Orienting a Map

A map represents the real world. By orienting a map, you are positioning it so its North is actually pointing north. When you orient a map and know where you are on the map, you can look in a certain direction and see a real landmark and find it on the map.

Orienting, or aligning, the map is really easy with just 3 steps:

• Lay your map out on a relatively flat, smooth surface.
• Turn your declination-adjusted compass dial so due North is at the index pointer.
• Place your compass on your map with the edge of the baseplate parallel to the north-south meridians on the map. Notice the orienteering lines and direction-of-travel arrow are all parallel with the map lines.
• Turn the map and compass together until the compass needle is "boxed" in the orienting arrow (Red in the Shed).

Now, the map is oriented to the real world. If you know where you are on the map, you should be able to look in any direction and see the objects represented on the map in the same direction.

If you know where you are on your map, you can also orient your map by distant features. If you can see a known mountain in one direction and a lake off another way, then just lay the map out and turn it so the corresponding marks on the map align with the distant features.

Answer from previous page: Denmark, India, Germany. What is the most important thing to bring with you in case you get lost?   A deck of cards - as soon as you start playing solitaire, someone will find you and say "black six on red seven!"

Search Google News for more 'Lost Hiker' news items.

04 Jul 2022 - Paynetown lost hiker, Schacht Road fire, Woodland Springs fire

22 Jun 2022 - Lost hiker found safe

01 Jul 2022 - Hiker from Singapore is found wandering lost in Adirondack backcountry swamp. Wife called authorities when Strava app feed went dark.

01 Jul 2022 - Lost hikers found in Charles C. Deam Wilderness – The Bloomingtonian

02 Jul 2022 - Search is on for missing hiker in Linn county

15 Jun 2022 - Lost hiker found quickly after calling 911 and providing coordinates

26 Jun 2022 - HFD rescues lost hiker using photos, texts in Sunset Hills

04 Jul 2022 - Teams Work Through the Night to Rescue Stuck Hiker on Mt. Toll

06 Jun 2022 - Authorities Urge Caution After "Sneaker Waves" Kill Hiker on Lost Coast Trail

08 Jun 2022 - Rangers recover body of canoeist from Adirondack lake, aid 7 lost and injured hikers/paddlers

Tweet

---

Comments:
 Aug 22, 2016 - Diego

Thankyou I finally understand what that means

---

Oct 26, 2017 - Avery Steak

Now I know what it is used for thanks for the site

---

---

Ask a Question

---