I used to hang the map inserts from our National Geographic subscription for decoration on my walls. I’ve received 2 globes in my life as gifts: once from my parents for my kindergarten graduation and a much needed update many years later from another family member. I’d spin it and spend hours imagining what life was like in Lichtenstein or Bhutan. Give me a MapArt book of GTA streets and I am a great navigator. Plop a topo map and a compass in front of me and I might need a little help.
Topo map courtesy of Compassdude.com:
We spent a day learning how to take our bearings, sightline a path through the forest, and read a topographical map. We talked a little about declination. The next day we played with GPS units, figuring out how to set and find waypoints and connect them to form a route. The highlight was spending a brilliant autumnal afternoon geocaching.
My Brunton compass:
Was this enough to set us up for success for what’s to come this week? Probably not. I suspect the only way to get really good at map and compass work is to actually do it. And so we shall with a four day hike in Algonquin Park and a three day ride through parts of Ontario and Quebec.
An older version of a handheld GPS unit from Garmin:
Watch for updates in the coming weeks.
Up for discussion: Compass or GPS when you’re out in the wild?
Kate Monahan Outdoors 