Beginner to Advanced Backpacking Series: Level 2 – Day Hike
This is our level 2 event for our “Beginner to Advanced Backpacking Series”. This is a learning event that features an introduction to backpacking and hiking and a day hike through a local wilderness area where we put into action some of the basic skills that we will cover. Your guide will cover:
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- Planning Logistics
- Route Planning
- The “10 Essentials of Hiking”
- Basic Backcountry Navigation
- Wilderness Travel
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We will spend about an hour going over the three topics followed by a hike through the wilderness where we will reinforce the basics that were covered. We will hike in 3 mile segments while taking breaks between each segment. A map of the route we will take is provided. You will need to bring:
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- Baseplate Compass
- Good athletic shoes or hiking boots
- Water or sports drink
- Snacks & a lunch
- Small pack to keep your hands free
- Something to take notes on.
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Link to download the course document:
Level 2 Day Hike – Course Notes
Link to download the trail map:
Richardson Creek Topo Trail Map
Magnetic Declination Explained
When you look at a map they are oriented as north is facing the top of the page. The north that is in that direction is known as âtrue northâ, which means that it points directly towards the geographic North Pole. A compass on the other hand, actually points toward âmagnetic northâ which is slightly in a different direction than true north and that difference can vary depending on your geographic location. This difference is known as magnetic declination and is usually expressed in degrees either east or west of true north. In order to correct this, you just need to make an adjustment to the heading on your compass.
There is a line where magnetic north and true north both point in the same direction. This line is known as the line of zero declination and as of 2020 it currently runs from eastern Minnesota through central Louisiana and is noted in the picture below as the 0° line.
If you are located west of the zero line, then true north will be somewhat west of magnetic north and this is known as âeast declinationâ. And the opposite is true if you are east of the zero line, then true north will be somewhat east of magnetic north which is known as âwest declinationâ.
Changes in Magnetic Declination
Magnetic declination varies both from place to place and with the passage of time. As a traveler cruises the east coast of the United States, for example, the declination varies from 16 degrees west in Maine, to 6 in Florida, to 0 degrees in Louisiana, to 4 degrees east (in Texas). The declination at London, UK was one degree west (2014), reducing to zero as of early 2020.
The magnetic declination in a given area may (most likely will) change slowly over time, possibly as little as 2â2.5 degrees every hundred years or so, depending upon how far from the magnetic poles it is. For a location closer to the pole like Ivujivik, the declination may change by 1 degree every three years. This may be insignificant to most travelers but can be important if using magnetic bearings from old charts or metes (directions) in old deeds for locating places with any precision. The map in above picture shows declination for the year 2020 for the contiguous 48 states, and it will be accurate to about half a degree for most locations for a range from 2017 to 2023.
To get the current and 5 year projected magnetic declination for an area the NOAA has a great mapping tool for finding this out. You can find it here:
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- NOAA Magnetic Declination Mapping Tool
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Adjusting Bearings for Magnetic Declination
As stated above, dependent on which side of the zero line of declination you are on will let you know whether you need a west declination or an east declination adjustment. If you are east of the zero line then you will have a west declination, and the opposite is true if you are west side of the zero line because you will now have east declination. Examples of each can be seen in the picture below.
East Declination â When you are west of the zero line of declination remember that your declination is east. Your true bearing is the measurement in degrees from the line to true north to the line to your objective. However, the compasses magnetic needle is pulled toward magnetic north, not true north. So instead it measures the angle between the line to magnetic north and the line to your objective. Based on the example in the figure below, this magnetic bearing is 15.6 degrees less than the true bearing in Mt. Rainier. To get the true bearing you would just add 15.6 degrees to the magnetic bearing.
West Declination â When you are east of the zero line of declination your declination is west. Based on the example in the figure below, this magnetic bearing is 16.3 degrees more than the true bearing in Acadia NP. To get the true bearing you would just subtract 16.3 degrees to the magnetic bearing.
