20 replies to this topic

[AWG_Pics]

Foy

 

Great story! It is always important to retain a bit of humility when faced with nature's wiles!

[Smokecreek1]

I like to tell this story at this point when none of the above seems to work !

 

Our very experienced archaeological survey team was doing some inventory work for the USFS up on the -I think it was Stanislaus NF -in 1973-4. Anyway, it was back in the dark ages before GPS was available to the public (meaning using compasses, common sense, and USGS Maps and land features) and we were just starting to work this new area.  We had been warned that because of the high mineral content that we should ignore our compasses and use geographic and cultural features, especially painted rocks and an old trapper cabin, to find our way around out there.

 

So, of course, on the first day, we ignored this sage advise  and headed into woods following our compass bearings and an old marked up topo map in search of the cabin and (of course) a couple of hours later we found ourselves back at the starting point-hmm, maybe the advise was right.   So off we go again into this very forested area with lot's of boulders, trees and rock flows and features, old mine shafts and can't see the mountains and other land features to get our bearings, so we really get lost this time!  What saved us -the newest member of the team-first time out in the woods. As we stumbled around out there trying to figure out where we are, he popes off with " hey isn't that the sun up there thru the trees-can't we use that somehow to find where we are?" 

 

Oh gees, here we are this great experienced field team and we got so pissed off and flustered that we forgot about the first thing any traveler learns -use the sun idiot. Well, we did, found the cabin and did not become one of those Darwin stories!  I guess there are to many lessons learned from this tale-take your pick, so enough said!

 

Smoke

Edited by Smokecreek1, 22 October 2023 - 10:00 PM.

[AWG_Pics]

 We had been warned that because of the high mineral content that we should ignore our compasses 

 

I forgot to mention -- don't stand near your truck to get a magnetic bearing. 100 feet separation is probably adequate!

[ski3pin]

Foy

 

Great story! It is always important to retain a bit of humility when faced with nature's wiles!

Yes, it is

[Marysmith.0901]

Thanks for sharing your navigation wisdom,  It's always rough getting lost in the great outdoors, especially when there aren't any distinguishable features around. I'm definitely taking your advice on double-checking information and not assuming things on my next hike off the beaten path. Keep the good times rolling, and stay safe out there!

 

Edited by Marysmith.0901, 25 October 2023 - 04:15 AM.

[craig333]

Map question. Many of my FS maps are huge. Difficult to unfold in the cab and real pita if the wind is blowing (as it would be in my open top Jeep). Fold it to just the area you need and you'll never get it properly folded back up again. Anyone have any tips or tricks for this problem?

[Wallowa]

Only thing I can add is to learn to read the terrain features from the topographic map you are carrying....takes practice but you start to visualize the map in 3D...

 

Phil

 

"Not lost, just wandering"  

[AWG_Pics]

Map question. Many of my FS maps are huge. Difficult to unfold in the cab and real pita if the wind is blowing (as it would be in my open top Jeep). Fold it to just the area you need and you'll never get it properly folded back up again. Anyone have any tips or tricks for this problem?

 

A life long problem which I have never solved. End up with some mutilated and weirdly folded maps. Maybe someone else has an elegant solution?

[Wallowa]

A life long problem which I have never solved. End up with some mutilated and weirdly folded maps. Maybe someone else has an elegant solution?

 

 

I always operated on the assumption that the cost of a map was only in proportion to the use.  I do most of my adventures solo, so the cost of a map is not significant in that context...I tear out pages from Benchmark Map books to cover where I am or could wander to and put them in a zip lock [folded of course] along with my USGS topos for the same areas...before my ventures I pour over them and develop a visualization of me route and of features that I can expect to encounter on that route...

 

Don't "save" a map/topo for another trip, cuz without them on your current adventure there may not be 'another trip'; treat them as expendable, the maps/topos that is....

[Marysmith.0901]

Thanks for sharing your navigation tips - it's important to have multiple tools and methods to avoid getting lost. Double-checking for road and trail conditions is a great reminder, and I appreciate the mix of analog and digital devices used. Happy exploring!