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INDEX
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How To Make Your Campsite A Castle
Part Two: Maps, Compasses, and Common Sense
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In Part One, I talked about getting to your campsite castle. Let's go into a little more detail on the subject.
Maps have always fascinated me. Looking at a map and envisioning far away places is a favored hobby. When my children were smaller, I had a large map of the world put on the wall in front of my kitchen pantry. Nearly every time we got something out of
the pantry, I would put my finger on the map and ask if anyone knew something about that place. When world news was running on the television, my daughters and I were huddling in front of the map locating the spot and discussing what we knew about the
region. Well, my kids know a lot of geography, history, and political 'things' as a result of the time that we spent in front of that map.
Being familiar with different types of maps is extremely useful when you start to wander farther afield. It might sound silly, but if you can't read a standard road map, than you shouldn't be going too far from the
beaten/paved path.
You can start your maps education by getting several types of maps. A trip to a map store would be good, but if one isn't available than it's not a major problem. Your local rock shop will probably have a map
section in it. You can also order maps from any number of government agencies. Get an assortment and assess which ones work the best for you.
Try to get an atlas of the area that you are interested in visiting. The atlas should have the different types of roads listed in the front. You will find everything from major interstate roads to the 'unpaved and
unimproved' roads that are really two ruts going off that-a-way. Study the atlas...it is your friend.
Next, find a place that carries topo (topography) maps. Topo maps show the contour and elevation of the landscape. Your first purchase should be a topo map of your own neighborhood. It is easier to learn to read a topo map of familiar territory first.
One of my favorite places to get maps is R.E.I. (Recreational Equipment Inc.) While I am not handing out endorsements, I do like their selection of maps and other goodies.
When you are comfortable with your maps, refold them in their original configuration and put them in large zip lock baggies. Keep them close at hand. Maps won't help you if you can't get at them. Be one with the
map....
Not too long ago a group of hikers had to be rescued because they were lost. They had a global positioning devise and could tell you where they were, but they didn't have a map to tell them where THEY WERE on
it. They were lost...the boneheads! All the high tech goodies in the world won't save you if you don't use a little common sense, and carry a map on your person.
Start with several short trips to places where you can use your newly acquired information. Nothing hard the first time if you please.
Before we go to compasses, let's get the boring work out of the way. Then we get to play games.
In an ideal situation, you can use a football field to do the next exercise. You need to have a level field and know where the 100 foot mark is, or be able to mark it off. Next, walk the length 10 times. Write down the number of steps that you take
each time. Do not walk fast or slow, but try to maintain an even, natural pace. When you are done, find the average number of steps that you took over the ten trips. This can be important later. We are all different heights and walk with different
strides. You need to know what your average pace is. By knowing what your pace is you can calculate distance. If you walk in such a direction for so many paces, just where the heck are you? You should be able to answer that. Remember that this is an
approximation. The length of your pace will change as you go up and down hilly country.
Now, on to the subject of compasses. I always carry one with me. My current compass is an expensive thing. My first one was not. Learning to use a compass is simple, but not easy. Now you have to combine the direction that you want to go in with
distance AND account for terrain while you are going in the right direction. Remember the maps, well here we go. Otherwise, how are you going to find the buried treasure?
Compasses are essentially simple devices. They tell you which direction you are standing in. If you are good, they will even tell you how to go in another direction. No, really, it isn't that hard.
The first thing to do with a compass is to learn where to hold it so that you can get a good reading. No, it's not at arms reach or under your buddies nose. You hold the compass in your hand and up against your body. If you stand with your arms down at
your sides and then bring your hand up so that your forearm is at a right angle to your upper arm and then move your arm so that your hand contacts your middle, the spot should be just about right. All you have to do is look down and read the compass.
Got that? Simple, quick, easy.
Don't get a compass to learn on that has too many things on it. You need to be able to determine which direction to go in without getting confused by the built in signal mirror/makeup mirror/microwave oven/or
other feature. All you are trying to do right now is to learn how to find a given direction.
Your map should have a key on it that will orient it in the proper direction. Take off your magic decoder ring before going any farther. Next, put the map on a table so that you can see the key. Hold the compass as instructed and find out what
direction you are standing in. You should not turn or change direction as you rotate the map so that it is in it's appropriate position. (get a friend to turn the map if you want to avoid dislocating body parts) North matching north, etc. Now, you
could do this by simply putting the compass down on the map and turning the map, but it isn't as much fun, and you won't learn your compass skills.
