How to Use a Map and Compass in the Backcountry With Topo Maps+ GPS!, by Matt Kessler - Revelo on YouTube. 15 min 59 s.
- Video length
- 15 min 59 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Find the declination for your area on the NOAA website and note whether magnetic north sits east or west of true north.
Turn the declination screw on your compass until the orienting arrow points to the correct offset. Check the setting before every trip.
Lay the map flat and place the compass edge along a north-south grid line. Rotate the map until the red needle sits inside the orienting arrow.
To take a bearing, hold the compass level in front of you and point the direction-of-travel arrow at your target.
Turn the bezel until the red magnetic needle lines up with the orienting arrow. Read the number at the direction-of-travel line.
Place the compass on the map with its edge running from your position to the target. Rotate the whole compass until the needle matches the orienting arrow, then read the bearing.
Walk on that bearing, checking the compass every few minutes and picking a visible landmark to head toward.
Open Topo Maps+ and download the map area for offline use before you lose cell service.
Use the app to confirm your location, then compare it with the bearing and map reading to catch any error.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep metal objects, phones and magnets away from the compass when taking a bearing.
Recheck declination each trip, since it changes slowly over time and varies by region.
Practice in a familiar park before relying on these skills in remote terrain.
Carry a spare compass and a printed map as backup if your phone battery dies.
Questions
What is declination and why does it matter?
Declination is the angle between magnetic north and true north at your location. If you ignore it, your bearing can be off by several degrees and you drift away from your target.
Do I still need a paper map if I have a GPS app?
Yes. A phone can run out of battery, get wet or lose signal. A map and compass work without power and let you keep navigating.
How do I take a bearing on a distant landmark?
Point the direction-of-travel arrow at the landmark, turn the bezel until the needle sits in the orienting arrow, then read the number.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
