endtimeobserver
11-11-2007, 05:02 PM
I wrote this essay over a year ago, and thought it would be a good post here......eto
Map Reading Everybody who is concerned about having to bug out should know, or learn very quickly how to read a map properly. I know in this new day and age, most people want to go the GPS route. I urge people who want to get a GPS, first to learn how to read a map and get a proper understanding in the art of land navigation, before they go out and purchase a GPS. The problem I see with GPS is first you need a power source, then you need at least three satilites for the thing to work. If one is going to go the passive route then a GPS is much like a cell phone in the sense that it has to pull information off of a satilite for it to work and who knows if these things can also give away your location. It is said that a GPS can get within 10 feetof your location, I must state here, that a good map reader can accomplish the same thing if they get good enough. Myself i trust my map reading skills more than i do a GPS. You can find topographical maps and most sporting good stores and adventur
e shops in your area. You can usually purchase tops at the local USGS department in your area, or they can at least direct you where you can purchase them When you contact the USGS, ask for a map index of the area you want they come in state size and cover the whole state. The main office will help you as well and here is the contact info for the main office USGS Office in the west and midwest. USGS Information service Box 25286 federal center, Denver Colorado 80225. Phone (800) HELP-MAP. The best map is 1/24,000 this gives you the best detail, of the area you want it will cover approx. 5 by 7 miles, with this scale you will see trails, springs structures and man made improvement. What i do is get 4 adjoining maps and trim them of all borders, then i tape them together, with scotch tape, once I have done than I cover them with clear contact paper, it semi waterproofs them(take care it does not totally waterproof them) Now I have and area of approx 140 square miles, that is alot of area. I then fold the maps and place in a seal a meal bag and vacumn seal them, which really seals the contact paper to the map, I then label the bag with felt pen so i know what maps i have in each bag. Once i get the 1/24,000 scale system done, i usually get several 1/100,000 maps over the general area and cover them as well, but remember 1/100,000 does not give you the same detail as the 1/24,000 does.
Things to have to go with your map gear is an alitmeter this will give you elevation which will help you in determineing you location, a pediometer,( a device you clip to your belt and it will give you the distance you travel by recording your footsteps, radio shack put out a pretty dependable one for about 25 bucks), a pace cord, a good compass, alcohol filled are the best. Now go to the yellow pages and find usually under clubs map reading clubs, check out boy scout troops they would be happy to teach you how to read a map.
This is one of those things where it pays to get your childern involved as it may save their lives, they learn quicker than adults and it could turn out to be a family thing to do. There is also oreinteering clubs everywhere. These out fits will help you learn and they even have courses for you to practice, much like biking and other sports these outfits can really be an assest for you learning this necessary skills. I can not stress the importance of reading a map properly, and in all four seasons, as the terrain changes drasticly from winter and summer. I had alot i was going to post on this tread but did not have any idea what your skill level is. I must caution you when looking into this field, there are many who say they can read a map and can not. DO NOT take their word on it, this is one skill you want them to prove to you beyond and doubt they can in fact read a map. There are many ex-military who can not read a map to save their life. Two weeks ago i pull a family out of the woods, they had to spend the night with no supplies because they got lost, did not have a map, and the head of the family was ex-military, and on the way out he admitted he could not read a map, so do not take anybody's word on this subject.
In my opnion everybody in the group needs to learn this skill, it can save your life or get ya killed........I had sent an essay throug skip to have posted but it got lost in the shuffle so this is a rewrite and not as good as the first one, so i kept it short, but will answer any question through this tread............if wondered why i put dollar signs on the header, it is because this is an important subject, and people seems to be more interested in their assests and money then learning how to survive under stressful conditions......
You are correct in your statement about unlevel ground and pediometer, that is when you fall back on your pace cord. find and area that has level gound and and incline, mark out one hundred yards/meters going up hill and on level ground now walk the hundred meter level counting your steps(should be around 110 pace) then do the same going up hill and then again down hill. add the three figures up and then divide by three and you will end up with an average pace count (mine is 118 paces per one hundred meter), have a cord with beads on it, and using the pace cord you can still know the distance you have travels, most map and oreinteering clubs can teach you this.......As for walking down slippery paths, try walk next to path on untroden ground and you would not be slipping and sliding as much.....
