Overview of navigation tools – Sandbox

Return to course: Basic Navigation

Previous Lesson Previous Next Next Lesson

Basic Navigation

Grades

Why navigation matters (even on marked trails)
Common myths and mistakes
Overview of navigation tools

Foundations quiz

How to read a topographic map
Contour lines, symbols, and scales
How to orient a map

Map symbols quiz

Parts of a compass (baseplate, needle, housing, etc.)
Taking a bearing
Following a bearing
Triangulation: finding your location using 2–3 landmarks

Triangulation assignment

Handheld GPS vs. smartphone apps (like Gaia GPS, AllTrails)
How to plot a route
GPS accuracy, limitations, and battery life

Overview of navigation tools