3 Great Compass Navigation Exercises
The ability to accurately navigate with a compass can mean the difference between life and death in a wilderness emergency. Taking a course at a university or outdoor outfitter, or even learning compass skills on your own from a book are all great ways to get started. As with any skill, though, compass navigation requires diligent practice in order to achieve and maintain proficiency. In the case of a real-life emergency there's often precious little room for mistakes, so taking the time to practice and hone your compass skills in a controlled setting is always recommended for anyone who ventures into the wilderness.
So if you've learned the basics of compass navigation, but you need a way to keep your skills sharp when you aren't out in the backcountry, you're in luck. We've compiled a list of three compass navigation exercises that will help you stay in practice and on your game.
COMPASS NAVIGATION EXERCISE 1: THREE-LEG COMPASS WALK
One of the simplest exercises for improving the speed and accuracy of your compass navigation is the Three-leg Compass Walk. This exercise is appropriate for virtually any age group and requires only a compass, a small place marker like a pencil or twig, and enough space to move about 50 paces in any direction.
To get started, mark your location with the pencil, twig, or whatever you've chosen as a place marker. Next, set a bearing for 0°/360° (due North) and find a landmark that falls along it, just as you might in the field. Follow this bearing for exactly 50 paces and stop. Now, set a bearing of 120° on your compass and find another landmark that falls along it. Travel along this 120° bearing for another 50 paces, and stop. Finally, set a bearing of 240° on your compass, sight a landmark, and follow this bearing for 50 paces.
If you've done everything correctly, you should have returned to approximately where you started. The closer you are to your marker, the more accurate your navigation. As you become more and more proficient, you can use greater distances, making the accuracy of your bearings even more crucial. If you're consistently reaching the exact location where you began, increase the challenge of this exercise by timing yourself to see how quickly you can complete the triangle.
COMPASS NAVIGATION EXERCISE 2: CLOSED COURSE
Similar to the Three-leg Compass walk but somewhat more involved is Closed Course. Like the previous exercise, Closed Course relies on creating sets of instructions, or 'courses,' that will send the navigator back to where they started. If you've got friends who want to practice their compass skills, this is a perfect exercise to do in groups. This exercise requires a compass, piece of paper, and pen or pencil for each participant, in addition to an area large enough to accommodate your courses.
Each participant writes their own course, and then all other participants will follow those directions. The pen or pencil can be used to mark the course's starting point. One of the greatest advantages of Closed Course is that the directions created can be as simple or as difficult as you like, depending on the skill level of the participants. For beginners, short courses that use only cardinal directions are helpful. Here's what a basic course might look like:
Walk 15 paces North.
Walk 30 paces West.
Walk 60 paces South.
Walk 45 paces East.
Walk 45 paces North.
Walk 15 paces West.
More advanced courses can be slightly longer and use bearings that require closer measurement. Here's an example of what a more difficult course might look like:
Walk 80 paces along a bearing of 90°.
Walk 30 paces along a bearing of 0°.
Walk 56 paces along a bearing of 225°.
Walk 56 paces along a bearing of 315°.
Walk 56 paces along a bearing of 45°.
Walk 70 paces along a bearing of 180°.
Walk 40 paces along a bearing of 270°.
The most important thing is to ensure that the directions will lead the navigator back to where they began. Plotting your course on graph paper before attempting to follow it in the field is a great way to save yourself potential headaches and make sure that your course is closed.
COMPASS NAVIGATION EXERCISE 3: STRAIGHT AHEAD
Walking in a straight line seems simple enough, right? According to a study published in the journal Current Biology, it's not as easy as you may think. According to the study, people instructed to walk in a straight line in wilderness conditions consistently walked in circles when faced with conditions that obscured the sun or moon. This exercise is designed to demonstrate the tendency to spiral when attempting to walk a straight line and -- with consistent practice -- can even help to correct it. For this exercise, you'll need a compass, blindfold, and an outdoor area with two prominent landmarks at least 100 yards from one another. Because you'll be using a blindfold, we recommend always performing this exercise with at least one other person present as a spotter.
Begin by standing next to one of the landmarks, facing toward the other. Take a bearing to determine the direction from the first landmark to the second, and have your spotter make a note of it. Put on the blindfold and and attempt to travel in the direction of the second landmark. While you're doing this your spotter should follow closely, remaining silent unless you're about to run into something. After you've traveled approximately 100 yards, take the blindfold off and notice where you've ended up. Turn around and take a bearing on the landmark from which you started to see how far and in which direction you veered. The difference between your initial bearing and this one should be exactly 180° if you've walked in a straight line.
Whether you're new to compass navigation, or a seasoned veteran who still likes to keep his skills sharp, these exercises can help you to improve your compass navigation skills. In a pinch, they could even save your life.
Like these? Check out more of our compass games.