Learning LandNav

[Batteriesnare]

Hi All,

Working on continuing my education in useful skills; next on my list is land navigation. I've spent some time poking around and watching YouTube videos and reading, and have acquired the following tools:

Cammenga Lensatic compass with tritium
1:25,000 Topo maps of my immediate area, plus the 8 surrounding maps to the central area
A Coordinate grid reader and protractor
Map Tools UTM Coordinate Scale protractor for both 1:24,000 and 1:25,000 maps

I took the REI intro to Orienteering class a few years back and didn't find much use out of it, and now that I have a little more time to dive in for the summer, I'd like to get out and get more practice. I'm looking for recommendations on information and books that would be helpful in understanding and applying these skills, with the ultimate goal of taking backpacking trips this summer and leaving the GPS at home - aka in the backpack turned off. Any help or useful instruction would be greatly appreciated!

[CS1983]

Find a 2LT. Do the opposite of everything he says.


https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-25-26.pdf
http://www.imef.marines.mil/Portals/...Powerpoint.ppt

Once this dang degree is done (juneish?), I'd be happy to join you. Will be integrating this in this season's scouting for a refresh since it's now a rusty skill.

[.455_Hunter]

Find a 2LT. Do the opposite of everything he says.

That works until you have personally watched a unit's LTs teach land nav during Sergeant's Time Training because the NCO's were incompetent and could not effectively poor piss out of a boot.

[Batteriesnare]

Thanks for posting these, I missed them in the first read through with your comic. I'm down to go exploring once you're wrapped up with school!

https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-25-26.pdf
http://www.imef.marines.mil/Portals/...Powerpoint.ppt

Once this dang degree is done (juneish?), I'd be happy to join you. Will be integrating this in this season's scouting for a refresh since it's now a rusty skill.

[Zundfolge]

I find that I learn in a task oriented situation better than reading manuals and whatnot. So I'd go onto some Geocaching web sites, find some local geocaches and then go find them with map and compass instead of GPS.

Orienteering is kind of like shooting, yes you can learn stuff by reading about it, but you really need to get out there and do it to accelerate your learning curve.

[Batteriesnare]

This is a great idea - never thought of it!

I find that I learn in a task oriented situation better than reading manuals and whatnot. So I'd go onto some Geocaching web sites, find some local geocaches and then go find them with map and compass instead of GPS.

Orienteering is kind of like shooting, yes you can learn stuff by reading about it, but you really need to get out there and do it to accelerate your learning curve.

[CS1983]

I find that I learn in a task oriented situation better than reading manuals and whatnot. So I'd go onto some Geocaching web sites, find some local geocaches and then go find them with map and compass instead of GPS.

Orienteering is kind of like shooting, yes you can learn stuff by reading about it, but you really need to get out there and do it to accelerate your learning curve.

Well of course. Manuals and such are for introducing the ideas one needs to think about when doing it.

[GeorgeandSugar]

Hi All,

Working on continuing my education in useful skills; next on my list is land navigation. I've spent some time poking around and watching YouTube videos and reading, and have acquired the following tools:

Cammenga Lensatic compass with tritium
1:25,000 Topo maps of my immediate area, plus the 8 surrounding maps to the central area
A Coordinate grid reader and protractor
Map Tools UTM Coordinate Scale protractor for both 1:24,000 and 1:25,000 maps

I took the REI intro to Orienteering class a few years back and didn't find much use out of it, and now that I have a little more time to dive in for the summer, I'd like to get out and get more practice. I'm looking for recommendations on information and books that would be helpful in understanding and applying these skills, with the ultimate goal of taking backpacking trips this summer and leaving the GPS at home - aka in the backpack turned off. Any help or useful instruction would be greatly appreciated!

Go to the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) web site. There are classes you can attend for a small fee. Wilderness Trekking School manual has information on land navigation and compass use.

https://hikingdenver.net/wp-content/...al-F17-V4s.pdf


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[Wulf202]

https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Map-Co...70_&dpSrc=srch

best book but practice is crucial

[Bailey Guns]

Hi All,

Working on continuing my education in useful skills; next on my list is land navigation. I've spent some time poking around and watching YouTube videos and reading, and have acquired the following tools:

Cammenga Lensatic compass with tritium
1:25,000 Topo maps of my immediate area, plus the 8 surrounding maps to the central area
A Coordinate grid reader and protractor
Map Tools UTM Coordinate Scale protractor for both 1:24,000 and 1:25,000 maps

I took the REI intro to Orienteering class a few years back and didn't find much use out of it, and now that I have a little more time to dive in for the summer, I'd like to get out and get more practice. I'm looking for recommendations on information and books that would be helpful in understanding and applying these skills, with the ultimate goal of taking backpacking trips this summer and leaving the GPS at home - aka in the backpack turned off. Any help or useful instruction would be greatly appreciated!

No short cuts, pal. Go out and join the military like the rest of us did to learn this. 4 years from now you'll be over the desire to learn this.