Bushwhacking Basics

That might sound silly, but there might be an element of truth in the idea after all.

In NA the magnetic field is tilted downwards, because you are closer to the N pole. In Oz the magnetic field is tilted upwards, because we are nearer to the S pole. Now, with cheap button compasses this should not really matter, because the pivot point is high on the needle wrt the length of the needle, but who knows?

Indeed, I have one good compass for Australia and a different one (bought over there) for Europe, for this reason.

Cheers

Strange that there’s been little mention of developing natural navigation skills. I taught scuba diving and trained instructors for several years, and natural navigation far outweighs compass use underwater; the same skillsets serve well out in the woods.

I’m curious if anyone can point to good online resources about natural navigation?

WTF is “natural navigation”?  Is that another name for terrain association?  The only google hits I find for that term mention celestial navigation, the moon, moss on trees, and other oddities- none of which seem appropriate for scuba.  And none of which can realistically tell you which saddle you have to cross…

WTF is “natural navigation”?

Harold Gatty, Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass

Paul, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) offers a map and compass instructional weekend every fall. It’s a hands-on course that you apply immediately to bushwhacking trail-less peaks in the White Mountains of NH. I took the course a couple of years ago and it was fantastic to learn from folks with decades of off-trail experience in the dense forests of NH, and also to connect with the small, passionate and slightly crazy community of bushwhackos.

Cheap button compasses are notorious for failing due to bubbles or becoming demagnetized.

“I have never been lost,  but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.”  -Daniel Boone

Pants:

I’d probably wear my Railrider Bushwacker Weatherpants, if it was pretty dense. They dry pretty quickly.

https://www.railriders.com/men-outdoor-clothing-pants-c-104_110.html

Cheap button compasses are notorious for failing due to bubbles or becoming demagnetized.

What about expensive button compasses? :) I love mine. Wouldn’t “navigate” with it, but it’s wonderful for keeping on a right general course on cloudy days, in thick forest, no views, etc. It stays clipped onto my trekking pole strap, so just a quick turn of the wrist lets me check course.

“I have never been lost,  but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.”  -Daniel Boone

I don’t even know for sure that Daniel Boone is the real source for this quote, but it’s always been one of my favorite.

I find bushwhacking and navigation to be fun in the west.  In the East, though, I often find the thick undergrowth to be more frustrating than rewarding.  And the navigation in really challenging due to the thick undergrowth and more gentle slopes.  For me, at least, bushwhacking is something I rarely do in eastern forests.

I’ve heard almost all good things about Suunto button compasses,  I used to have one but don’t know where it is anymore.

Some  people have had problems with the clip housing failing,  and inevitably some will get bubbles eventually too.

What’s frustrating about the little button compasses is that they are so generic that you don’t know what grade of magnet or quality control went into making them, unless you have inside information about their manufacture you’re stuck with judging by price and brand reputation.

I keep thinking about getting a TruNord, but I’m not crazy about the price,  or about tearing it down just to replace the brass body with plastic or polycarbonate.