Skills for the Hills: Do you know where you are going??

 

Have you ever relied on a friend's map reading to get you to the top of a hill and wondered what you would have done if you had been on your own? Ever cursed a mobile phone app for suddenly dying on a cold day near the summit or felt the directions in that route guide simply do not match what you are seeing on the ground? Would you feel confident with a map and compass or are you reliant on your GPS?

 

 

Jim obviously needs a bit of learning as well as practice. Jane may not get you lost, but if anything happens to her, or if you get separated, then what’ll you do? Everyone should be paying attention to the navigation, either to advise or to learn. Being aware of where you are and where you are going also adds to your confidence and enjoyment too.

 

Jim obviously needs a bit of learning as well as practice. Jane may not get you lost, but if anything happens to her, or if you get separated, then what’ll you do? Everyone should be paying attention to the navigation, either to advise or to learn. Being aware of where you are and where you are going also adds to your confidence and enjoyment.

 

Of course the answer is to use your map and compass. A path might lead anywhere, it could be hours – or longer – before anyone who can help turns up and an easy slope might be hiding some crags or cliffs further down the hill, so, its always worth a check.

 

This does assume you took the trouble to learn how to use that map and compass though... Read on to test what you know!

 

The answer, of course is to use your map and compass. A path might lead anywhere, it could be hours – or longer – before anyone who can help turns up and an easy slope might be hiding some crags or cliffs further down the hill, so, its always worth a check.

 

This does assume you took the trouble to learn how to use that map and compass though... Read on to test what you know!

 

Both Ordnance Survey & Harvey Maps use exactly the same grid system; they all represent a 1km square regardless of the scale used.

 

So...

 

Tip: 

 

Both Ordnance Survey & Harvey Maps use exactly the same grid system; they all represent a 1km square regardless of the scale used.

 

• 1:50000 = 1cm equates to 50,000 cm on the ground (500m) and 1km = 2cm on the map
• 1:40000 = 1cm equates to 40,000 cm on the ground (400m) and 1km = 2.5cm on the map
• 1:25000 = 1cm equates to 25,000 cm on the ground (250m) and 1km = 4cm on the map

• Check out the Romer scale on your compass to help measure distance on a map, with measuring bars tailored to the different scales of map 

 

While the price, durability and familiarity of a map might be factors in your choice - your route location, distance and complexity will often suit a particular map scale and design as they all offer different features.

 

• For a bit more advice to help de-mystify map choice, watch this handy video from Glenmore Lodge:

 

While the price, durability and familiarity of a map might be factors in your choice - your route location, distance and complexity will often suit a particular map scale and design as they all offer different features.

 

 

 

Giving and finding grid references is a really useful navigation skill - great to locate interesting features or explain to a friend where you, and essential if you are caught out in an emergency. 

 

You read the numbers running horizontally along the bottom of the map first, followed by the numbers running vertically up the sides. Again, the Romer scale is handy for measuring the third and sixth digit, depending on the scale of map you are using.

 

• Read our advice on how to use maps, including grid references and map scales

 

 

Try to remember: "along the corridor and up the stairs".

 

Work out the 1km grid box location 49_71_ then create your six figure grid reference by filling in the gaps by estimating the summit location within that 1km grid box. Use your Romer scale on a compass to help with accuracy. This gives you 496718!

 

• Read our advice on how to use maps, including grid references and map scales

On some of the OS 1:25 000 maps 5 metre contours have also been introduced e.g. on the new edition for the Campsie Fells. Harvey Maps always have 15 metre contour intervals.

To help highlight the relief of the ground and make it easier to assess height gain or loss, index contours are marked in a thicker bold line every 50 metres on OS maps and every 75 metres on Harvey maps. Harvey maps use grey as well as brown contour lines to highlight predominantly rocky ground. 

 

 

• Find out more about contours and how to recognise different landscape features from their shape on the map

 

Having your map ‘orientated’ is the foundation to understanding navigation and learning how to relate the map to the ground and visa versa. Setting the map is the technique of positioning the map so that all the features are aligned with the ground around you.

 

In good visibility you may be able to set the map by eye. If identifiable features are not visible, you can set the map by using the compass. Use the magnetic needle to find north and line up north on the map with north on the ground.

 

 

Check out this useful wee film from Glenmore Lodge about how to take a bearing...

 

 

Having your map ‘orientated’ is the foundation to understanding navigation and learning how to relate the map to the ground and visa versa. Setting the map is the technique of positioning the map so that all the features are aligned with the ground around you.

 

In good visibility you may be able to set the map by eye. If identifiable features are not visible, you can set the map by using the compass. Use the magnetic needle to find north and line up north on the map with north on the ground.

 

Well done!  

Grid North is the layout on your map with the North/South grid lines running vertically up and down the map. Your compass operates on the earth’s magnetic field and there is a difference between the two depending on where you are in the world and which year you are in.

In 2017 here in Scotland the magnetic variation is so small it is just not worth bothering with (around 1 degree in Aviemore in July 2017). So literally just take the bearing off the map and walk on it.

 

 

Wrong :(  

Grid North is the layout on your map with the North/South grid lines running vertically up and down the map. Your compass operates on the earth’s magnetic field and there is a difference between the two depending on where you are in the world and which year you are in.

In 2017 here in Scotland the magnetic variation is so small it is just not worth bothering with (around 1 degree in Aviemore in July 2017). So literally just take the bearing off the map and walk on it.

 

 

 

This is a handy way to calculate how long it will take you to complete your walk. An average hill walker will walk at 4km per hour on level ground; you can then add on 1 minute for each 10 metres of ascent you need to do. Knowing this can be a great help in navigation, especially if visibility is poor.

 

 

 

This is a handy way to calculate how long it will take you to complete your walk. An average hill walker will walk at 4km per hour on level ground; you can then add on 1 minute for each 10 metres of ascent you need to do. Knowing this can be a great help in navigation, especially if visibility is poor.

 

• Find out more about Naismith's Rule and planning and following a route

 

In poor visibility timing or counting your paces may be the only way of judging how far you have walked on a bearing – essential to keep on route, but best used on fairly short stretches.

 

 

In poor visibility timing or counting your paces may be the only way of judging how far you have walked on a bearing – essential to keep on route, but best used on fairly short stretches.

 

• Check out this useful wee film from Glenmore Lodge about how to use pacing when you are navigating on the hill:

 

Clearly the exact number of paces for an individual to cover 100 metres varies both with terrain and individual physique, but it will be within the range of 55 to 65 double paces. To get your average you need to pace up and down a measured distance or alongside someone else who knows their average.

 

Wow, how tall are you?? The exact number of paces for an individual to cover 100 metres varies both with terrain and individual physique, but it will be within the range of 55 to 65 double paces. To get your average you need to pace up and down a measured distance or alongside someone else who knows their average.

 

Always keep your compass away from metal objects, batteries or any electronic source as these can permanently deflect the compass needle. It’s also a good idea to make sure you don’t have holes in your pockets either...

 

• Read here to find out more about compasses and how you can be confident you can trust yours!

 

Using GPS is no crime, and it IS a good idea not to have holes in your pocket, but the real answer here is that any metal objects, batteries or electronic devices, such as a GPS, can permanently affect the accuracy of your compass.

 

 

 

 

All the other terms are the names of techniques you can use to help you locate your target when navigating.