While it is handy to know how to find directions by the sun or stars, such methods are useless in adverse
weather conditions. Knowing how to find the North Star doesn’t do much good if you can’t see any stars
due to clouds, fog or a blizzard. Even an overcast sky prevents you from using wristwatch or shadow and
stick methods of finding north. In a wilderness emergency or during a military operation, waiting for clear
skies could cost lives. Modern technology has given us portable Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite receivers, which are wonderful navigation aids as long as you have batteries, but compasses and
topographic maps are still the primary tools to use when moving around in the outdoors. The first rule of
gunfighting is “always bring a gun” and the first rule of heading into the boonies is “always carry a
compass.” A good compass will enable you to align your map with magnetic and true north, find your
way to a destination, follow your route to a destination and find your way back to your starting point. The
two basic types of compass are the sighting type (like the military lensatic compass) and the orienteering
type.
Land Navigation
