Lay the compass on the map, using the straight edge to create a line from your starting point to your destination. For instance, line up roads, mountains, water towersany terrain features that stand out enough to make orienting the map possible. Holding the compass up to your face, angle the rear sight so that you can read the compass dial clearly through the lens while peering through the sighting slot and lining your distant target (the water tower, in this case) up with the sighting wire. This is a hard and fast guide on how to use your lensatic compass with a map, which is what it was designed for. If we didnt adjust for declination and were getting bearings for our destination from our map, well find ourselves off by 14 or more when we start walking. There are two ways of doing this. We may then use our compass to begin going in the direction we need to go in order to reach our destination. Hey, it happens! A Cumbrian born and bred, his native English Lake District has a special place in his heart, though he is at least equally happy in North Wales, the Scottish Highlands or the European Alps. Assume youve climbed to the top of Camels Hump in Vermont. The plotted line cuts through Mt. The first step of orienting with our map and compass is to make sure north on the map lines up with north in our terrain. The fundamentals of using a map and compass to find your way around. Well say the declination value is 10 degrees. Youve got your trusty compass and a map of the area, but you dont know exactly where you are in relation to the map. Assume youre southeast of Saddle Mountain and northeast of a few of lesser peaks. As we can see, the area Im in has a declination of 4E. New York, Place the thumb of the other hand between the rear sight and the bezel ring; extend the index finger along the remaining side of the compass, and the remaining fingers around the fingers of the other hand. Compass adjusted for declination. 1. Ymiko Compass Survival,Compass For Kids,Compass Hiking Durable Shockproof Waterproof Brass Camping Tools For Navigation Outdoor. Youll see that it shows two arrows when you turn your headset or controllers around to show the new orientation of a map. Adjust for magnetic declination. B. But I wish I had the simpler kind that just automatically points to the direction on the compass that I am . Positioned the cover of the compass toward the top of the map. Flip your compass upside down. $8.77. Its 230 degrees in reference to your position, as you can see. 1. A visualization depicting the Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks (STP 21-1-SMCT) task Orient a Map Using a Lensatic Compass (071-COM-1011). What if you dont have a compass that allows you to adjust for declination? Lay your map out in front of you on a relatively flat and smooth (and dry!) Through his hiking, mountaineering, climbing and trail running adventures, Alex aims to inspire others to get outdoors. Nothing is permanent and contours are more permanent than pretty much everything else on a map. Method #2. Using your protractor or other straight edge, you draw a line from your current position in the direction of where you want to go. The legend. We can find out easily enough, though. On your map, place your compass. and compass together is to orient the map towards north simply align the map merid, figure 10b while keeping compass edge on landmark pivot compass until magnetized needle is centered within orienting arrow plot bearing on map by drawing line from landmark using the edge of the compass figure 10c 1 how a compass works your compass is a . The easiest way to orientate a map is to relate the features in front of you to the features on the map. Advnture is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Move the lens holder: Slightly push forward the lens holder. Line your orienteering compass's base plate up with the map's north-south lines. It. How to Pack a Backpack Are You Doing it Right? Procedures. Map Reading and Land Navigation: FM 3-25.26. The rear bearing is at a 50-degree angle. Magnetic North is 15 East. Turn the compass and the map as a unit until the luminous magnetic arrow is directly under the fixed black line. The following 30-minute U.S. Army training video from 1966 shows how to find your direction, orientation, and location with a mil-spec lensatic compass. Use the illustration above to familiarize yourself with the components of a lensatic compass. With the thumb loop all the way down under the compass, put the thumb of one hand all the way inside the loop, and place the index finger of that same hand along one side of the compass. In this guide, we will be covering the following: The first step to successful navigation with a map and compass in the backcountry is correctly orienting your map. Step 1 Determine the direction of the map of the declination and its value from the declination on the map. Rotate the compass dial until north on the compass ring lines up with north on the map. Don't worry that your red orientating arrow doesn't point exactly map north. Step 2. How to use the Lunatic Compass Map Orientation by compass Magnetic Azimuth A magnetic azimuth of any object is the compass reading of a direct line across the center of the compass to the object. 1. Open the compass all the way so that the cover locks into position against the base, forming a straightedge along the left side. With that bearing, we can use our compass to start traveling in the direction we need to go in order to get to our endpoint. The mils are in black, and are the outer measurements on the ring. