I've seen all of your videos and I'm finally learning a compass the right way, you sir are a great teacher to make it all so simple to understand, thank you, thank you, thank you!
The method at 5:40 seems to be shown with the map oriented (the map itself aligned with North). But that may not be a necessary step IF the north/south lines on the map are conveniently located or dense enough to be aligned with the orienting lines under the needle. If that's the case you can skip "orienting the map" and completely ignore the needle while looking for those 90° fall line to contour line intersections. You probably cover that in one of your other very good videos. I love your teaching style and good humor. Keep up the good work.
Simple and amazing! I have worked with some of the best VRA trainers in Australia, however, they never mentioned this to me. One thing they said, an area may appear to be flat on a map is not entirely true. If the contour lines are 10 metres, and on that piece of terrain you are navigating the terrain undulates 9 metres, it will not show, so the terrain can undulate up to 18 (+/- 9 metres) from the contour.
Great stuff. Aspect of slope is a real game changer in moorland where you need a lot more guidance rather than precision. The key is that you have a safe route out even if you need those traverses (as appropriate) to reach checking features. If you can't plot a safe (but slow) route out from one's navigationally challenged areal location, then you are 'lost' and risks may be required to chose the least worst route from nowhere to safety. It (slope aspect navigation) can be greatly aided by the use of a wristwatch barometric altimeter (baro-alt) for monitoring roughly which contour to check against when descending, or ascending from a known point or area - just reset the baro-alt at the 'flat spot or known point, and check the heigh gain/loss for likely contour line. Really good when trying to locate cols between hills in dense mist. Finally, Drumlins and other knollans are a pain when checking aspect if there are lots of 10m knobbles and slope that hardly create any contour deviations (plenty of Scottish hills!).
Hi Philip, in the next ten videos (I tend to plan well ahead) there is a “Barometer assisted navigation” video. The next three (Nav in Dangerous Terrain, how to fold a map, Forest Nav) are already filmed but still need editing (as you/everyone can tell I’m still learning, “very” slowly, to edit). I’m running a course in the Lake District mid Dec. so I’ll probably film the Barometer clips there the day before the course and edit it after the New Year - no videos over Christmas and New Year as me and the family are for a winter break.
I had a neat little Casio W100 for many years (since ~'84!) great bits of kit but you can't get them any more (I think since Lockerbie). The newer ones are too chunky for me. @@TheMapReadingCompany
Dear Sir, thank you. Contourlibes are important and difficult. One can never have to much instruction on this topic. Please make a series of this subject. Love your channel and your way of teaching.
This is a really useful skill set to have for when the GPS systems go up the swanny. Which could be anything from a flat battery to the satellites falling out the sky...
I have to say that your teaching method is fantastic but more then that your navigation skills are fantastic, Where did your learn them if you don't mind mw asking thank you
What clip is on your jacket, underside? A step-counter or something like that? Or a GPS-beacon thing or something? Thank you for explaining. Best regards
It's the microphone transmitter to the camera. Not really sure of the range but it seems to work up to around 100m. See here: rode.com/en/microphones/wireless/wirelessgoii
Wayne, when you took your bearing at 4:03 you had 12° East declination on your compass. Then you stated at 4:56 that was your magnetic bearing. Once we adjust declination shouldn't we refer to that bearing as TRUE? I'm pretty sure the declination was overlooked since you stated that your declination is only 16' West. Thanks for all of your videos, I've learned a lot from you.
Oh yeah - hadn’t noticed that, well spotted Ralph. I was teaching a group how to set declination just before that video was made. I must have missed that compass when resetting them before putting them in the store (I have a LOT of compasses 😊) PS - just checked all the suuntos are back at 0
Seriously you’d be better doing a couple of days training with an instructor, or just ask a mate who knows their stuff, and then go out and practice. Nav is one of the things you learn by doing.
I've seen all of your videos and I'm finally learning a compass the right way, you sir are a great teacher to make it all so simple to understand, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Only ever had the opportunity to use aspect of slope once and this video brought it all back! Fantastic!
Best chanell on navigation. I've earned so many things from your videos. A real treasure for trekkers. Thank you.
Something I had not considered before as mostly coming from sea navigation.
Excellent and simply explained.
Thank you.
The method at 5:40 seems to be shown with the map oriented (the map itself aligned with North). But that may not be a necessary step IF the north/south lines on the map are conveniently located or dense enough to be aligned with the orienting lines under the needle. If that's the case you can skip "orienting the map" and completely ignore the needle while looking for those 90° fall line to contour line intersections. You probably cover that in one of your other very good videos. I love your teaching style and good humor. Keep up the good work.
