Maps

[jtluttrell]

What kind of maps are you guys packing in your BOB and where did you get them?

[UncleJak]

I carry my maps in my wallet. They are all hand written and are in code that only I understand. They contain no pictures so there is no chance anyone can figure them out. This may be a bit "overkill", but I wouldn't want someone to find all my honey spots.

[Caster]

It's amazing how much I have forgotten since orienteering classes at Boxwell. GPS has really made people soft. It's something I need to reinvest in as far as study and practice. Call it foil hat nonsense if you like, it IS possible to track an electronic device. A sheet of paper and a lensatic compass cannot be tracked.

[Wheelgunner]

I pack a pencil, compass, and a 1:50,000 topo map of my area with all the good stuff marked. It's in UTM format, but it's similar enough to MGRS to be workable for former military. (markings are similar and works the same way) I designed and ordered it on MyTopo, and I'm pretty satisfied with it. Cost something like $20 including shipping. I think the only thing better for me would be a genuine 1:24,000 military map of the same area.

@ jtluttrell - What about you?

[jtluttrell]

I'm looking actually. Like Caster said, we're becoming dependent on technology, but it's such a basic necessity. I'll check out MyTopo.

edit: http://www.mytopo.com/index.cfm Great site.

Edited June 1, 2012 by jtluttrell

[Moped]

I carry a road map of the knoxville area in my BOB. I also carry a Tennessee State Gazatteer and Atlas in my car. That's really all I need in order to get home.

http://www.maps.com/map.aspx?pid=837

[Timestepper]

I also have a Tennessee State Atlas and Gazetteer. But the compass I carry is based upon a design popular in the early 1800's.

As a truck driver I perhaps have a bit of an advantage over the average person in having a rather intimate knowledge of the topography and lay of roadways over quite a large large section of the country. Rather than pick up an Atlas and Gazetteer for each state, if I were to leave Tennessee for whatever reason after shtf, I'd rely heavily upon that knowledge.

[jtluttrell]

http://www.maps.com/map.aspx?pid=837

This is good. My google-fu must be off, I kept finding maps for billionaires. ($200 for a map?). Now, I have a decent sense of direction, but basically I know how to get to where I've been before. I just got to thinking that it would be good to at least own a map. Plus, it may be necessary to stay off the roads to avoid zombie herds, detection, skidders, etc.

[Moped]

Once I've been there, I can just about always get back. But that Gazatteer is a nice safety blanket. I'm also real bad to stop at State Welcome Centers when traveling and picking up road maps as well. Their usually free, so why not. I also love old maps and can set and look at them for hours. That's another nice thing about the internet. There are lots of cool maps online, so I am always looking at old maps. I especially love going back and looking at historical maps of Tennessee.

As for a compass, right now, I am using a Coleman. I need to step up and get a Silva or Brunton. I've been considering a Trunord as well.

[Wheelgunner]

Plus, it may be necessary to stay off the roads to avoid zombie herds, detection, skidders, etc.

If there's any possibility that you'll purposely avoid roads during land navigation, it's a good idea to know your pace count (walking, while carrying your gear). Azimuth and pace count will allow you to continue moving without getting lost during those times when you can't just look around and get your bearings based on terrain features (like when walking at night). These skills are easy to get the hang of but somewhat perishable. If anybody's seriously interested in working on this stuff PM me and we can get together some Saturday afternoon.

@ Caster - Too true about the tracking. Along with that, a laminated paper map's batteries can't run out, and you can't accidentally crack its screen.

Edited June 2, 2012 by Wheelgunner

[Guest cardcutter]

I have a collection of TVA 1:2400 scale maps of most of the area.

Tva has a realy good selection of the south east part of the state. I think they are 10 or12 bucks each now.

I need to pony up the bucks and get a good compas.

[Moped]

Knowing your pace count for a hundred yards is an excellent idea! During basic training, that is one the first things you learn in Land Navigation. And every time you go on a land navigation course in the Army, it's on of the things you check before head out on the course. A good trick to keeping up with your pace count is to pick up a handful of marble sized rocks and put them in one pocket and every 100 yards (we actually used meters in the Army) move a rock to your other pocket. Every so often stop and count your rocks, multiple by a hundred and that's how far you have gone. Some people make Ranger Beads on paracord. You start with all your beads on one end of the para cord and then move one bead to the other end of the cord at every 100 yards. It's just fancier, but both methods are effective.

Land Navigation is better with two people working together. One person works the compass and keeps the group on line and the other person keeps the pace count. If in a larger group, then have back ups working both positions.

Another nice thing to have in your BOB is a RULER or a measuring stick, for estimating distances along with some paper and a pencil.

[Timestepper]

Problem is that pace counting for distance traveled really only works well if you're on more or less even terrain (i.,e., a roadway, path or flat ground). Otherwise, while you may indeed have walked 10 miles worth of steps, the reality may very well be that, due to uneven terrain and/or obstacles, you've only gone 5 miles as the crow flies. (And few things are more disheartening than to think you're getting somewhere and then discover that, no, you're really not.)

Unless you just want to know how far you've actually walked, it's better (IMO) to judge distance traveled from known landmarks marked on a map (if indeed, you're using a map), with the added benefit that this will work whether on foot, horseback or watercraft.

...TS...

[Moped]

Don't disagree with that TS, but if you set the Pace Count Course up over hilly terrain. That will factor in a bit of the up an down you will experience walking on a Land Navigation Course. That makes it tend to even out. Plus the military has been doing this for years, Yes, they have GPS Units now, but They will have a Compass Man and a Pace Counter working as back up too. And if you are moving at night landmarks can be a PITA to see. Then you need to have confidence in your compass and pace count.

[Timestepper]

Agreed, friend Moped. At the same time, if you have enough light to safely travel, then even ridges a few miles away will be visible. And if it's too foggy, or the conditions have otherwise deteriorated to the point where landmarks are NOT visible then, more than likely, the last thing on my mind will be counting paces. In that case, it's easier (for me - not necessarily anyone else) to pick a land mark(s) before visibility deteriorates - whether due to darkness or weather conditions - and then verify said landmark(s) when visibility once again improves.

In the end, I guess it's to each his own. Counting paces works, otherwise the Army wouldn't have been espousing its use for so long. But dead-reckoning works too and is easier for those of us who can't count past 21 (and then only in the shower).

[Lumber_Jack]

Learning to read a topo and do slope corrections will help greatly in your pace accuracy.

I compass and pace regularly while cruising timber. We pace in 'chains' which is 66ft, 80 chains =1 mile(5280ft), I have 12 paces in a chain. slope correction is crucial to accuracy.

It would be hard to keep a large area of USGS Topo maps because of their size. I would keep a regional road map and local topos of areas you might head in bug out situations.

[Guest Scramasax]

Orienteering is one of those things that needs to be exersised to be remembered. I have and recommend the Gazetteer. I also have updated waterway maps as I plan to use the river system. A good military or surveyors compass is desired. But any compass is better than nothing.

GPS is a good tool for the lazy. It is subject to failure and manipulation. One time in KY we were diverted due to a wreck. The GPS couldn't acquire a satallite. I used my pocket compass to lead us back to the interstate. The next week I sent the driver a dash mount boat compass for his truck.

Also a good rangefinder with angle readings is handy.

Cheers,

ts