Keep an eye out for GPS

What, then, if technology fails? In an emergency, we may be forced to decision rapidly (e.g. to the collection site) or to evacuate the affected area. - Then it becomes crucial to decision in a circumstantial direction without the aid of electronic devices. Printed maps and a compass are basic navigation tools, it is worth to be able to usage them efficiently - emphasised Colonel Kalita.

With needle and busole

In the case of a map, the most crucial information is its scale determining the ratio of the size of objects on this map to their actual size in the field. It is presented utilizing a fraction of 1:XXX, where XXX means how many times the image of the site has been reduced, e.g. 1:10 000 means that 1 cm on the map corresponds to 100 m in the field. The smaller the scale, the more accurate the map. At home it is worth to have at least 2 maps: a car atlas of Poland and a tourist map of the nearest area on a scale of, for example, 1:50,000 or 1:75,000.

A compass is utilized to navigate with the map. From school, we remember that 1 end of his magnetic needle, frequently marked red, shows the northern direction. Let's take the amendment, however, that the action of the compass can interfere with steel objects or electronic devices nearby, e.g. mobile phones.

When we prepare the map and the compass, the next activity is the orientation of the map, that is, to arrange it so that the directions of the planet on the map are consistent with reality, that is, coincide with directions indicated by the compass. How do we do that? We put a compass on the map close its lateral edge. We turn the map with a compass on it until its needle is parallel to the side edge of the map, and the red end points north on it. The next step is to establish our own position on the map, which will aid us find distinctive objects in the field, specified as the village, road or river. After determining where we are, we decide where we want to go and set the direction of movement. As we go, let's keep the map oriented, which is according to the directions of the world, and compare the elements placed on it with the passing objects.

- I'm sorry. Unfortunately, we do not always have access to the compass and the current or accurate map of the site, so it is besides useful to know improvised methods of direction and orientation in the field - added Colonel Kalita. The first is navigation utilizing the Sun. There are respective ways. 1 of them is the method of shortest shadow: at the time of the Sun's highest position in the sky the shadow of the object is the shortest and in the northern hemisphere shows the north. In turn, the shadow stick method is to put the stick vertically into the ground and mark the end of its shadow on the ground. After 15 to 20 minutes, we mark a fresh shadow position. The line connecting the 2 points will indicate the west-east direction. This method best works during the equinox period (the break of winter and spring and summertime and autumn), during the remaining period it should be utilized in the area around 12.00. You can besides usage the stars at night. In the northern hemisphere the easiest to find is the Polar Star indicating the north.

Another method is simply a method with a watch, a small more complicated due to the differences between authoritative and solar time: holding the disc watch horizontally, you gotta set it so that the hourly clue is turned towards the Sun, then the line dividing the angle between 12.00 and the hourly hint will point south. erstwhile there is summertime time in Poland, we must add from about 30 minutes (in the east part of Poland) to about an hr (in the western part of Poland) until authoritative time. - Without these corrections we can be misled by even a twelve degrees - noted the officer.

Nature Gives Signs

It is besides worth observing nature. For example, anthills are the steepest from the north and the mildest from the south. Tree jars are wider from the south, their crowns besides grow more from the south. In contrast, the moss grows on tree trunks frequently on the north side. In winter, snow and ice lie on the north side of large boulders. However, it is worth remembering that this effect can affect local climatic conditions or the terrain. Therefore, it is best to usage many methods simultaneously.

We can besides make an improvised compass out of a sewing needle. During the manufacture of the needle, the needle is magnetised. So just put it on a light floating substrate, e.g. a leaf or a part of bark placed on water, and it will be adjusted according to the magnetic field of the Earth. The needle can besides be hung on a thin and long thread and will then besides be adjusted according to the magnetic field. Let us just note not to contact it during the measurement and not to set it close metallic objects.

Since we do not know erstwhile a crisis or emergency will occur, it is worth pre-stocking a map, a compass and practicing their use, as well as trying in practice improvised navigation methods. - Guidance in the field without electronics is simply a skill that can save our lives - said Colonel Kalita.

Navigation Lexicon

Polar Star I'll tell you midnight at night.
Compass needle – shows the northern direction. You can make an improvised compass out of a regular sewing needle.
Paper Map - Get it. The smaller the scale, the more accurate the map.
Navigation with the Sun – learn the methods: the shortest shadow, the "shadow of the stick", the watch.
Map Navigation – learn how to know the map, find your own position and defender the direction of the march.
Natural indicators– These include asymmetry of tree crowns or moss on trunks – learn to admit them. Remember that local climatic conditions can disrupt them.