navigating in the woods ?
- Thread starter phrank
- Start date
G
Guest
have you tried learning how to use a compass? Better than GPS IMHO because it won't give away the location of your grows.
Poodo
Member
I think you should know the woods where your going to grow in#1 so you know the kind of traffic it gets.
As for not getting lost, if you are looking in the winter you could brake branches as you go then when you turn around you will see where you went and it will grow back in the spring or when there is snow follow your tracks ,but an easier way is to only walk one direction from where your going to be starting to carry the water to the spot or spots.If you get say like 20 out in the woods it some times takes like 5 gallons of water to water them.So that will put a limit to how far you should go.
It sounds like you can't find a good spot?Back to getting lost my rule is (if in new woods) go in and come out the same way.Walking all day is what gets me lost make short trips.Oh and being in the woods when its dark is alway no fun.I harvested in the dark once and fence's can hurt and you hear the weirdest shit. You need to figure a route that you can remeber peace
As for not getting lost, if you are looking in the winter you could brake branches as you go then when you turn around you will see where you went and it will grow back in the spring or when there is snow follow your tracks ,but an easier way is to only walk one direction from where your going to be starting to carry the water to the spot or spots.If you get say like 20 out in the woods it some times takes like 5 gallons of water to water them.So that will put a limit to how far you should go.
It sounds like you can't find a good spot?Back to getting lost my rule is (if in new woods) go in and come out the same way.Walking all day is what gets me lost make short trips.Oh and being in the woods when its dark is alway no fun.I harvested in the dark once and fence's can hurt and you hear the weirdest shit. You need to figure a route that you can remeber peace
get one of these http://pathfinder.casio.com/watches/hiking_trekking/PAW1300T-7V
i know it's expensive but it's cool, has a lot of useful features and it even stores compass readings.
i know it's expensive but it's cool, has a lot of useful features and it even stores compass readings.
I would definately like to consider myself as an outdoorsman, with one of my final goals in life to be completely self dependent off of the land and it's forage. Yet I cannot read a compass. Yes I know how to find N. and I know how to use the N. star, but I am illiterate at compasses. I am planning on purchasing a GPS this year for my outdoor plots. I have a quick question about that though. Can LEO bring up these location points on their database, or do you have the locations only on your GPS/mem card?
No matter how good a sense of direction you have, it's very hard to navigate in thick woodland. You can look for natural indicators of direction, such as mosses and lichens growing on trees. They'll generally only grow on the north facing side of the tree. All in all, a couple of dollars for a decent compass to wear around your neck is a worthwhile investment.
Nothing can beat a common sense understanding of the country you are hiking in, but it sounds klike you need a GPS, and no, GPS units only recieve information, they do not send it to LEO, repeat, they only recieve information, they have no transmitter of any kind.
GPS!!
At the least you will be able to make it back to your car if you get disoriented.....
GPS!!
At the least you will be able to make it back to your car if you get disoriented.....
Baden-Powell wrote a few books on this subject:
Some of them:
1884 Reconnaissance and Scouting
1885 Cavalry Instruction
1897 The Matabele Campaign
1899 Aids to Scouting for N.C.O.s and Men
1908 Scouting for Boys
1911 Scouting for Boys, complete edition
1912 Handbook for Girl Guides
1918 Girl Guiding
Peace
Paddi
Some of them:
1884 Reconnaissance and Scouting
1885 Cavalry Instruction
1897 The Matabele Campaign
1899 Aids to Scouting for N.C.O.s and Men
1908 Scouting for Boys
1911 Scouting for Boys, complete edition
1912 Handbook for Girl Guides
1918 Girl Guiding
Peace
Paddi
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where i come from moss generally grows on the south side of trees,and ridges generally run north and south.All info on your gps stays on your gps.
