Very good idea to take bearings and notes before going on a winter trip, thank you! Mentioning to take map, compass and altimeter as a back-up to GPS can't be said enough in these minimalist wanna-be times. 'They don't have a brain' - simple truth and good for a laugh. 1:53 If the names on your map are written east-west like on most topographical maps, that would be a NE direction.