Navigation Techniques: Part 1
Navigating in the mountains can be challenging, even in clear weather. When conditions take a turn for the worse, with visibility dropping and morale often following suit, it's crucial to know how to get from point A to point B confidently. In this post, I'll walk you through five essential navigation techniques that will help you stay on track.
Contouring
Let's start with an easy but often overlooked technique – contouring. And no, I'm not talking about make-up tricks, but the art of following a contour line on a map.
While it won't necessarily make your navigation more precise, it can make your route more efficient. According to Naismith's Rule, every 100m of ascent adds about 10 minutes to your journey. By contouring – that is, following the terrain at a constant elevation rather than climbing up and over hills – you can save yourself a lot of unnecessary effort and time.
It sounds simple, but when you're face-to-face with complicated topography, like an undulating ridgeline, it's easy to forget. Instead of constantly hiking up and down, dropping to one side of the ridge and following a contour line at a consistent height can make your journey smoother.
Slope Aspect
When you're navigating, it's not just about getting to your destination – it's also about validating where you are along the way. That's where understanding slope aspect comes in.
The aspect of a slope refers to the direction it faces, or the angle at which it would naturally 'fall.' Imagine dropping a ball on a hillside – the direction it rolls down is the slope's aspect. By taking a bearing of the slope you're on and comparing it with your map, you can verify your location.
While slopes aren't always perfectly uniform, even a rough comparison between your bearing and the map's cardinal direction (N, NW, W, etc.) can give you a strong sense of confirmation that you're on the right track.
Handrailing
Let's face it – navigation can be tricky, and no one hits their target 100% of the time. That's why handrailing is such a handy technique.
Handrailing involves following a well-defined feature, like a river, path, woodland edge, or even a distinct ridge line. It's like having a natural guide along your route. While this method allows you to navigate with great accuracy, be cautious with features that might change, like fence lines or minor trails that aren't as permanent as the landscape.
Aiming Off
Imagine you're hiking towards a river, and there's only one bridge to cross it. You know it's out there, but when you reach the riverbank, you can't see the bridge. How can you be sure if it's upstream or downstream?
Aiming off is the solution. Instead of heading straight for the bridge (and potentially missing it), deliberately navigate to one side – for example, upstream of where you believe the bridge is. This way, when you reach the river, you'll know exactly which direction to turn. This technique can also be applied to finding gates, gaps in ridges, or any other linear features.
Attack Points
Attack points are another valuable technique when navigating to a hard-to-find location. Rather than trying to hit a small, precise target straight away, you navigate first to a larger, more easily recognisable feature nearby, known as your “attack point.” From there, you can fine-tune your course to reach your final destination.
For example, instead of navigating directly to a hidden mountain hut, you could first aim for a prominent lake or a fork in the trail nearby. Once you've reached your attack point, you'll know you're close and can refine your bearings for the final stretch.
What's Next?
I hope these five techniques help you feel more confident navigating the hills when the hiking season starts back up in spring. In my next post, I'll dive into more advanced skills, covering timings, pacing, and backstops – all designed to further fine-tune your navigation.
Until then, happy adventuring!