West Declination
Adjustable Declination Arrow
Adjusting for declination can be simple in theory but when put to practical use in the field when it really matters can cause a lot of stress on the mind and can lead to errors in mental arithmetic leading to possible serious consequences. An easier way to handle this is to upgrade your compass to a model that is equipped with an adjustable declination arrow instead of one with a fixed orienting arrow. This feature allows the declination arrow to be set for any declination. This will then allow the bearing at the index line to be set to your true bearing.
Modified Declination Arrow at Home
If your compass has fixed orienteering arrows, you can easily modify it by attaching a thin strip of tape to the bottom of the rotating housing to act as a modified declination arrow. Trim the edge of the tape into a point and place it to where the end is pointing as in the example in the figure below.
Taking a Bearing in the Field with Magnetic Declination
In order to take a bearing with magnetic declination in the field you simply follow the same procedure as you would normally, but you would now align the magnetic arrow with adjustable declination arrow, or the taped arrow as opposed to the orienting arrow on your compass.
This information was taken from our training course on Backcountry Navigation. If you would like to know more follow the link below and register for the course. This course will teach you everything you need to know about navigating yourself through the wilderness.
AcadianXU Backpacking 101 Series – Backcountry Navigation
How to Read a Topographic Map
A hiker can quickly become lost in dense or maze-like backcountry settings, making outdoor navigation skills vital for any wilderness trip. Modern GPS navigation systems are excellent tools for finding your way, but, as with any device, they can fail. Learn multiple techniques for wilderness navigation, so you can get yourself back on track in even the most confusing backcountry locations. When was the last time you planned a trip without a computer or GPS unit? Think hard. Unless youâre a dedicated old-schooler or a Boy Scout, it probably wasnât recently.
Learning how to navigate with a paper map is an essential skill. If your map skills are rusty, itâs time to brush up. Maps and compasses are the best backups to your navigation system (no battery), and will give you an understanding of the ground youâre hiking over that you just canât get following a gadget. More importantly: Doing it the way hikers did it 50 years ago is just cool. Letâs brush up on your map abilities with our expert help.
What is a topographic map?
A topographic map is designed to show the physical features and terrain of an area, which is what makes them ideal for backpackers. Theyâre different from other maps because they show the three-dimensional landscape: its contours, elevations, topographic features, bodies of water, and vegetation.
Why do I need a topo map?
Simplified trail mapsâlike the JPEG images you might find on a national park’s websiteâ donât include all the information you need in order to navigate. No elevation data, no magnetic declination, and much fewer symbols. If you get lost, these trail maps wonât help you find your way out. A topographic map offers a wealth of orienteering informationânot just elevation and distance, but changes in vegetation and even human-made structures. Itâs enough to plan an entire trip in advance or to find your way in a pinch.
Parts of a Map
There are three basic components of a topo map that you need to learn to recognize: contour lines, scale, and legend.
When the contour lines are scrunched up togetherâlike in this map of Yosemiteâyou’re looking at a cliff.
Contour Lines
Put simply, contour lines show elevation. Theyâre the bread and butter of understanding a topo map, showing the layout of the terrain and its major features. By showing you the lay of the land and changes in elevation, theyâll give you an idea of what youâll be walking through and how challenging it will be.
A contour line connects continuous points on the map that share the same elevation. When contour lines are close together, it means that elevation is changing a lot in a short distance. Youâre looking at a steep slope or cliff. When theyâre far apart, the slope is more gradual.
Youâll notice that every fifth line is thicker than the others. Those thick contour lines are called index lines. At some point along an index line, you can find its elevation written.
The difference in elevation between each contour line is always the same, and that distance is called the contour interval. This number can be found in the mapâs legend. Using index lines (with their elevations written on them) and the contour interval (the distance between each line), you can identify the elevation of any contour line on the map.
Contour lines help you visualize the shape of the terrain and its features. Once you understand contour lines, you can point out mountains, valleys, plateaus and depressions. Concentric circles, for example, indicate a mountain peak or a depression. Tightly grouped contour lines might indicate a cliff. Look at the numbers on index lines to see if elevation is increasing or decreasing.
Practice reading contour lines. Sit down with a topo map of a familiar area and see if you can pick out terrain features by looking at the contour lines. Can you identify certain peaks, valleys, ridgelines or saddles? You can also peek at Google Earth to get an overall sense of an areaâs terrain before diving into the contours on the topo.