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & More: A Manual On Food Storage and Survival: 2nd Edition Revised and Updated. Let's have a look at the sources that constantly give favorable points. We need to compensate for the compass now that weve placed it on the map so that we can appropriately orient and travel. If your local declination is east of the agonic line, youll need to add the declination to your compass bearing; if its west of the agonic line, youll need to remove the declination from your compass bearing. They could be your saving grace during a SHTF situation. At the summit of Saddle Mountain, take a bearing using your compass. Making sure you don't move to change directions, turn the glass compass housing until the short luminous line is directly lined up with the luminous magnetic arrow. The degrees are in red, and are the ring's inner measurements. Line up the meridian lines (the parallel lines inside the bezel) with a north/south grid line on the map. US $10.58 orient yourself to a map and follow a course over land The lensatic compass is used to set course bearings Instructions for Lensatic compass Open the lensatic compass so that the cover is at a 90 degree angle and the lens bracket is at a 30 degree angle to the case Lensatic Compass. 8; Page 11 G. LOCATING POSITION USING INTERSECTION 1. You see that its 310 in relation to you. The lensatic compass is used by the U.S. Military. A lensatic compass is just one of the many navigational tools we have built. Last update on 2023-03-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. (1) Compass-to-cheek method (figure C-21). Take a bearing to a visible landmark using your compass. (Note: Ignore the magnetic compass needle. He has climbed a handful of 6000ers in the Himalayas, 4000ers in the Alps, 14ers in the US, and loves nothing more than a good long-distance wander in the wilderness. When the actual lens gets damaged, it unnecessarily impairs simple operation. Not a problem. The housing is marked with cardinal points, typically north, south, east, and west, which . Finally, before setting off, be sure to do a quick check by looking around you to see that all features represented on your map are where they should be in the terrain. To use your lensatic compass to find the direction of your intended azimuth (which you probably got from your map, using your protractor): 1. Hold the compass with your thumb fully in the thumb ring, and your index finger wrapped around and gripping the circular part of the underneath of the compass's base. A: To rotate a map in Beat Saber, you can hit the trigger button on your controller. A visualization depicting the Soldiers Manual of Common Tasks (STP 21-1-SMCT) task Orient a Map Using a Lensatic Compass (071-COM-1011). In the daytime, you'll normally find something in the distance on your azimuth and walk to it, so you don't have to keep staring at the compass. Now its time to use the lens. Housing lines should be parallel to the vertical grid lines on the map. The first step in orienting ourselves with our map and compass is to double-check that north on the map corresponds to north in our landscape. This makes it easier to relate what you see on the map with what you see on the ground. The instances navigation needs to be most spot-on are when visibility is compromised. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Place your compass base plate on your map so the edge of the compass is aligned with the north-south meridian lines. Hold the compass steady and level, and up to your face. 1. This is because it is prepped to point instead to magnetic north once it's lined up with your compass needle. Most people have never heard of them, but soon enough, youre going to be a master at using them. To use the terrain to orient a map, you must be familiar with symbols used on the map. So, if youre in Muir Woods and your compass has a bearing of 180, youll want to subtract 14. Look at the red needle to see which direction it is pointing. Make sure the travel direction arrow is pointed in the direction you want to go. Here at Brunton, we manufacture a variety of different compasses for varying needs in the field. . But not to you, I trust. Shows how to use the USGI issue lensatic compass to orient the map, plot a course based on two well-defined. At least, I never saw him with one. 2. 2. Lensatic compasses are seasoned or experienced navigator tools. Look at the index line and read the number. First, open the compass to its fullest so that the cover forms a straightedge with the base. Using the Centerhold Technique. The first step is to always take a compass bearing. Remember declination from Part I? The bezel clicks as it moves--three degrees for every click. Next, turn the compass housing so that the index pointer corresponds to the number of degrees of the magnetic declination. relation to a map. (2) Keep the compass aligned as directed above while . Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Half the activity of their sport is keeping their map oriented so they can navigate faster and with more accuracy. With the map in a horizontal position, take the straightedge on the left side of the compass and place it alongside the north-south grid line with the cover of the compass pointing toward the top . 3. The number one destroyer of compasses and any enclosed items like these is moisture. 1. Sight an azimuth to any visible terrain feature that appears on the map. Execute your docs in minutes using our simple step-by-step instructions: Get the How To Use A Lensatic Compass you need. Orienting the Map with an Orienteering Compass. As magnetic north changes depending on where you are in the world, you have to ensure you adjust your compass accordingly. If you take just one thing from this guide, let it be the appreciation that contours are the most important navigational feature on the map, especially where hills and mountains are concerned. 