Navigation

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=Navigation =

**"Navigation is a fundamental skill in mountain walking and leaders must be confident of their route no matter how limited the visibility."** ML handbook

The following topics are covered in separate pages: maps, scales and conventional signs. contours and topograpical features. relating the map to the ground and vice versa. measuring distance on the map and the ground. navigating across country with map alone. compasses and other navigational aids. (includes bearings) methods of identifying features and position. (includes relocation) methods for navigating across country in poor visibility and/or in darkness. route planning, including methods of recording routes. finding north without a compass & celestial navigation. glossary of navigation terms

If you are leading a group you should //not// be the only person navigating; it is human nature to make mistakes from time to time and it is safer to have at least two people actively navigating. These should share position/route with all group members at regular intervals so everyone knows where they are.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Practice the techniques you will need to use in bad visibility before you need them**: at times when the visibility is OK.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Links
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Good navigation habits] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Map basics (BMC)] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Navigation (BMC)] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|The navigators' dozen (MCofS)] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Map reading made easy] (OS guide) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">mountain navigation <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Presentation on maps and compasses] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Advanced map reading made easy (OS guide): <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Map reading and navigation (Emergency Management Australia):

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Recommended books
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|NOLS wilderness navigation] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Mountain navigation] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Hill walking] (ML training handbook #1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Mountaincraft & leadership] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Advanced outdoor navigation] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Ultimate navigation manual] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Navigation for off road runners] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|The natural navigator] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Navigation for walkers] (a very resaonable introduction to land navigation but not sufficient for navigation in remote or mountainous terrain)

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Hsu Hsia-k'o
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">The body roams the mountains; and the spirit is set free **

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" **
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. **
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"I don’t much care where--" said Alice. **
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat. **