Reibsi
Active member
I use a Garmin GPS and they are the cats ass for navigating through the woods. It`s advisable NOT to mark your plot on it. I mark an object that most often 100`s yards from the plot....then when i get to it i simply go 400 yards due south for example to the plot....The GPS will tell you exactly what time you will arrive at the speed your travelling.......gives you altitude and even tells you what time the sun will rise and set at your particular spot..........they are loaded with features that tell you the best hunting and fishing times and a whole lot more..........most have a small reset button on the back that will completely wipe out any stored information.
S
sow the seeds
I have a Garmin GPS too and it usually ok. A problem I found with it, however was that it lost signal in dense woods. When I marked my spots in the spring the foliage hadn't filled out so it marked my spots no problem and I was able to find them with ease. After the foliage really filled out I lost quite a few spots because the GPS couldn't find the satalite when I was walking to my location.
This actaully got me very lost a couple of times. These times made me realize relying solely on a GPS is very bad practice.
Lucky I was in the woods a lot as a kid and was able to navigate my way out. A main thing I use that I don't think anyone has mentioned is the position of the sun. It rises in the east and sets in the west. As long as you know the basic position you need to head in you can head in that general direction as long as the sun is out and its not too close to noon.
Luckily I'm pretty familiar with my area so I was able to walk in the direction I figured out from the sun until I came to somewhere I was familiar with and go from there.
Just don't panic if/when you get lost...you don't think clearly when your panicking.
This actaully got me very lost a couple of times. These times made me realize relying solely on a GPS is very bad practice.
Lucky I was in the woods a lot as a kid and was able to navigate my way out. A main thing I use that I don't think anyone has mentioned is the position of the sun. It rises in the east and sets in the west. As long as you know the basic position you need to head in you can head in that general direction as long as the sun is out and its not too close to noon.
Luckily I'm pretty familiar with my area so I was able to walk in the direction I figured out from the sun until I came to somewhere I was familiar with and go from there.
Just don't panic if/when you get lost...you don't think clearly when your panicking.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Really, thanks for all the good info, and I'll definitely skip the crumbs. I already have a number of good spots, it's just that I've fallen in love with being in the woods, and would like to explore deeper without the fear of getting lost! I am going to start by developing my compass skills, and when I have the money, I will purchase a GPS system.
phrank
Thank you!
Really, thanks for all the good info, and I'll definitely skip the crumbs. I already have a number of good spots, it's just that I've fallen in love with being in the woods, and would like to explore deeper without the fear of getting lost! I am going to start by developing my compass skills, and when I have the money, I will purchase a GPS system.
phrank
yea. gps is the shit
i picked up a really good garmin off ebay last year and i love it. good ones can get a little pricey after you buy the maps and charts and stuff
i picked up a really good garmin off ebay last year and i love it. good ones can get a little pricey after you buy the maps and charts and stuff
compass ,map and gps . just bought a new gps delorme pn 20 with topo software. be safe out there guys
GPS is great, but as someone else pointed out it can loose signal, as I have found myself.
As you get used to your unit, you will be able to tell if it has a updated signal from the sattelites or not. I tend to use the navigation screens alot, usually they will tell you how fast you are moving, in what direction, and the distance you are from your car or plot, depending on which landmark you have programmed in.
Get the GPS, use it alot to get familier, and also keep you eyes peeled for landmarks you are passing(creeks, hills, a paticular tree, etc etc).
As you get used to your unit, you will be able to tell if it has a updated signal from the sattelites or not. I tend to use the navigation screens alot, usually they will tell you how fast you are moving, in what direction, and the distance you are from your car or plot, depending on which landmark you have programmed in.
Get the GPS, use it alot to get familier, and also keep you eyes peeled for landmarks you are passing(creeks, hills, a paticular tree, etc etc).
BACKCOUNTRY said:
k+ BC, you are subtle in saying things :wink: mothing can beat common sense for sure...
another good thing to do is to study the area using aerial maps, as suggested.
so who is goona hook us up with the link to a kick-ass tutorial on how to use a compass?
paz
