DIRECTIONS, DECLINATION, DISTANCES, and SCALE // Basic Land Navigation Part 3

[@tamicakenyon7683]

I am learning a lot from your series!

[@OutsideChronicles]

Thanks for watching! I am glad you are learning how to read maps. Stay tuned for Map and Compass!

[@tamicakenyon7683]

I am a trail runner so it intrigues me. I think I may watch with my children.

[@OutsideChronicles]

If you like map and compass work, they actually have orienteering races. Combined trail running with orienteering. They are fun!

[@tamicakenyon7683]

Wow, that's awesome!

[@vincentkruse7814]

I've wanted to learn land navigation for a long time, and finding your terrific videos is the greatest tool for learning. You explain the details clearly, without mystifying the terms. I'm so grateful for finding Outside Chronicles! Keep up the great work.

[@tvbox6955]

Thanks for this video 🥳

[@OutsideChronicles]

My pleasure, see you outside!

[@_nick_d]

Dropping some knowledge on this video. Another solid video 👍

[@OutsideChronicles]

Thanks again, when I teach this part in person, I can tell I lose some people. But it is important to know how declination affects navigation.

[@_nick_d]

@@OutsideChronicles I’m glad you put that sample on how much you can go off course if you are off. I really didn’t think a few degrees mattered, but now I do. Good stuff man, keep cranking them out

[@20Hikecdt23]

Thanks. Great video. I actually think the Cammenga is the best compass but end up always using a Silva Ranger type because of the mirror I need to floss my teeth, ha, ha!! I DO like and enjoy using the declination adjustment I can do with the Silva Ranger also-like you teach. Great! Thanks for your teaching and explanations!

[@OutsideChronicles]

My pleasure, Cammenga is a good compass, but feel a baseplate compass is much easier to use when orienteering. See you outside!

[@TomyHovingtonHiking]

Great video!! Well done 👍

[@OutsideChronicles]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@vikramkumarthakur3124]

Thanks uu so much sir. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@20Hikecdt23]

So if you are West of Mississippi one would add the Dec to you compass bearing to find a bearing reflection based on true North n you would arrive to your destination?(have I got that right?)

[@OutsideChronicles]

West of the Mississippi is east declination and is positive. So if you are adjusting for declination, you add. In this case you are going from field (MN) to map (GN), Major to general, a promotion. Make sense?

[@unclerojelio6320]

I've been searching for clear explanation of how to manually calculate declination and, invariably, every video I come across just cops out to "just cheat with the compass adjustment". That is not helpful in understanding the problem.

[@OutsideChronicles]

I did not put it in this video, but I like the Army analogy for figuring out what to do. I teach this in my in-person class. Think of it this way Grid North = Gn = General. Magnetic North = Mn = Major. A General ranks higher than a Major. Going from Mn to Gn (field to map), is a promotion from Major to General therefore you add. Going from Gn to Mn (map to field), is a demotion from General to Major therefore you subtract. Remember, west declination is a negative number!

[@James_Bowie]

Even though I understand magnetic variance from the theoretical point of view, it was only when I made a sun shadow stick compass -- which produces a good indication of true north -- and put my compass next to it, that I actually saw my local 12 degrees east variation between the compass's idea of north and the sun's, and that experience reinforced the notion of declination forever in my mind. I recommend that simple experiment to anyone who is not entirely comfortable that they have grasped the concept of magnetic variance/declination.

[@OutsideChronicles]

Neat demonstration. I will have to keep it in mind for a future class or video.

[@OnlyGodCanJudgeMe.deanna]

Why would you go over figuring out declination in another video? You find a bearing on your map, as you look UP from your map, you add 6 or whatever declination is on your map legend. If you want take a bearing from an object, and want to transfer it to your map, you look down at your map, so you subtract. It's that simple..

[@OutsideChronicles]

In the video, I go over more than declination. I find that if you understand declination, the mnemonics to remember when to add and subtract make more sense. With a good understanding of declination, you do not even need a mnemonic. You describe it in simple terms, but understanding that West declination is a negative declination (subtracting a negative number) and vice versa is more than memorizing a rule. What if your map legend says 15 degree East or 20 degrees West? If you do not understand declination, how do you know if the declination is positive or negative?

[@James_Bowie]

@@OutsideChronicles Great answer.

[@OutsideChronicles]

@@James_Bowie Thank you!