Navigation Using A Map Handrails Any linear feature such as a stream, path, earth bank or forest boundary can be used as a hand rail to guide you to your destination. Although this may sometimes be longer it is more reliable way of getting to a target as it reduces the amount of open ground that has to be navigated. Here the route follows a stream, a path and then skirts along the forest edge.
Aiming-off This is a technique used to navigate to a linear feature, such as a stream junction, when you cannot see it. This is done by deliberately aiming off to one side so you know which way to turn to find it when the river is reached. Circumstances will dictate whether to aim to the left or right, e.g. keeping height. Here we have aimed off to the left keeping height. When the river is reached we know we have to go down stream (turn right) to find the junction Tickoff features Practise memorising short legs of your route by building up a mental picture of the features you should encounter: col, forest edge etc. If these fail to appear, then check you’re going in the right direction. In poor visibility use every opportunity to reconfirm your position.
Contouring Contouring is another name for keeping height by walking along a contour. This way you can avoid needlessly climbing height or losing any that you have already gained on route. Cutting across a ‘valley’ may seem like a short cut, but you lose height and then you end up having to climb a steep slope to regain it.
Overshoot features From the map, you should be able to see what happens should you overshoot your intended target, i.e. a change in slope, a stream etc. Forest edge, road, stream, steep uphill slope to the summit. Once you start to lose height you know that you have gone too far and have overshot your target.
From a distance a steep slope can look deceivingly easy. It may take longer but it is more energy efficient to contour. But in bad weather it is difficult to stay on course as you can not follow a bearing. 118
