It’s Sunday, and I haven’t have a lot of time to research or write. It’s been a busy week at work, and the grandkids are spending the weekend. Take a look at this lesson on how to use a compass, which is a skill that many of us have either forgotten or never learned.

Categories: Training

10 Comments

SmileyFtW · January 26, 2025 at 10:39 am

Stumbled across that very same video yesterday from a very different direction (punny?). He’s got some great information about land nav.
Thanks for all you do…

Mark · January 26, 2025 at 12:26 pm

“Lost” skills. Ha! I see what you did there.

Jester · January 26, 2025 at 12:55 pm

You never loose signal with them either at least the high quality ones. Or have to worry about batteries/recharges. The only sad note is the military ones have a limited shelf life with the glow in the dark paint. Sadly mine has long since lost its ability to glow in the dark.

TRX · January 26, 2025 at 3:26 pm

I wish I could add “reading a map” as another lost skill, but it’s a skill almost nobody had in the first place.

In all my life I’ve only encountered maybe two people who could read an ordinary road map. I’d say I’ve caught at least half of the people attempting to use a map holding it upside down.

    Tanfj · January 27, 2025 at 2:48 pm

    My kids can read a road map and topo maps.

    BTW the US Geological Survey has topographic maps (both current and archived) available for download free. I printed out my area and laminated them.

Slow Joe Crow · January 26, 2025 at 3:42 pm

Orienteering is a good way to keep up both land navigation and aerobic fitness. I do carry a compass and topo map on most trips.

joe · January 26, 2025 at 9:51 pm

been a few days since i used one of those…now they have gps units…wonder if they even teach land nav in basic training any more…

Jonathan · January 26, 2025 at 10:58 pm

While I have used a compass recently, it wasn’t in those circumstances.
Most of my diving experience is in cold water with limited visibility and there, taking readings before you go under and then following the reciprocal is crucial.

I also occasionally do a driving trip with a map or written directions instead of a GPS so that I maintain the ability to do it.

    Divemedic · January 27, 2025 at 8:10 am

    Anyone can move out one one heading and return on another. Try making it from point A to point D with doglegs at points B and C with nothing more than a map and compass. That is much, much harder and is a skill that does require refreshing from time to time. GPS has made many of us lazy and incompetent in navigation.

      WallPhone · January 27, 2025 at 8:43 am

      Picked up one of these gov issued tritium Cammengas from ’96. Its got the vials in the bezel glass, needle, and at each end of the sight wire… But no yellow lines.

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