1. PARTS OF THE LENSATIC COMPASS Compass, Lensatic, US Army, closeup: 2 (From another source) 1. 3. A lensatic compass is often referred to as a military compass, and is typically used by the U.S. Military. Start with contour features, such as what the ground is doing in front of you and around you, what happens to the terrain in the middle distance and then whats going on in terms of distant mountain peaks, ridges, hills and escarpments. Well say the declination value is 10 degrees. For this task, the lensatic compass really shines. As long as you can hold the compass level and steady, the exact grip doesn't matter. I guess the military needs the extra accuracy now and then say, for example, to precisely place artillery fire. How to Use a Compass to Get Your Bearings. When you return from using your lensatic compass, take it apart as much as possible to detect any moisture. How can you get your point position then? Navigation has taken on many forms over the years. Using the rotating bezel, turn it until the direction of travel arrow lines up with the north arrow. With your bezel ring set, stand at your starting point and . Lets say youre planning a short hike from one point to another. 5. Casio's latest G-Shock watch could be a serious Garmin rival. But lets say youre in the Muir Woods near San Francisco and youre facing true north. Your compass is now set. To prevent this issue, well tweak our compass to account for declination. Flip up the small magnifying glass. To do so accurately, however, we must first adjust our compass for magnetic declination so the reading taken from the compass arrow . 5. You should be able to turn the map so that if you were to imagine jumping into it, the features would lie in the same direction both on the map and in your surroundings. My 159-page, fully illustrated book is yours for the asking. Have you noticed the agonic line? Kierans bookClimbing the Wallsan exploration of the mental health benefits of climbing, mountaineering, and the great outdoorsis scheduled for release by Simon & Schuster in April 2021. You can look through a small window of the top (thats the lens), and navigate smoothly from there. Map and compass skills are essential when navigating the great outdoors, Abrupt topography, like mountain peaks, should be easy to identify thanks to their contours on the map, Magnetic declination guidance on a standard topographical map, Having adjusted the compass housing to correspond with magnetic north, line your compass up with the map's gridlines, Red is in the shed: the compass needle is lined up with the orientating arrow, Ski towns are full: why we cant all just move to the mountains, Berghaus MTN Guide MW Hoody review: a performance mid-layer for the mountains, Rangers warn National Park graffiti could throw hikers off the trail. Place the compass on the map with one long edge of the baseplate running between the two points of interest. If you dont start out using your lensatic compass with a map, then its just a regular compass. Where the line intersects with the highway is where you are on the map. Turn your entire body as a unit until 066 (062 + 004) degrees falls under your compass's fixed black index line. Copyright 2013-2019 Collingwood Publications LLC, Some of the best land navigators around are orienteers--those who participate in the cross-country running/map reading sport of orienteering. 2. You look out into the distance and you see another mountain peak, but you dont know the name of it. Lets return to Muir Woods as an example. Designate your starting and ending points on the map. A: You can use the arrow keys, or you can hold down shift and move in any direction to rotate a map around its axis. Easy-to-Read Thermometer - Cushion-mounted thermometer provides an "at-a-glance . Read your compass (Figures 5-25 and 5-26). Also known as setting the map, orientating helps to relate your position and the landscape around you to the map, therefore making onward navigation more straightforward. 2. Whenever the luminous magnetic arrow lines up with the luminous short line, you're following your intended azimuth. 2. You need to know where youre going before toying with the compass. Orienting, or aligning, the map is really easy with just 3 steps: Lay your map out on a relatively flat, smooth surface. Next, without changing the orientation of you map, move your compass so that the point you are plotting to/from is under the sighting wire, and the compass dial reading matches your bearing. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Announcement: My online Land Navigation course includes four hours of video instruction, and two downloadable PDF books, all for about the same price as a typical paperback book. Turn your entire body as a unit until your predetermined azimuth falls under the fixed black index line. Check back next month for our final briefingon how tonavigate using MGRS coordinates, just like they do in the military. Program, Strengthen Your Tribe: A Report on the Atomic Athlete Vanguard, The Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers! Orienting the Map with anOrienteering Compass. The orient a map to the ground by map-terrain association is one of the most basic skills that you will need in order to survive. The techniques employed when using the lensatic compass are as follows: a. Step 4: Walk along the path and make sure your compass always points North.