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Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group
FTM Training Schedule - Fall 1999


Why do we care about land navigation?

 

  • How to read a map – “Dots, Squiggly Lines and You"

 1)     US Geological Survey Topographical Maps – the type we use

a)                 Items on a topo map: roads, rivers, etc.

b)                 Grid systems

i)                    ASRC coordinates

ii)                  Latitude and longitude

 2)     Contour Lines

a)                 Connect points of equal elevation

b)                 Show 3D land features

  

 1)     The Compass

a)                 Red end of needle points north

b)                 If you know where north is, you know where every other direction is!

 2)     The Compass’ Problems

a)                 Magnetic north vs. true north

b)                 Magnetic interference

 3)     Taking Bearings and Plotting Courses

a)                 Plotting a map course and transferring it to the field

b)                 Taking a bearing in the field and transferring it to the map

c)                  Resection & triangulation

 

1)     Orienting the map

2)     Never trust a single piece of data

3)     Follow the contours