How To Work Out Your Navigation Pacing Count

In this video I describe and demonstrate a method I use for teaching people how to work out their 100m pacing count.
It takes the widely accepted 'paces per 100m' approach and expands upon it to help exclude any errors that pacing over just the 100m may introduce...
00:00 The Theory
06:07 The Practice #GetOutside #Bushcraft #TheBushcraftPadawan #GetOutside

[@cw4608]

I am glad you showed this. It makes perfect sense. I am going to do this on a long stretch of incline and measure both up and down. I am not sure I would have thought of this myself. Hi from Montana USA.

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Hi Carole, apologies for my delay in replying. I'm glad you found the video useful. How did you get on with your pacing exercise?

[@cw4608]

@@TheBushcraftPadawan irregular because I need to gauge my pace without bringing the dogs.

[@rdaugherty52]

Well done I think on average it 65 paces but my first attempt was 77 paces I guess I got short legs but I was just taking my time like I would normally walk through the woods I am going to try again I soon as my knee replacement heals up anyway thanks for sharing.

[@Terry14.88]

excellent video, Thank You.

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Thanks Terry, I appreciate you taking the time to view and comment. What's *your* pacing count over 100m on flat/good ground?

[@Woodsman_wildcamper]

Good and detailed video mate. I really enjoyed this. I'm a big believer in learning to navigate aswell, it's a fundamental skill in bushcraft that's rarely mentioned. If you cant navigate from the car, out into the bush, then back to your car again...you're playing with fire. Thanks for sharing. Take care, friend.

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Thanks once again for dropping by the channel and viewing/commenting. You make a very good point about the importance of navigation and I agree, it's often overlooked in favour of the other 'cooler' subjects! What's *your* pacing count over 100m on flat/good ground?

[@lawrencemcintosh]

really helpful craig thank you very much keep up the good work and stay safe

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Lawrence Mcintosh bushcraft Thanks Lawrence and as always your view and comment is greatly appreciated. What's your step count?

[@RuggedOutdoorz]

Top notch buddy thanks for sharing

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

The Bushcraft Family Buttery Thanks Craig, as always I appreciate you taking the time to view and comment. Are these the types of videos that you were thinking about when we Skyped?

[@ianrudd7442]

Great video. I have seen people teaching this technique by pacing a guesstimated 100 metres from the map which won’t be accurate and not emphasising the need to get an average. I also like your tale on other types of ground. I will admit that I tend to cheat by just adding 10% for things like steep ground, full pack, fatigue etc but I will give this a go. Keep this up.

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

+Ian Rudd Hi Ian Rudd and many thanks for taking the time to drop by my channel, watch and comment, it's really appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for the positive feedback, cheers!

[@tinkypete491]

Great video, and great to add the additional factors, I have a little table I make up which has different conditions with added weight and speed and conditions and ground. Also another quick tip is that most lamp posts in towns are set in either 50 or 100m spacing as well which can help.

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Thanks for dropping by the channel and viewing/commenting. Paul Kirtley has written a very good article on making a navigation speed chart, you've possibly already read the article, but just in case.... frontierbushcraft.com/2012/05/04/speed-timing-chart-navigation/ I also used to use lamp posts for teaching navigation, but not for pacing as such, but more for helping recruits to improve their ability to 'judge distance' - a skill which has multiple advantages. What's *your* pacing count over 100m on flat/good ground?

[@tinkypete491]

59 paces is my norm. I also tend to end short on legs of my route as well as it is always to look forward to an object or mark than looking back as well i.e. looking for a track junction or corner of fields :)

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Tinky Pete Yeah I agree. Combining pacing, short nav legs, timing, a where possible, using catching features etc all combine to improve your navigation.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

There’s also the problem with ‘cartographic licence’. Symbols for roads etc are nearly 100m wide! I use a 50m measuring tape when I teach this.