| Map Reading |
| The stick shadow · A stick shadow can give you an accurate indication of direction. · Push a stick vertically into the ground and mark where the tip of its shadow falls. · After the shadow has moved several inches, mark the tip again. · A line connecting the two marks will run east and west, east being in the direction of the second mark (see Fig 5.6). · Another line perpendicular to the first will run north and south. Fig 5.6: Telling direction from a stick shadow 6. Map Setting and Position Finding Setting a map Introduction · “Setting” a map, means turning the map so that the directions to details on the ground corresponds to the same directions on the map/ This is also called “orienting” the map, · When in doubt about where you are, or in which direction you should turn, and when moving over a complex route, it is necessary to orient the map and hold the map correctly oriented. · Two basic method of setting map: a) By inspection of the surrounding detail. b) By setting on the North point. Setting a map by inspection · The simplest and the quickest provided you have some ideas of your position. · If you are on a straight road, line up the road map with the road on the ground, pointing it in the right direction: at a crossroad, map can be set similarly. · If you are not on a road, or are on a road which is not straight and you cannot identify the bit is necessary to locate other objects such as a particular house, church, etc whose direction you can check in relation to your own approximate position. · In open hilly ground, you may have to rely on the shape of the ground and on the corresponding positions of the contours. If you are on a ridge or spur, set the map so that the features corresponds with the contours. · Setting a map by this method is not precise, but the map can be set quickly and quite accurately enough for you to be sure of your direction. Setting a map by the North point · If you cannot immediately recognize sufficient detail around you to enable you to set the map as describe above, the simplest approximate method of setting is by the sun, if is visible. · To set the map more precisely, a compass must be used. With a Silva Compass, set the degree to zero, with the direction of travel arrow coincide with the north direction of a grid line. Then rotate the map with the compass on it until the compass needle coincides with the north points on the dial (0). |
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