Re: Basic navigational skills badly missing

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:46:52 -0000, "Paul Saunders"
<pvs1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>By learning and practicing them? Just because you take a GPS, that doesn't
>prevent you learning how to use a compass too. It's simply a matter of
>choosing to do it.

Yes, but if you have 2 methods available, one of which is easy and the
other less so, then it's natural to choose the easier. Just like
those people who go walking with others who can navigate, and are
happy following them round all the time without navigating for
themselves.

>
>I just hate the continuation of the myth that a compass is essential but a
>GPS merely optional.

Well it is optional, as I don't have one yet!

But I agree, it would be an excellent way of learning compass work.
And indeed, map-work generally, which is IMHO harder to do well than
using either a compass or a GPS. The important thing is not knowing
which way you are going, but which way you should be going - there's
not much use walking off in exactly the direction you intend, if
you've chosen a route that involves a few hundred feet of unnecessary
descent and reascent, or which takes you over a cliff!

It's only when visibility is poor due to snow, fog, or night, that a
compass or GPS becomes essential.

S.

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Relevant Pages

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