A baseplate compass is the most reliable navigation tool you can carry -- it never needs charging and works in any weather. Learning how to use a compass for hiking is a foundational skill that could one day save your life.
Parts of a Compass
- Baseplate -- the clear plastic platform
- Rotating bezel -- marked 0-360 degrees
- Magnetic needle -- always points to magnetic north
- Orienting arrow -- fixed inside the bezel housing
- Direction of travel arrow -- on the baseplate
Taking a Bearing
- Point the direction of travel arrow at your destination
- Rotate the bezel until the orienting arrow aligns under the magnetic needle ("red in the shed")
- Read the degree at the index line -- that is your bearing
Following a Bearing on the Trail
Hold the compass flat in front of you. Rotate your body until the needle sits inside the orienting arrow. The direction of travel arrow now points your route. Pick a distant landmark in that direction, walk to it, then re-check your bearing. Repeat every few hundred yards in dense forest.
Accounting for Declination
Magnetic north differs from true north by your local declination value. In the Pacific Northwest, that is about 15 degrees east. Either use a compass with a built-in declination adjustment, or manually add or subtract the degrees. Ignoring declination on a long route can put you hundreds of yards off target.
Pair your compass with a topographic map and practice the triangulation technique -- within a few outings you will navigate confidently with or without GPS.