Map Reading Everybody who is concerned about having to bug out should know, or learn very quickly how to read a map properly. I know in this new day and age, most people want to go the GPS route. I urge people who want to get a GPS, first to learn how to read a map and get a proper understanding in the art of land navigation, before they go out and purchase a GPS. The problem I see with GPS is first you need a power source, then you need at least three satilites for the thing to work. If one is going to go the passive route then a GPS is much like a cell phone in the sense that it has to pull information off of a satilite for it to work and who knows if these things can also give away your location. It is said that a GPS can get within 10 feetof your location, I must state here, that a good map reader can accomplish the same thing if they get good enough. Myself i trust my map reading skills more than i do a GPS. You can find topographical maps and most sporting good stores and adventur
e shops in your area. You can usually purchase tops at the local USGS department in your area, or they can at least direct you where you can purchase them When you contact the USGS, ask for a map index of the area you want they come in state size and cover the whole state. The main office will help you as well and here is the contact info for the main office USGS Office in the west and midwest. USGS Information service Box 25286 federal center, Denver Colorado 80225. Phone (800) HELP-MAP. The best map is 1/24,000 this gives you the best detail, of the area you want it will cover approx. 5 by 7 miles, with this scale you will see trails, springs structures and man made improvement. What i do is get 4 adjoining maps and trim them of all borders, then i tape them together, with scotch tape, once I have done than I cover them with clear contact paper, it semi waterproofs them(take care it does not totally waterproof them) Now I have and area of approx 140 square miles, that is alot of area. I then fold the maps and place in a seal a meal bag and vacumn seal them, which really seals the contact paper to the map, I then label the bag with felt pen so i know what maps i have in each bag. Once i get the 1/24,000 scale system done, i usually get several 1/100,000 maps over the general area and cover them as well, but remember 1/100,000 does not give you the same detail as the 1/24,000 does.
Things to have to go with your map gear is an alitmeter this will give you elevation which will help you in determineing you location, a pediometer,( a device you clip to your belt and it will give you the distance you travel by recording your footsteps, radio shack put out a pretty dependable one for about 25 bucks), a pace cord, a good compass, alcohol filled are the best. Now go to the yellow pages and find usually under clubs map reading clubs, check out boy scout troops they would be happy to teach you how to read a map.
This is one of those things where it pays to get your childern involved as it may save their lives, they learn quicker than adults and it could turn out to be a family thing to do. There is also oreinteering clubs everywhere. These out fits will help you learn and they even have courses for you to practice, much like biking and other sports these outfits can really be an assest for you learning this necessary skills. I can not stress the importance of reading a map properly, and in all four seasons, as the terrain changes drasticly from winter and summer. I had alot i was going to post on this tread but did not have any idea what your skill level is. I must caution you when looking into this field, there are many who say they can read a map and can not. DO NOT take their word on it, this is one skill you want them to prove to you beyond and doubt they can in fact read a map. There are many ex-military who can not read a map to save their life. Two weeks ago i pull a family out of the woods, they had to spend the night with no supplies because they got lost, did not have a map, and the head of the family was ex-military, and on the way out he admitted he could not read a map, so do not take anybody's word on this subject.
In my opnion everybody in the group needs to learn this skill, it can save your life or get ya killed........I had sent an essay throug skip to have posted but it got lost in the shuffle so this is a rewrite and not as good as the first one, so i kept it short, but will answer any question through this tread............if wondered why i put dollar signs on the header, it is because this is an important subject, and people seems to be more interested in their assests and money then learning how to survive under stressful conditions......
You are correct in your statement about unlevel ground and pediometer, that is when you fall back on your pace cord. find and area that has level gound and and incline, mark out one hundred yards/meters going up hill and on level ground now walk the hundred meter level counting your steps(should be around 110 pace) then do the same going up hill and then again down hill. add the three figures up and then divide by three and you will end up with an average pace count (mine is 118 paces per one hundred meter), have a cord with beads on it, and using the pace cord you can still know the distance you have travels, most map and oreinteering clubs can teach you this.......As for walking down slippery paths, try walk next to path on untroden ground and you would not be slipping and sliding as much.....