Maps and compass
How to give a grid reference
use a six figure grid from your map to give your rescuers your approximate location
How to read a map (Topo map)
How to use a Compass
figure out your location and show your nearby landmarks like road, walking track and huts etc.
- on the map find the closest vertical line to the left of your location then find the grid you are in and divide it into ten equal parts.
- Orient a map using a compass - Place the map on a flat surface and line up the orienting lines of the compass with the grid lines on the map.
- estimate how far you are from the eastern line
- Take a bearing - Take the straight edge of your compass and line the bottom of the ruler with your current position. Then line it up with your current position and the destination you are going. Rotate the bezel so that the orieting lines align with the map's grid line. You will now know which way you have to go using the compass.
- Difference between true North and Magnetic North
Take a piece of string or ruler to measure the distance between two points and bring it down to the scale guide to get the distance between two points
- find the closest horizontal line below your location, before, dividing the single grid into ten even parts (horizontally)
Read the scale the scale ratio is able to help determine the actual distance from the map
Check out the guide at the bottom of the map this help you adjust for the difference between true north and magnetic north
Scale 1 : 50000 means 1cm in the map is 50000cm in real life
- after recording your numbers from the grids and lines, your rescuers will find you within approximately 100 meters from where you are.
North at the top, South at the bottom, Right hand side East and left hand side West
Contour lines are separated by 20 vertical meters and every fifth lines is a little thicker than the rest
blue lines or large blue spot represents rivers and lakes
Contour help you visualise the map in 3 dimensions, there is a specific distance between each contour lines ( given in the map ). If an area is more packed with contour line it shows that mountain is steep, if the area have a more spacious contour line it shows the area is less steep
vegetation is shaded different colours of green
Huts and other structures will be clearly labeled on the map
- Adjusting for declination: The differences between the two poles (North and Magnetic North) to find bearings is called 'angle of declination'.
Angle of Declination
Si Jie, Sophie, Seorin, Yinjia, Bryan, Nana, Jiahyi, Ferrina