Author Topic: Advice & education please!  (Read 2513 times)

thisismusic

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Advice & education please!
« on: 12:33:48, 02/06/08 »
I've just come back from a couple of days in the Peak district, and hiked up Kinder Scout. This was really my first experience of a "proper" elevation of any kind, having only done hills along the ridgeway before.

It's given me a thirst for more, so I could do with a bit of advice as to where to go next, for something that's a bit more of a challenge, but not too much - don't want to bite off more than I can chew. I live in Buckinghamshire, so it's a bit of a trek to get to any decent peaks.

I need to learn how to navigate properly using a map and compass. I've ordered a decent book via amazon but any advice on how best to teach myself would be very welcome. Presumably there are also day courses etc that I could go on?

Another thing that would be handy, is a suggested list of what I should take with me. My usual backpack contents on any walk is a set of good waterproofs, a bit of food and plenty of water, mobile phone in a ziplock bag fully charged, first aid kit, map, compass and torch.

Thanks very much everyone.
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty" - David Attenborough

tonyk

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2857
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #1 on: 14:52:28, 02/06/08 »
 It would appear you are already doing quite well,the book will give you the basics on navigation and the stuff you are carrying sounds about right.The truth is when I started walking around 28 years ago I hadn't got a clue what I was doing,lost count of the times I got lost and arrived at campsites at gone midnight,but it was a learning process and I looked at where I had gone wrong and made sure I didn't make the same mistake twice.One tip I would suggest is to look at plenty of photos of various mountain ranges,from the Alps to the Lakes etc and you will come to realise they all have the same basic features,passes,summits,ridges,tarns,,etc.Once you learn to identify the various mountain features navigation becomes far easier. Studying aerial photos of ranges is also a good idea.Before going on a walk I will study as many photos as possible so I can build a picture in my head of the various features,its quite easy to do with the amount of photos on the net,and if lost,I can start looking for familiar landmarks.One example is the Kissing Stones on Bleaklow,if you arrive there you will already have an idea of what they look like through seeing photos,they won't simply be lumps of rocks, but rather reference points you can look up on a map and find your postion.All walks have various reference points that are often marked on maps but you do need to have prior knowledge of what they look like if you want to make use of them.If they aren't marked on the map you can mark them yourself before going on the walk.You can always use GPS but in my opinion it takes the fun out of things and you have to remember most native tribes have a rather incredible sense of direction and its not been developed through using GPS!

 
« Last Edit: 14:54:15, 02/06/08 by tonyk »

jude

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 43
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #2 on: 18:59:24, 02/06/08 »
Hi

When I first started out fell walking I was a complete novice all but for the childhood treks my mother took me on.  I bit by bit gained more experience by studying the maps and researching the areas in books ,Internet photography,  and so on.  Gradually you learn the individual features of the mountains and gain a Little knowledge of the areas you go to.  The one thing not to forget is the value of using a compass as obviously some days the cloud cover doesn't allow for identification of your surroundings.  Lastly  have fun whilst you learn.

cragster

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 895
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #3 on: 19:42:57, 02/06/08 »
You might want to consider taking a survival bag or storm shelter in your pack. You can pick up a simple plastic survival bag for just a few pounds and one day it might just help you in a tricky situation.

I like to take a water filter with me which has come in handy many a time on a hot day when my drink has ran out. I also carry a half a plastic rubble sack which is handy for sitting on when the ground is damp and it's light and doesn't take up much space in my sack. A small travel towel is also very handy for wiping yourself down if it rains or for drying off after freshenng up in a mountain stream on a hot day. Again these are very light and take up little space. I've started taking a little bottle of hand cleanser as well which you can just rub into your hands until it evaporates (like they use in hospitals).

As for map and compass I would start off by going to places that you already know very well and practicing there first. I always take mine even on walks I know like the back of my hand and practice all the time. Find out how many steps it takes you to cover a certain distance and then you can count your steps to find out how far you have covered on a certain bearing. Remember though that thic will vary depending on the terrain. There is so much to learn that it would take all day to go into and I'm sure your book will cover what you need to know. Just get out there and have fun with it.
It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

Lupine-Andy

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 41
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #4 on: 20:17:39, 02/06/08 »

I need to learn how to navigate properly using a map and compass. I've ordered a decent book via amazon but any advice on how best to teach myself would be very welcome.

Split your journey into short legs. When standing at the beginning of each leg look at the map and figure out what features you will pass to the end of the leg. As you walk tick them off in your head. When you pass features on the ground that should be on the map remember them too (maybe check the map to see if they are there if you want reassurance).

