Let’s talk old-school navigation

[Alan]

Hey everyone, I'm wondering how many of you still get around without GPS. Ever used a map, compass or even just the sun to figure out where you are? It's a good skill to have. So if you've got any tips, tools or stories about getting lost and finding your way back? Share here

 

[Cracker57]

Many moons ago, when I wore a younger mans clothes, I would go fishing on lake Michigan with a friend who had a old wooden tub. we would leave in the dark and head east out of Wisconsin. we had a depth finder and a old car compass that you would mount on the dash. fish east until catching fish at the right depth then go north and south until time to go home or limit caught. Head west until you could see land then guess if you had to go north or south to find the harbor. He knew the shore line well and we never got lost.

 

[Donnie]

Many moons ago, when I wore a younger mans clothes, I would go fishing on lake Michigan with a friend who had a old wooden tub. we would leave in the dark and head east out of Wisconsin. we had a depth finder and a old car compass that you would mount on the dash. fish east until catching fish at the right depth then go north and south until time to go home or limit caught. Head west until you could see land then guess if you had to go north or south to find the harbor. He knew the shore line well and we never got lost.

I actually got lost hiking in the Rockies once when my GPS died on me. I had to pull out my old map and compass. It took me a good while but I felt awesome when I found my way back just using the bearings

 

[Toyboy]

When hunting elk in the Rockies or moose in the Canadian bush, I've always taken 2 compasses. That way if I ever doubt my main compass I can always verify it's accuracy with the 2nd.

 

[Tabby]

Hey everyone, I'm wondering how many of you still get around without GPS. Ever used a map, compass or even just the sun to figure out where you are? It's a good skill to have. So if you've got any tips, tools or stories about getting lost and finding your way back? Share here

The only GPS i own is the one in my car. it either keeps me from getting lost in the blacktop jungle or on direct route makes me glad i have locks on the doors and a 357 by my side.. There should be another selection, safe route added. I don't trust anything battery operated, especially toys. The battery always goes dead when you need it the most. When out in the wilderness I use a map and compass, and sometimes even in cities. You can always do a triangulation on two given points and where the two lines cross, that is where you are. Works in the woods too. I taught survival as well as escape and evasion back in the Army days so am very comfortable with a map and compass in my hands. It is however getting hard to find decent maps these days. I used to fish on Lake Michigan usually out of Port Washington or Sheboygan. I only had a 14 foot boat with a 15 horse motor so I didn't wander out too far or try to visit Michigan via water. I always had a lake map and compass with me. Still have a lake map of the Chippewa Flowage, now there is a place where it's easy to get lost. I have gotten lost a few times, mostly flying at night under VFR conditions. All those lights twinkling in the distance blend into one another. Thank God for those towns that have lighted water towers with their name on them. I'm kind of old fashioned in a lot of ways, and relying on a GPS for navigation is probably not going to happen. I have road maps and street maps in my car, along with a Lensatic compass. Old habits die hard. BTW, if anyone wants to learn map reading let me know.





\\

 

[CZMark]

When hunting elk in the Rockies or moose in the Canadian bush, I've always taken 2 compasses. That way if I ever doubt my main compass I can always verify it's accuracy with the 2nd.

I always bring 3 compasses, that way if one goes bad, I can use the third to verify which one is good.

 

[blades]

new area i will take compass with me. Guess I make mental notes on wind direction and sun /moon relative to my starting position. I have found GPS on phone and in vehicles to be almost useless, in conjunction google maps, mostly because the maps portion leaves most of the street idenities off or as of late misspelled. Ya, it shows a main hwy but anything smaller is just unlabed lines. aint taking log rds ,but county and local. I agree finding printed maps is hard now days.Mostly find state ones but I want county units.

 

[Indigo22]

Coming from NH where street signs were nearly non-existent I had to rely on GPS to at least get to a location I could either recognize or find my way back home. County and state roads were often labeled as N, S, E, or W, Only meant the headed in that general direction when you get to the end of the roads. These roads were cow path straight at best. A road headed supposedly north would go due west quite a ways before looping around and ending up somewhat north of where you began. I was frustrated by this because I grew up in Michigan. Here in the Midwest Roads were (in general) laid out in a NSEW gridwork (also cities) with some exceptions. But if you are heading north on Y/X/Z road you are going north baring there is a lake or big hill in that path.
Boy Scouts taught us to use a compass and map. My oldest son borrowed my compass years ago to navigate a trip pre-gps era. I really need to get another if I am going to hike trails again and go fishing. For now google maps is my friend, I plan routes before I go. I'll check progress on my phone to make sure if need be as I go along.

 

[Alan]

Coming from NH where street signs were nearly non-existent I had to rely on GPS to at least get to a location I could either recognize or find my way back home. County and state roads were often labeled as N, S, E, or W, Only meant the headed in that general direction when you get to the end of the roads. These roads were cow path straight at best. A road headed supposedly north would go due west quite a ways before looping around and ending up somewhat north of where you began. I was frustrated by this because I grew up in Michigan. Here in the Midwest Roads were (in general) laid out in a NSEW gridwork (also cities) with some exceptions. But if you are heading north on Y/X/Z road you are going north baring there is a lake or big hill in that path.
Boy Scouts taught us to use a compass and map. My oldest son borrowed my compass years ago to navigate a trip pre-gps era. I really need to get another if I am going to hike trails again and go fishing. For now google maps is my friend, I plan routes before I go. I'll check progress on my phone to make sure if need be as I go along.

Sounds like quite the adventure adapting to those winding NH roads! Do you think you’ll pick up another compass soon or stick with GPS for your hikes?

 

[Indigo22]

Sounds like quite the adventure adapting to those winding NH roads! Do you think you’ll pick up another compass soon or stick with GPS for your hikes?

I'm thinking I will pick up another compass to have at least as a backup.