Scale
Scale is the relative distance of the map to real life. The scale can be found in the map legend and usually shows the ratio of map inches to real ground inches. For example, a scale of 1:24,000 means that 1 inch on the map is the equivalent of 24,000 inchesâor .38 mileâin reality. (This is the scale used by most USGS topo maps.) The first number, map inches, is always 1.
Scale tells you how detailed the map is. A topo map with a scale of 1:12,000 shows a smaller area and is more detailed than a map with a 1:24,000 scale. Itâs important to know how detailed your map is when youâre planning a route.
Maps also include a representative scale, which helps visualize distances in miles or kilometers — much more useful than measuring your hike in inches. Use a piece of string or a ruled compass edge to measure your route on the map with the representative scale.
Legend
The legend basically tells you how to read the map. It contains some key pieces of information:
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- Source data – Where and when the map was made. Check that the map isnât out of date, and try to get the most recent version possible.
- Scale – Relative distance on the map.
- Contour interval – Change in elevation between each contour line.
- Magnetic declination – The difference between magnetic north and true north in the given area. This varies from place to place, and itâs necessary to set up your compass before you start hiking.
- A color key – Different colors across the map often show the nature of the vegetation. Generally, darker colors mean denser vegetation, while lighter areas mean thin vegetation or even open terrain. Bodies of water are usually blue.
- A symbol key – Most topo maps use symbols to indicate certain features. The key may also explain what different stylized lines mean — like boundaries, rivers and streams, pipelines, roads, or railroads. Topo maps may include symbols for:
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- Buildings
- Different types of vegetation
- Water tanks
- Waterfalls or rapids
- Open pits, mine shafts, or caves
- Marshes, bogs, and swamps
- Glaciers or permanent snowfields
- Lakes or ponds
- Marine shorelines
- High-clearance roads and gates
- Railroads
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Preparing for a Trip with a Topo Map
A topographic map is a vital tool for planning any outdoors trip. It will help you plan a route, know whatâs ahead of you, and be prepared.
Trails usually appear as thin black lines, while roads are thicker black or red lines. (The key should help you distinguish between them.) As you plan your route, keep an eye on the contour lines. You donât want to plan a route that takes you over a cliff you canât climb or across a ridgeline you didnât prepare for. Generally, youâll also want to have an idea of how steep the hike will be. Find ways around any landmarks you donât want to traverse and identify the best routes to ascend any peaks.
Once youâve picked out a route, use the scale to measure its distance. Using a string rather than a straight edge will give you a much more accurate distance estimate, as it will include the twists and turns in the trail. You donât want to measure a series of switchbacks as one straight line.
Use the mapâs symbols to identify water sources, dangerous areas to avoid (like mine shafts), and changes in vegetation. This information will help you pick out the best campsites and minimize safety risks.
The more you practice reading the topo map, the less likely you are to get lost. Keep your map within reach as you hike and follow your trajectory. Make note of landmarks that you pass and take stock of where you are regularly.
Use smartphones and GPS as a tool to learn rather than as a crutch. As you get used to orienteering with a topo and compass, check your calculations against Google Maps on your smartphone. Does your supposed location on the topo match the blue dot on your phone? As you practice orienteering, your calculations should get more accurate. You should never rely solely on GPS technologies to navigate without a backup plan.
Where to Get a Topo Map
You can find topographic maps from many different sources. The one you choose depends on the place youâre hiking and whether you want to emphasize specific information.
USGS
You can download from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) free of charge in various formats. These are updated every three years.
Local government agencies
Many national parks, national forests, state parks, and other public lands produce detailed maps of their lands. Check their website or local offices to see if they have topographic maps available.
Specialty companies
These companies often produce maps for more popular areas. Sometimes they highlight hiker-specific features, like backcountry campsites, park boundary lines, or certain trails and elevations. (National Geographicâs maps are a great place to start.)
Independent websites
There are a number of websites offering mapping services with customizable, downloadable topo maps that are hiker friendly. Like any other internet resource, just be careful with these. Some of these include: