How to read a topographic map – Sandbox

Return to course: Basic Navigation

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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

How to read a topographic map