#1 Reason People Get Lost In The Woods - They Can’t Read A Map

Join in on an expedition through a 10,000 acre section of wilderness and discover how to read and use a topographical map. Discover the four steps to land navigation; learn how to truly understand distances; secrets to primary colors on a map; and ways to determine what contour lines are telling you about elevation and relief.
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Learn the major and minor terrain features on a military topographical map and what they mean. Discover how to truly understand colors on a map. Revealed are the ways to truly understand distances as it relates to exploring, navigating, and bushwhacking. See how these key areas will enable you to successfully know where you are; plan a route; stay on a route; and recognize the objective: the four fundamentals of land navigation and orienteering.
Hey - yes you! If you enjoy the content of the video, make sure you subscribe so you can stay up to date on future endeavors. And don't forget to leave a comment below so we can continue the conversation. BTW - you're awesome, thanks for hanging out with me here for a few minutes.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Hope you enjoy this video as much as I had making it! Man I had a blast. Get Stoked!

[@ldnoe]

Didn't realize the amount of information that I didn't know! Glad I found your content. Thanks for doing these videos

[@STOKERMATIC]

Larry, so glad the content is helping. This is one of my favorite videos I've done!

[@emerycreek8016]

Man, great job on this video! I love how you broke this down into steps. #1 is never talked about. Many years ago I was on a hunting trip and we drove up a mountain in the dark. I wasn't where I thought I was at the start and after walking several hours the next morning I didn't come to an expected clearing. Things were wrong! I started bolting off and realized I needed to relax. I followed my tracks in the snow back to our camp. Not what I wanted to do and some tracks were snowed over but it worked. I got a simple GPS for backup and pinpointing my start point after that. #2 distance - I learned to navigate by map years ago during training where things went by fast and easy (mechanized infantry). Now at an old 62 I started bushwacking around for exercise. I walked 500 miles on roads and in parks last year and was bored. Hiking is way more fun! But things move way slower when on foot at my age. I'm learning that. Newer maps on GPS etc. are bad about not showing contour intervals. Very frustrating. I think your finger trick will help me in that regard! I must have forgot that! I love the old military maps but am getting used to USGS map scales etc. A walking stick on rough ground really is useful, should have started that years ago. Thanks for what you do!

[@jasonyoung9329]

Thank you! Your saving me from a terrible grade on my forestry exam.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Glad it helped!

[@danielculpepper9258]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! In the UK (where I am from) “clearings” appear and disappear every year so using them as topographic features is dead misleading! 😂

[@jeffsmith.3516]

Delivered as promised! Well done Stoker, Thanks for some more valuable information! See you on the next one!

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks Jeff! I appreciate your kind words. Glad it was helpful!!

[@armorvestrus4119]

As a hiker I can say that for me about 20 minutes of walking = 1 mile on level ground, but on a slope like a mountain side it is more like 25 minutes = one mile without a pause but most people will stop to rest or a few moments at least. Plus if there be thick brush in the way add another 5 minutes for thick wooded areas. But time in walking is the best measuring stick.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Especially at distance!

[@wmluna381]

This is a helpful point. One that I already knew (in terms of general expected time estimations), but for some reason didn't carry over in my brain to use in conjunction with maps and navigation. Thanks for that as a helpful 'hole filler' in the knowledge base.

[@victorbell1378]

Thanks for the refresher...it is really appreciated... Have a great rest of the day.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks Victor! Same to you as well!

[@GuyHigginbotham-et1tx]

I thought I knew how to read a map but now I learned more than I knew before thanks for the info

[@kentaylor8512]

Great video. Always a big help to me in cultivating map and compass skills. Thanks again.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks Ken! Best to ya!!

[@MTwoodsrunner]

Probably one of the best series on Land Navigation on the NET and certainly the most entertaining!...Thanks Stoker...woods

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks amigo! That’s quite the compliment from such an avid outdoorsman!

[@NinjaHempKnight]

Love this series on land nav! Looking forward to future vids!

[@STOKERMATIC]

More to come Michael, I'm loving getting out and doing some exploring!

[@terryc47]

Can't see the forest because of the trees. The reason why people become disoriented, they're looking for something, but are confused because they can't see it. When in fact all the signs are there, they just didn't know how to read them. Great informative video, Bill Stoker. Lessons learned 1. Study a map and plan our trip before we go out, and plan well. 2. Understand terrain features. Go for a drive in open country and take a map of the territory one is visiting. Then compare the features of the open country to the contour lines of the map. Understanding the layout of the land, the ridges, valleys and run offs and how they all fit in together. Then apply the same when in dense bush, and learn what the layout is telling. Great video Bill, thankyou.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Right on Terry! I think you gave a pretty good summary and great advice.

