Methods for Wilderness Orienteering and Map Reading
Pathfinder Outdoor Adventure Skills – (Wilderness Orienteering and Map Reading)? In the wilderness, we often encounter this situation: the GPS is dead, the phone is out of battery, and you don’t know where you are or which way to go?
If you have a map, can you figure out your location?
If there are landmarks around, can you determine the direction?
What does the path ahead look like? What kind of terrain will you encounter?
Only by understanding these can we develop the next steps in our action plan, effectively allocate energy, and ultimately reach the destination safely.
Some leaders have told me, “We only take well-trodden routes. Why learn orienteering and map reading? It’s not necessary!”
Alright, if you’re certain you’re leading a tourist route rather than an outdoor adventure, you can ignore the following content. But if you want to become a qualified outdoor leader, then you
must learn the most basic orienteering and map reading knowledge—how to determine direction in the wild, how to assess terrain, how to read contour maps… Being prepared for getting lost is also one of the contingency plans for outdoor activities.
1. It’s best to have a compass in the wilderness. Most phones have a compass function. If you don’t have a compass, no worries—here are several methods to help you determine the general direction (mainly applicable in the Northern Hemisphere):
1. Watch Method: “Halve the hour, align with the sun, and 12 points to north.” Generally, between 9 AM and 4 PM, you can quickly determine direction. Point the halfway mark of the current hour toward the sun, and the 12 o’clock mark will indicate north. For example, at 14:40, half is 7:20. Point the hour hand at the sun, and 12 will be north. Note: The watch must be held flat; this method isn’t suitable around noon between latitudes 20–30°N and 20–30°S.
2. Shadow Stick Method: Plant a stick in the ground. The shadow moves as the sun changes position, being shortest at noon. A line connecting the tips of the shadows forms a straight line, and a perpendicular line to this indicates the north-south direction. Place a straight stick (over 1 meter tall) upright on flat ground. Mark the tip of the shadow as Point 1. After 10–20 minutes, mark the new tip as Point 2. Then place your left foot on Point 1 and right foot on Point 2—you’ll be facing true north.
3. Nighttime Celestial Bodies: At night, you can determine direction using the North Star or the Southern Cross. The North Star is located in the northern sky, and its elevation angle roughly equals your latitude, helping you find it quickly. Usually, you can locate it via the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) or the Cassiopeia constellation (W-shaped). The Big Dipper has seven bright stars shaped like a spoon. Draw a line from the two stars at the front (β to α) and extend it about five times—that’s the North Star. When the Big Dipper isn’t visible, use Cassiopeia to find it. This constellation has five bright stars forming a “W” shape. The North Star lies about twice the width of the opening’s gap in that direction. In regions south of 23°30′ N, the Southern Cross may be visible at night. It consists of four bright stars in a cross shape. From the bottom right of the cross, measure four and a half times the length of the line between the γ and α stars (where no star lies)—that’s due south.
4. Plant Characteristics: Some plants in the wild exhibit growth patterns that serve as good directional indicators. Learning these traits can help you quickly discern direction.
Plant Growth Characteristics:
A. South-facing areas of large rocks or tree trunks tend to have lusher grass, which also withers faster in autumn. Tree bark is usually smoother on the south side and rougher on the north. Moss growing on rocks prefers shade and moisture, so it’s more abundant on the north side. Snow melts faster on the south-facing side.
B. On shady slopes (typically the northern side), low ferns and vines grow more vigorously than on sunny slopes. The northern edges of forest clearings often have denser grass.
C. The sun-facing side of a single plant tends to have more lush branches and leaves. A solitary tree usually has denser foliage and smoother bark on the south side, while the north side has sparser leaves and rougher bark. The south side typically has richer grass growth, while the north side is damper and may have moss.
D. In many trees across northern China, the annual rings in tree trunk cross-sections are clearly visible—the rings are wider on the southern side and tighter on the northern side.
E. On tree stump cross-sections, the annual rings are generally wider on the south side and narrower on the north side.
2. How to Read Contour Maps and Determine Terrain. Understanding different terrain features helps optimize route planning, making your journey more convenient, energy-efficient, and safe. For instance, if there are signs of a mudslide during an activity, avoid walking through valleys. In case of thunderstorms, steer clear of open areas and mountaintops.
3. Now, it’s time to put theory into practice~~ Once you’ve learned the basics, use GPS or Google Earth to capture a contour map of a familiar outdoor area to reinforce your theoretical knowledge.
Take Pathfinder Outdoor Adventure Network as an example—they moved a two-and-a-half-hour indoor theoretical course outdoors, allowing leaders to train in the field. They practiced determining direction themselves, identifying their location by combining contour maps with surrounding terrain, setting destinations, and finding routes to reach them… The Pathfinder editors had to admit that the gap between theoretical learning and practical application is indeed significant…
Pathfinder, your outdoor adventure and self-driving travel network!