Next, go outside and mark a course in the grass, or on the pavement. Use an empty parking lot if you have one available. Don't get fancy yet. Set up a course with 5 or 6 legs on it that aren't too far apart. Start at the beginning of the first leg by
facing north and writing down which direction your path will take you (NE, NW, SW, etc.). Then walk the leg to the next point and stop. Take your reading from the compass in the direction that you are facing. Write down the compass information, how
many steps you took to get there, and which direction the next leg goes in. Repeat the steps until you are back at the beginning of the course. Now, give your notes to a friend and have them follow the directions. See just how closely they are able to
keep the course, or how far off they are. Play the game now, save your life later. Do this as often as you need to get comfortable with it. Kids love this part. Let them set up the course, but don't get too carried
away.
Now, a few more words about compasses. Do I use mine? Hardly ever. Why? Well, if you are on level ground than it's no problem navigating a course (maybe). However, in the mountains, forget it. By the time you have to go around a ravine/cliff/river
or other hazard, you are way off course. I carry mine because in an extreme emergency I just might have to use it and I want it to be close. Besides, it has that nifty makeup
mirror built right in it so I don't have to carry a second mirror. After all, one must keep up appearances even in the wilds.
There are several good books on compass reading available. I suggest investigating them, and then getting several in order to get different points of view.
Getting lost on the way to your campsite castle will not make your day. Think ahead, plan for the unexpected, and enjoy the moment.
Bon Voyage!
copyright 1997 by Jan Noble
The following were taken from MicroSoft Bookshelf 95.
to-pog-ra-phy (te-pòg¹re-fê) noun
plural to·pog·ra·phies
Abbr. topog.
- Detailed, precise description of a place or region.
- Graphic representation of the surface features of a place or region on a map, indicating their relative positions and elevations.
- A description or an analysis of a structured entity, showing the relations among its components: In the topography of the economy, several depressed areas are revealed.
a. The surface features of a place or region.
b. The surface features of an object: The topography of a crystal.
- The surveying of the features of a place or region.
- The study or description of an anatomical region or part.
-- top¹o·graph´ (tòp¹e-gràf´) noun
-- top´o·graph¹ic (-gràf¹îk) or top´o·graph¹i·cal (-î-kel) adjective
-- top´o·graph¹i·cal·ly adverb
Compass, in navigation, an instrument for determining direction. The mariner's compass, probably first used by European seamen in the 12th sed by European seamen in the 12th cent., consists of a magnetic needle freely suspended so that it turns to align
itself with the magnetic north and south poles. The gyrocompass is a more accurate form of navigational compass, unaffected by magnetic influences, that came into wide use during World War II. It consists essentially of a rapidly spinning, electrically
driven rotor suspended in such a way that its axis automatically points along the geographical meridian.
P.S.
Now, we have another offering from my recipe files. Little fuss or muss, but worth any effort!
HEAVENLY BITS
3 sticks of butter
10 tablespoons powdered sugar
4 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons ice water
1/4 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups finely chopped pecans
-cream butter and sugar together
-add the remaining ingredients and mix well, the dough will be very stiff
-roll the dough into ½ inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet
-bake at 300 degrees until lightly browned
-remove from the oven and cool the cookies before handling them, they crumble if not cooled first
-roll the cookies in powdered sugar
-serve at once, or store in a tightly closed container
P.P.S.
The following URL's are from my bookmark file. Visit my web site for even more: http://www.mindspring.com/~inthewind
Cartographic Resources
Maps
Mapquest
WWW Speed Trap Registry
Tiger Map Server Browser
U.S. Geological Survey
USGS Mineral Resources Program
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Copyright, 1997 by Jan Noble
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Writer, traveler, contract E/M designer, rockhound and Mom are only a few of the descriptions that apply to Jan Noble. When not on assignment, she lives in Atlanta with her
husband, two daughters, ten cats and two dogs.
Jan is a genuine lover of geology and enjoys taking her
children with her on field trips when ever time permits. She
always has rocks in her pockets and time to hear a good story.
Besides filling her time with rock hunting, writing and work,
she tutors her youngest daughter in home school. She's a
loving mother and talented writer.
Jan can be reached at inthewind@mindspring.com.
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