If you are trying to work out where you are don't look at the map until you have had a good look round where you are, maybe move a bit too to get a slightly different perspective. Remember just about everything (that is big enough to be on the map) that you can see on the ground will be on the map whereas just about everything that you can see on the map you can't see from where you are. Novice navigators nearly always study the map rather than the terrain around them.

If you PM me your e-mail address I'll e-mail you a couple of handouts, I'm just updating them so it is in my head at the minute :-)

Another thing that would be handy, is a suggested list of what I should take with me. My usual backpack contents on any walk is a set of good waterproofs, a bit of food and plenty of water, mobile phone in a ziplock bag fully charged, first aid kit, map, compass and torch.


That looks pretty good, I would urge a good, (maybe specialist) warm top for an emergency, I usually carry a down jacket or a buffalo top (the buffalo is not quite as snug if you are not moving but better in the wet).

Gloves, small to carry, make a big difference if it gets wet and windy.

A small pair of binoculars, bins are cool.

I usually carry poles too. I hardly ever use them as they are so light as to not make a noticeable difference to the pack weight, in fact if you pack is too heavy then taking them off and using them makes the going easier :-). If you twist a knee or ankle poles will be a real boon.

Dry bags to put it all in, dirt cheap these days.

Andy

 
« Last Edit: 20:19:45, 02/06/08 by Lupine-Andy »
Lupine Adventure Co-operative
Map reading and mountain navigation courses in Yorkshire and Cumbria
Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions
www.lupineadventure.co.uk [nofollow]

Ridge

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9691
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #5 on: 20:42:13, 02/06/08 »
All good advice from the others, I would just add

Initially try to walk in good weather, particularly good visability, then even if you have no clue where you are you can usually find your way to a path and get to civilisation even if you are miles away from where you wanted to be you are safe.

If you can swallow your pride ask another walker. There is the possibility that they will not know and I suppose they may pretend that they do but most of the time if you say 'excuse me could you show me exactly where we are on this map' or 'do you know if this path leads to...' then most people will be able to help.

So go enjoy yourself. If you are sensible the worst that can happen is that you'll be very late home.

Snowman

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 435
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #6 on: 11:18:10, 04/06/08 »
Firstly, I’m not sure which part of Bucks you come from, but I live on the Berkshire side of the border between the two.    On that basis, I would suggest that you look at the Brecon Beacons for somewhere fairly accessible that has a few bumps.   I’ve quite frequently got up earlyish, driven to the vicinity of somewhere like Abergavenny or Merthyr, walked for 6 to 8 hours and then driven home.    For me, Abergavenny is 130 miles, so with driving time of 2 hours (it's mostly M4) you can have a good walk and be back at your local pub 12 hours later.

There are also some good spots in the Brecons for navigation practice.    However you might like to consider a simple GPS?    I’m not a lover of these devices for primary navigation purposes, but if you need a backup while you’re learning then these can be useful.    Firstly, if you’re not sure if you’re where you think you are, you can turn it on and wait until it gets a position, and then check that against the map.

A second use for a GPS is that most have what is called a ‘trackback’ feature.    What you can do is simply turn it on when you start the walk, and leave it.    Should the weather close in, or you simply get lost, you can use the GPS to ‘lead’ you back the way you’ve come.

By the way, well done for trying to learn real navigation.    It’s a pity too many people these days are relying on technology.

S.


thisismusic

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #7 on: 12:43:36, 05/06/08 »
Thanks for all the advice everyone, it's greatly appreciated!
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty" - David Attenborough

muymalestado

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 393
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #8 on: 08:46:32, 06/06/08 »
One of our own favourite contributors has a set of navigation tutorials which are easy to follow and sensible; to be found at:

http://www.go4awalk.com/navigationskills/index.php
I think this next one will be the top ...

Hide

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #9 on: 03:48:30, 14/06/08 »
Another thing you might consider as part of your standard pack are a spare pair of boot-laces. If your away from civiisation a broken lace can head you off to sore feet, even though a lace can often be repaired onsite, there is little cost in room and weight to have a spare pair with you.
when added with a piercing tool (such as a swiss army knife) they can also be use for temporary repairs to tents, broken back pack straps and tears.

have fun with your learning and gaining experiance.
God gave us these things, not in tranquility.

Ridge

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9691
Re: Advice & education please!
« Reply #10 on: 21:05:14, 14/06/08 »
a spare pair of boot-laces.

This is such good advice. I don't think I've ever used mine as boot laces but they come in so useful for other things.

 

Terms of Use     Privacy Policy