A "Map and Compass" method for land navigation will be the "New GPS" in a long term power outage. It may become a core part of staying connected to our MAG and in turn our Tribe. Almost anyone now days can use a GPS. But can you meet up with The "Willow Creek" MAG that happens to be 25 miles east of your location? Can you make it back to your home if you had to take an alternate route, when to the way you came is "occupied by non friendlies"? How are you learning or retaining this skill?
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You want lensatic with topographic quad or something more user friendly?
Squirrel, I think as time goes on and people in our regions get to know each other better we should seriously consider hosting a busy weekend meet and greet.
Testing networks, using gear, teaching know how, and putting it together in a mock senario and putting eyeballs to faces... Land navigation is an important skill. How I retain the skill is beyond me, it's just somehing I've never forgotten
@Patriotic Trucker Absolutely, I am on board with that. I suspect very few will have any training at all in either radios and or land navigation. It would be a great opportunity for some hands on training for the betterment of the group. Plus I am always amazed when someone with a different back ground than me takes information that is given to them and goes off in a direction I could never have imagined. Oh as a side note, if someone wants to debate 9mm vs 40cal we can send them to go get a box of grid squares for the Land Navigation course.
@Big Squirrel i left them with the SSgt. You will have to ask him for the key to the basement. Left it laying next to the board stretcher.
It is extremely important to know how to navigate by compass, maps, and landmarks. The reason being is that in a SHTF situation GPS is rapidly "perishable." Once maintenance signals cease at the primary GPS control center, satellites will drift, atomic clocks will lose "synch" and GPS accuracy will steadily degrade to uselessness. I would estimate 6 months or less usable life for GPS infrastructure in a a complete Grid Down situation. Learn to navigate by dead reckoning, and map and compass, before you need to!
Being able to find a gridsquare and pinpoint a fix with predominant landmarks and shooting an azmith is a near and dear skill. How many times do hunters who hunted the same land for years always knew to turn left at the creek now double checks on the phone or GPS that it's still a left turn at the creek? I view technology as a tool, but so is a crutch. Technology can be a crutch. Try putting your phone down for 24 hours..don't even touch it.
Exactly, I see truck drivers , that have been driving for decades like me , that rely heavily on the GPS for routes they should know like the back of their hands.
Good point
This is how I keep my skills up. I'm ordering a number of topographic maps of my AOs...yes multiple areas.
Speaking of maps... This is more complicated than some may think. If I'm trying to report my location on a 1:50,000 operations map but you're using a 1:25,000 map or a different type of map all together, my grid will change and therefore my location given will change. It's important to standardize the maps used in your tribe in your MAG and maybe if your coordinated with the surrounding mags with them as well.
Delorme atlas & gazetteer , has detailed state atlases that are topographic, they are laid out in grids each page is a grid of the state. They average in price about $ 20.00 .
I have a collection of them, working on getting a few more .