Lauren Atkinson, AMC’s group outreach coordinator and Leave No Trace master educator for the Backcountry Campsite Program, recently exhibited her map and compass expertise for the story “Navigation Showdown,” which appeared in AMC Outdoors. Here are the basic skills that she says anyone venturing into the backcountry should master.

1. Plan and prepare to be outside for longer than expected. Among the items you should pack are a compass, map, and guidebook.
2. Familiarize yourself with the map before beginning your hike. While hiking, be in tune with distinct topographic features and trail intersections on your map and be able to locate them in relation to each other in the real world.
3. By using your map and compass together, you’ll be able to orient your map to the declination of your area. Dial the declination, which is noted on the legend of most maps, into your compass, place it flat on the edge of the map, and rotate the map and compass in unison until “Fred is in the Shed,” or the magnetic needle is within the orienting arrow. Weight the map to keep it in place.
4. Place your compass on the oriented map so that the edge of the base plate connects your starting point to your destination, making sure the direction of travel arrow is pointing in the direction you want to go.
5. Turn your compass dial until Fred is in the Shed, pick up your map and compass, and begin following this bearing toward your destination. Shoot intermediate bearings to stay on course.
6. Take a class. To master these skills, search AMC activities to see if your chapter, or an AMC destination, is offering any navigation workshops.
   

The following stories from the AMC Outdoors archives provide additional information about navigation.

Staying Found: Lead Your Way to Safety

Don’t Get Lost: Finding Your Way There and Back

Only Fools Rush In: Plan Wisely for Hiking and Backpacking Trips

On Point: Chart Your Location in the Outdoors

Your Own True North: Keeping Those Map and Compass Skills Fresh, So You Stay Found

If You Stray From the Path

-Compiled by Marc Chalufour and Michelle Romano