[@hermes6587]

Very good, while some of your videos are a refresher, I always seem to learn something new in each one.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Man, I appreciate that, thank you! I loved making this one! Glad it was helpful.

[@ianrobles8943]

love your land nav videos. Great tips for us younger guys in the Army!!

[@STOKERMATIC]

Ian, glad they are helpful! Stay Stoked!!

[@paulmackenzie1572]

Thank you for making the video. I'm fairly new to map and compass and the content has been very helpful. Stay safe.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Paul, thank you brother and same to you! Glad the content is helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.

[@louiemorris9598]

I'd suggest next time you're in the woods take a moment and study the train around you and compared to the train features on a map the better you understand that the better you'll be in long run.

[@joefennell7535]

Another good one top. I’m used to taking on the melon,kinda used to it. Creeds are good,spoken or felt. Past few months didn’t bother me,I’m used to it ,was still able to golf.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks Joe! I’ve been working every day. Could have probably done a lot less, but that’s not in me.

[@louiemorris9598]

Great video I use dead reckoning a lot where I live in West Georgia we have a lot of steep rolling heels. And if you know how to read terrain features that help you keep on course when using a compass to know your exact position. But people really got to get to know how to read a map terrain features before they try it.

[@STOKERMATIC]

So true Louie! Reminds me to get out and do a video on how to do resection.....Hope all is well!

[@joefennell7535]

Really enjoyed this one. Nice country. Grab that cold one Top.

[@STOKERMATIC]

thanks Joe!

[@GruntProof]

Outstanding

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks brother! I had to much fun making this one!

[@joefennell7535]

Another great one Top. Thanks.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Joe, this is one of my favorites! I had so much fun this day!

[@Seamus3051]

Great video Sarge; no such thing as too much Land Nav review .. Stay safe

[@STOKERMATIC]

Right on brother! And same to ya!!

[@jameshull5274]

Great information! I’m trying to cram as much land navy as I can, I will be enlisting in the Army within the next three months.

[@STOKERMATIC]

James, awesome stuff!

[@Stone-Wolf-Outdoors]

great vid with great info i do love the woods we live in :)

[@STOKERMATIC]

So true! And thanks Tony!

[@lance8730]

I watched that whole video and took the last tip. Always trying to get better with my nav

[@cowetareserve]

Once again; the legend delivers!

[@STOKERMATIC]

I LOVED making this one!

[@cowetareserve]

@@STOKERMATIC and as usual; the effort that went into it because of that is unmatched elsewhere! Thanks again brother!

[@terryqueen3233]

Well that's not a bad explanation of a topo map although people that's just now trying to learn is going to have to go back over this thing several times and you forgot to mention the legend on a map that always helps, most people that have a map will have at least a small Legend on it. Anyone that would just take a small piece of map and print it off and take off in the woods trying to find a way around is not very bright especially if they go without a compass and I guess there's some not so bright people out there but you did a pretty good job on description and that means a lot. I got most of my map Reading when I became a land surveyor I mean we did do some map Reading in Boy Scouts but very little and I started land surveying at 17 years old. But like I said all in all you did a pretty good job trying to show people about a map. Thanks for the video and remember keep ye powder dry

[@STOKERMATIC]

Had a blast with this video. Appreciate your time and words. And same to you friend.

[@brandyhouston2105]

Actually a good video. It's a lot of work teaching outdoor things like orientation and map reading. A couple critiques, you said black twice as colors, did you mean blue? For water? And also the main concept or point I thought was ' read and know your map' BEFORE you walk out into the bush, woods, jungle, desert, etc., etc. Thanks for making the video.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Brandy, thank you! Very kind words. Yeah, I meant to not say blue - I heard it while editing but since I discussed what blue was, I figured what the heck, lol. I felt this approach - of walking through the bush and stopping to review some ideas was a different one, so that's why I did it the way I did - but certainly - one needs to read their map before they walk out. Thanks for sharing your comment - and most importantly your time! Stoker

[@wmluna381]

The map color explanation helped me. I did catch the double black mention as well and, if I hadn't seen this comment, I would have been more confused. Nothing wrong with an onscreen asterisked correction when this happens. Those are always appreciated. I already had a sense of contour lines and elevation changes from looking at Google Maps and what I know of my immediate area, but the extra details provided in this video on what those colors mean helped to clear some of that navigation 'fog' for me. I didn't know the particulars of the white parts on a topo map and found the explanation on that to be interesting. G-Maps does have the topo feature if you click on the bottom right satellite view box (desk or laptop view) and offers that additional view feature from there, including one for any established trails and such. I will be checking out the other suggested map site to get a sense of that as well.

