Using a Compass

Main Compass Uses

• tell which direction you are traveling - your heading
• tell which direction an object is from you - its bearing
• keep you following a straight line of travel
• orient a map - aligning a map with the actual land
• triangulation - determining your location with a map
• plan routes - determine directions and distances to travel on a map

We've already discussed an important skill in how to use a compass and that is determining your heading. Point the direction-of-travel arrow straight ahead in the direction you are going, turn the compass dial until RED is in the Shed, and read the heading at the Index Pointer.

Determining the bearing to an object is just like finding your heading. Turn to face the object and do the steps for determining your heading. Here's a simple exercise to try...

On a hike in Wyoming, you see a strange rock formation off in the distance. Using your compass, you take a bearing to it as shown below:

If you turn and face two smaller rock formations farther off in the distance, which of the following bearings would be correct?

1

2

In this case, since you are facing northerly, a turn to the right will be more to the East so #1 is correct.
It is important to keep a feel for general directions in your mind. If it's early morning and the sun is in your face, you are heading east with north on your left and south on your right. Remember, right and left are relative to your current heading. If you're in the northern hemisphere and the sun is at your back, you are heading in some northerly direction. In the southern hemisphere, the sun at your back means you are facing southerly.

Learning how to use a compass to follow a line of travel is simply pausing to take a reading occasionally while hiking. In the picture below, you're trying to find your way to the lake in the distance to refill your water supply.

You now understand how to use a compass to read your current heading and to take a bearing to a distance landmark. Using a compass in this way will guide you over terrain that you are acquainted with or if you know the general directions you need to travel before hand. But, for new territory, you will also need to know how to read maps and use a compass to guide your way.

A hiker was hiking along one day when he came to a wide river. Seeing another hiker on the other bank, he called out, "Hey, how do I get to the other side?" The second hiker looked slowly along the bank to the left, then along the bank to the right, thought a bit, then called back, "You ARE on the other side!"

Search Google News for more 'Lost Hiker' news items.

18 Dec 2024 - Missing hiker Marissa Gee found alive after going missing in Blue Mountains area for almost a week

16 Dec 2024 - Colorado Hiker Rescued After Shoes Were ‘Frozen Solid’

29 Nov 2024 - Astonishment as missing Canadian hiker emerges after weeks in wilderness

27 Nov 2024 -

29 Nov 2024 - Hiker who survived 50 days in northeast B.C. woods released from hospital

30 Nov 2024 - Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness

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Comments:
 Oct 14, 2015 - jean de amicis

As all the other lnformation,
Excellent!

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Feb 03, 2018 - Maurice .V

Thank you for this important information that everybody should know, especially kids. I just bought a simple, steel compass, and I love it. I decided to play around with it and came on your site to touch up my compass skills since I hadn't used one since I was a teenager. Thank you for your knowledge on such an important survival device.

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Feb 10, 2019 - David Semino

Using a Military Prismatic Sighting compass, How do I put the red in the shed? It does not have any red marks.

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Feb 23, 2019 - Compass Dude

@David - As mentioned above, one end of the floating compass needle is usually red.  If it's a different color, then use that instead of "red" in the shed.  The "shed" is the two parallel lines making the Orienting Arrow on the floor of the compass housing - they can be red, or a different color.

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Mar 31, 2020 - David

@David - Because the prismatic compass has the degree scale rotate with the magnetic north seeking arrow. Instead of the degree scale being independent from movement of the magnetic compass needle.

You have to think of it working almost the opposite way from a base plate compass. Instead of putting "red in the shed". Think, you are "putting the shed on top of red". ["put red in the shed " just means aligning the compass needle over the orienting arrow] It's ok if we don't have a red.

Turn until the direction of travel arrow points at your destination. Turn the bezel ring until the 'short luminous line' is above the N arrow.

Think of the 'short luminous line' as being the 'shed'. The N is "red". You're doing the same thing, just kind of the opposite way.

Example: 58˚ azimuth is measured on the map, including adjustment for mag. declination. Turn until 58˚ is below the "fixed index line". Then move the "short luminous line" to above the N by turning the bezel ring. You're all set.

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