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Learn how to use navigational devices to stay oriented and on track while venturing into unfamiliar territory.

By Audrey Pavia

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO If you’re an equestrian adventurer exploring the backcountry, you may find yourself disoriented when you venture into unfamiliar territory.

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If you’re an equestrian adventurer exploring the backcountry, you may find yourself disoriented when you venture into unfamiliar territory. Known landmarks disappear. You suddenly realize you don’t know where you are or how to get back. Your stomach knots; your body tenses. You stop your horse, look around, and take deep breaths, fighting panic.

You can avoid such a scenario with proper planning, navigational devices (map, compass, and a global positioning system unit), and orienteering know-how. Here, we’ll give you the basics in each of these areas to help you stay oriented and on track, so you can better enjoy your rides wherever your adventures take you.

Trip Planning

Call ahead. Before you leave on your trip, call the agency that manages the land on which you’ll ride, and ask whether the trails are open and the terrain is suitable for equestrian use. Get topo maps. Don’t just rely on flat maps; also invest in topographical maps. Look for those that come complete with mountain and river names. Stay current. Use the most up-to-date version of each map. Storms can wash out trails, or cause waterways to overflow and completely change the landscape. Prepare navigational tools. Print out maps before you leave home, and program your GPS before embarking on the trail. Laminate your maps, in case you run into inclement weather on your ride and to keep maps dry during water crossings. Keep maps handy. Before you leave home, know how you’ll keep your maps on your body, rather than in your saddlebag, in case you become separated from your horse and for easy access. Wear clothing with deep pockets or know how you’ll secure a carrying tote. Communicate. Leave a detailed description of your route, and the time you plan to return, with someone at home or at the base camp, especially if you choose to ride alone.

Navigational Tools

Your most important navigational tools when riding in the backcountry are a topographical map, a compass, and a GPS unit. Here’s what you need to know about each one.

• Topographical (topo) map.

» How it helps you navigate: A topo map, also called A topo map, also called a contour map, provides valuable information about the terrain that you’ll be traveling.

a contour map, provides valuable information about the terrain over which you’ll be traveling.

It shows how steep or flat the land is, how far it is between designated points, the direction in which you’re heading, landmarks, and degree of forestation. You’ll also be able to use the map to find your way. » How to use it: It’s one thing to understand the concept behind a topo map, but you won’t completely grasp it until you use one in an actual trail riding situation. To learn how to read a topo map, take one with you when riding in a familiar area. Take note of the terrain around you as you ride and compare it to the map.

Look at the map’s contour lines. These curved lines indicate different elevations. To determine how much elevation change is depicted between contour lines, refer to the map’s legend, which will tell you. The closer the lines are to one another, the steeper the terrain.

The map’s legend will also identify other symbols you’ll see on the map. Symbols indicate different landmarks, such as springs, quarries, and fire roads. Trails are marked on topo maps; once you >>

A compass may seem outdated in this time of high-tech devices, but it’s still one of the most useful tools when navigating in the backcountry.

locate your trail on the map, you’ll know what kind of terrain you’ll be traveling through. » Downside: Topo maps can be confusing if you don’t have experience reading them. All the lines and curves can drive you crazy if you haven’t learned to interpret their meaning. » Buying tips: You can download topo maps for many areas through the U.S. Geological Survey

National Geologic Map Database. Private businesses also sell topo maps, many online. Topo

Zone offers map downloads with a paid subscription to its website. MyTopo.com makes custom maps with a variety of options.

• Compass.

» How it helps you navigate: A compass may seem outdated in this time of high-tech devices, but it’s still one of the most useful tools when navigating in the backcountry. A compass will point to magnetic north, which is very close to true north.

Using a compass will give you a sense of direction while on the trail. Some compasses also offer scales that will tell you how far you need to travel, once you’ve established a starting and ending point. » How to use it: To use a compass, place it on the map so its long edge connects your starting point to your destination point. Then turn the rotating capsule until the north-south indicator lines at the bottom of the compass capsule match the direction of the lines showing north-south on the map.

