert with Map and Compass" by Bjorn Kjellstrom (clicking these links will take you to info and reviews at Amazon.com).

 

By the way, if you want a new copy of the manual for the Garmin 12, you can download it from http://www.garmin.com/products/gps12/manual.html.

 

[This message has been edited by Moun10Bike (edited 04-10-2001).]

[Guest 300mag]

Good advice moun10bike.

This is also what i was going to suggest.I go to bed with a map( at the cottage anyway)often I am always looking for this or that magic spot, lake, etc.But you can begin at your public library for starts.Too bad i don't have a scanner(soon).I have a few little booklets that are very informative from my armed force's day's i could e-mail you.

[Guest 300mag]

Good advice moun10bike.

This is also what i was going to suggest.I go to bed with a map( at the cottage anyway)often I am always looking for this or that magic spot, lake, etc.But you can begin at your public library for starts.Too bad i don't have a scanner(soon).I have a few little booklets that are very informative from my armed force's day's i could e-mail you.

[Guest cleenjeep]

Thanks mtnbike, and that sounds terrific 300 mag! I am not as into the maps as some people are, but it will be a good tool to have in my arsenary, know what I mean? Getting the GPS was obviously just the tip of the iceberg, one thing leads to another and I'm off on a quest of knowledge once again...

Michael

 

------------------

Webmaster and List Admin for Southern Michigan Rockcrawlers

Personal Site is url=http://www.modempool.com/cleenjeep]Cleenjeep's Site[/url]

[Guest Cape Cod Cache]

10 points for offering Boy Scouts! Orienteering Merit Badge is a good place to look.

[Guest cache_ninja]

in canada at the moment. i have dreams abotu NS all the time. heh

 

c/n

 

[This message has been edited by cache_ninja (edited 04-10-2001).]

[Guest 300mag]

Good idea Cache Ninja.Will do.

Ps:The door is opened come on and find or stash a couple of caches.Actually we have too cottages so there's lots of room.

We like visitors

 

Enjoy yourself Michael you'll get it right. With maps and gps you'll have great hikes

a compass is also very usefull + you can use it with the bearing too navigate when your gps is off.So this way you save your batteries .

 

[This message has been edited by 300mag (edited 04-10-2001).]

[Guest 300mag]

Good idea Cache Ninja.Will do.

Ps:The door is opened come on and find or stash a couple of caches.Actually we have too cottages so there's lots of room.

We like visitors

 

Enjoy yourself Michael you'll get it right. With maps and gps you'll have great hikes

a compass is also very usefull + you can use it with the bearing too navigate when your gps is off.So this way you save your batteries .

 

[This message has been edited by 300mag (edited 04-10-2001).]

[Guest CaptHawke]

cleanjeep,

Try contacting your local orienteering club, Southern Michigan Orienteering Club: http://www.angelfire.com/mi/SMOC/ . They offer beginner instruction at all their meets.

 

For everyone else, a list of all the US orienteering clubs can be found at: http://www.us.orienteering.org/Clubs.html

 

What is orienteering? Its all explained at: http://www.williams.edu/Biology/orienteering/o~index.html

[Guest bacpac]

Here is a link to some USGS map info.

 

http://mac.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/booklets/symbols/

[Guest cache_only]

Cleenjeep: Below is a link to the Army's Digital Library I posted a few days ago (I didn't see your thread when I posted it. I am making up for it now). This is a Map Reading & Land Navigation manual. It is the *ULTIMATE* resource and is completely free of charge. Feel free to email me if there is something you don't understand. Good luck and take care. Rob

 

http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/21-26/toc.htm