I agree with you 100%. In fact I made a video about this very topic (it's not necessary to orient your map)
ua-cam.com/video/AWiMV4T5kPc/v-deo.html
Memo to myself: Never use a ball for navigation ;)
Thank you for all the videos - very interesting!!!!
Still one more reason to love this channel. Useful info presented in a pleasant, graspable manner.
Thank you for the details in the presentation for solving the problems presented.
🤓🐢
I like your presentations! Great information (refresher, in some case; new information, in other cases)!
Useful information presented in an easy to follow demonstration.
Excellent information! Thank you Sir.
Glad it was helpful!
Simple and amazing! I have worked with some of the best VRA trainers in Australia, however, they never mentioned this to me. One thing they said, an area may appear to be flat on a map is not entirely true. If the contour lines are 10 metres, and on that piece of terrain you are navigating the terrain undulates 9 metres, it will not show, so the terrain can undulate up to 18 (+/- 9 metres) from the contour.
Great stuff. Aspect of slope is a real game changer in moorland where you need a lot more guidance rather than precision. The key is that you have a safe route out even if you need those traverses (as appropriate) to reach checking features.
If you can't plot a safe (but slow) route out from one's navigationally challenged areal location, then you are 'lost' and risks may be required to chose the least worst route from nowhere to safety.
It (slope aspect navigation) can be greatly aided by the use of a wristwatch barometric altimeter (baro-alt) for monitoring roughly which contour to check against when descending, or ascending from a known point or area - just reset the baro-alt at the 'flat spot or known point, and check the heigh gain/loss for likely contour line. Really good when trying to locate cols between hills in dense mist.
Finally, Drumlins and other knollans are a pain when checking aspect if there are lots of 10m knobbles and slope that hardly create any contour deviations (plenty of Scottish hills!).
Hi Philip, in the next ten videos (I tend to plan well ahead) there is a “Barometer assisted navigation” video. The next three (Nav in Dangerous Terrain, how to fold a map, Forest Nav) are already filmed but still need editing (as you/everyone can tell I’m still learning, “very” slowly, to edit).
I’m running a course in the Lake District mid Dec. so I’ll probably film the Barometer clips there the day before the course and edit it after the New Year - no videos over Christmas and New Year as me and the family are for a winter break.
I had a neat little Casio W100 for many years (since ~'84!) great bits of kit but you can't get them any more (I think since Lockerbie). The newer ones are too chunky for me. @@TheMapReadingCompany
Dear Sir, thank you. Contourlibes are important and difficult. One can never have to much instruction on this topic.
Please make a series of this subject. Love your channel and your way of teaching.
a brilliant video.
Thank you for your time.
So much grand information - ! 😊
I enjoy your videos.
This is a really useful skill set to have for when the GPS systems go up the swanny. Which could be anything from a flat battery to the satellites falling out the sky...
I have to say that your teaching method is fantastic but more then that your navigation skills are fantastic, Where did your learn them if you don't mind mw asking
thank you
What clip is on your jacket, underside? A step-counter or something like that? Or a GPS-beacon thing or something? Thank you for explaining. Best regards
It's the microphone transmitter to the camera. Not really sure of the range but it seems to work up to around 100m.
See here: rode.com/en/microphones/wireless/wirelessgoii
brilliant thanks
Wayne, when you took your bearing at 4:03 you had 12° East declination on your compass. Then you stated at 4:56 that was your magnetic bearing. Once we adjust declination shouldn't we refer to that bearing as TRUE? I'm pretty sure the declination was overlooked since you stated that your declination is only 16' West. Thanks for all of your videos, I've learned a lot from you.
Oh yeah - hadn’t noticed that, well spotted Ralph. I was teaching a group how to set declination just before that video was made. I must have missed that compass when resetting them before putting them in the store (I have a LOT of compasses 😊)
PS - just checked all the suuntos are back at 0
If you make notes even when visibility is good. Directions, times, etc. Then you can also exclude slops you cannot be at.

Can you recommend a good book on navigation Wayne?
Seriously you’d be better doing a couple of days training with an instructor, or just ask a mate who knows their stuff, and then go out and practice. Nav is one of the things you learn by doing.
Perhaps a bowling ball? Don’t forget to subtract the extra weight from your pace!
👍
You can say lost , its ok
Next time carry a ball and a lawnmower
You're right, I should have 😊
😂