Holding the compass in front of you, turn your body so the north-south arrow on the compass capsule lines up with the magnetic needle. The red end of the needle should point in the same direction as the arrow. The directional arrows point in the direction you need to go.

If you get lost or disoriented on the trail, orient the compass with your map using the trailhead where you began as your destination, and follow that direction back. » Downside: Compasses can be rendered inaccurate when they’re near cars or trucks, power lines, some watches, and gun barrels. » Buying tips: Compasses are available from outfitting stores and online. The Compass Store is one excellent online source. Riders who participate in Competitive Mounted Orienteering use lightweight compasses made from clear plastic. These compasses can easily be laid flat on top of a topo map to give you a sense of direction. The compass will indicate magnetic north, so you can orient your map before you start your ride. These are the best types of compasses for trail riders.

• GPS unit.

» How it helps you navigate: A GPS unit uses installed software along with earth-orbiting satellites to tell you where you’re located along the trail. It can be programmed to give you your route ahead of time, get you back on track when you are lost, and get you back home. It can also tell you how many miles you’ve ridden and how many more you have to go before you reach your destination.

GPS units are incredible tools for trail riders, especially for those conditioning horses or riding in the backcountry. The unit works as your guide, showing you where are and where you’re going. If you get lost, you can program the unit to take you back to your starting point. All you do is follow the directions it gives you. » How to use it: Each GPS unit works a little differently, so you’ll have to read the instructions that come with your particular one. Essentially,

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A GPS unit uses installed software along with earth-orbiting satellites to tell you where you’re located at any given moment.

you’ll first load the unit with software that contains maps of the area where you plan to ride. Then you’ll program in your destination and ask the unit to start navigating. The unit will give you directions to your destination from the point of origin. It’ll also show you the route on a map, along with your current position as you proceed. » Downside: GPS units run on batteries, which can die out on the trail, making spares necessary. They’re also prone to software crashes and glitches, so carry a compass and topo map as backups. » Buying tips: Look for a GPS unit designed specifically for recreational use. And invest in one with a modern, high-sensitivity receiver; GPS units rely on satellites for information on where you’re located at any given moment. A good receiver will make it easier for your unit to locate satellites in a timely manner. Buy a unit with a good topo map display and the topo maps you need.

Adding additional maps later on will cost extra. USR

Freelance writer Audrey Pavia is a member of the North American Trail Ride Conference and the author of Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Book House imprint of Wiley). She’s based in Norco, California. Before modern navigational tools, travelers used the sky to navigate. In ancient times, those who traveled long distances had an intimate knowledge of the heavens.

The sky can be used to determine your direction both during the daytime and at night. During the day, the position of the sun can help you figure out if you’re headed east, west, north, or south. The sun’s position depends on the time of year in which you’re riding, as well as the time of day.

On the first day of summer, the sun is at its highest point in the sky at noon. As the days wind toward fall, the sun begins to travel lower in the sky as it makes its way from east to west. On the first day of winter, the sky is at its lowest point at sunset.

You can learn the positions of the sun at various times during the year simply by taking note of it in your part of the world. (Your latitude determines the exact height of the sun during the different seasons.) If you’re riding within 5 degrees latitude of where you reside (which can be hundreds of miles either north or south of where you live), you can count on the sun being at the same point in the sky on your trip as it is at home.

When you first start your ride, take note of the sun’s position in the sky, then orient yourself. Use a compass to find where north, south, east and west are located. Once you start out on your ride, note your direction of travel. If you’re headed west, then east is at your back. No matter where you are during the ride, you know the trailhead is toward the east.

Using the stars for navigation was another tool employed by ancient travelers, and is still useful today when trail riding in the dark. If you plan to ride at night in the wilderness, become familiar with where the Big Dipper is located in the sky. If you draw an arrow through the two stars that make up the lip of this constellation, you’ll come to Polaris, also known as the North Star.

The North Star remains in a constant position in the sky, while the constellations closer to the horizon rise and set, depending on the time of year and your latitude. Know where in the sky the North Star is located, and you’ll always know the direction in which you’re headed when riding on a clear night.