[@Ohnyet]

When we do our deer drives,especially in thick stuff,always watch the Sun.Of course the other hunters (posted guys) would hope you would get a little disoriented.Deer wouldn’t know which way to run.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Good stuff Daryl!

[@WildMan307Outdoors]

Thank You for the info.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Right on!

[@WildMan307Outdoors]

@@STOKERMATIC 👍

[@russ1376]

😂 band of brothers when Captain Sobel leads his team and comes up on a fence. There shouldn’t be a fence here he said

[@a1xavier]

thanks for the refresher! one question, where is the best place to download and print maps? i tried the usgs website and could not figure out how to print a paper sized map. im sure the problem is myself ! thanks stoker!

[@STOKERMATIC]

To use USGS (check out my vid on it) - you'd have to screen shot, or use a clipping tool to copy a portion of the screen - and then print it. Otherwise, you could send the file to a local printer for full size (or just buy it online). I'm not aware of any platform that generates maps that will automatically print to 8.5x11.

[@Edward2092009]

Then you clime a tree that is what we did, looked for civilization, and headed that way. I was a kid and that's how we did things in Indiana in the woods 55 plus years ago. We never got lost it just took us longer to get home.

[@randalltodd4187]

Great videos, as usual! Question, I'm looking for a good belt pouch to carry mapping tools. I'm looking for something similar to the two pouches on your pack hip belt. Do you know where these are available? I checked your online store but didn't see any...thanks

[@STOKERMATIC]

Check out Kifaru, Tactical Tailor, website - they both have pouches that should do what your looking for.

[@randalltodd4187]

@@STOKERMATIC Thank you sir!

[@jtaylor8792]

Awesome. What would happen when you have no map, compass or any tracking device? Using knowledge and observations 🤔

[@STOKERMATIC]

No map, no compass, no GPS? Yup, knowledge of area, sun, moon, and stars to understand direction and terrain to understand position. Not unlike being in an urban environment actually. Just like numbering of streets, traffic flow, etc. just takes practice and a calm mind.

[@jamescronk8321]

If you don't have a compass you won't walk in a straight line .what ever is your dominate foot you usually drift that way...how are you compansate for that ?

[@STOKERMATIC]

James, I'm working on how to demonstrate this, but I think we'll find that terrain and natural/manmade features help keep us from drifting too far

[@Rick-tb4so]

Without the road for a starting point how would you begin? Also knowing north from west etc..

[@STOKERMATIC]

Rick - great question. I do have a few videos in my land nav playlist that may be helpful for you. There are several ways of knowing where you are - most of the time, we have a "rough guess" - so it's a matter of nailing down specifics. One way to do that is through resection, and even just the art of orienting our map can help as well. There are multiple techniques of knowing cardinal directions - sun, moon, stars, shadows, water flow, air direction, etc. I know that's fairly general, but your question is so broad. Check out some more content and lets start to nail down the answer so you (and others) will have more confidence. Best to ya!

[@Rick-tb4so]

@@STOKERMATIC Thanks for the reply....

[@jefffriedberg]

Since you ask: that was the most confusing, senseless thing I have ever seen in my entire very long life.

[@GreggChristofferson]

I didn’t understand how to read contour lines. Is elevation going up or down towards the point of the V?

[@STOKERMATIC]

Gregg, I gotta get back in and do a short series on contour lines - but to answer your question, elevation rises towards the V - spread your fingers out and see the V between them. Will be the same on a map.

[@GreggChristofferson]

@@STOKERMATIC Awesome. Thanks for the great videos, I'm learning a lot!

[@vieuxacadian9455]

And a LRRPING We will go ,,,,,

[@STOKERMATIC]

Hell yeah

[@druvakumar5383]

Somebody give this guy a Medal 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅 or Make him The President or something .👍👍👍👍

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks Druva! Glad you enjoyed the content

[@tjlovesrachel]

At least this guy would know where he is … unlike the guy we got now 🙄🙄🙄🤭🤭🤭

[@johnmagafas3348]

But you’re wearing your GPS watch😊

[@STOKERMATIC]

😂

[@iggie1439]

Question. Why is the Flag on your cap the wrong way round?

[@STOKERMATIC]

It was pulled off my right sleeve post deployment.