How do you use a compass on an orienteering course?

take the compass off the map and hold it in front of you so that the direction of travel arrow points directly ahead of you. rotate your body until the compass needle is aligned with the arrow on the base of the compass housing.

Why do you need a compass for orienteering?

Rather than just showing north, modern compasses have many features to assist in planning and navigation. Without a compass, you can still use your map by relying on visible features, but a compass allows you to be more accurate and navigate where there are few obvious landscape features.

How do you read a compass for orienteering?

Hold the compass level in the palm of your hand, chest high, with the direction arrow facing away from your body. Turn your whole body, including your feet, until the red magnetic needle lines up with the orienting arrow on the dial. Look up.

What type of compass is used in orienteering?

thumb compass
A thumb compass is a type of compass commonly used in orienteering, a sport in which map reading and terrain association are paramount. In cases of homogeneous terrain with few distinct features, a bearing between 2 known points on the map may be used.

How do I use my phone as a compass?

How to use the Compass on iPhone

1. Launch the Compass app from your Home screen.
2. Hold your iPhone flat in the palm of your hand.
3. Spin around, holding your iPhone in your hand until you hit the bearing (degrees) you want to follow. For example, 30 degrees north-northeast.
4. Tap the compass face once to lock in that bearing.

What are the basic skills in orienteering?

Basic Orienteering Skills

• Folding the map.
• Thumbing the map.
• Orientating the map to north (with ground or compass)
• Reading features on the map.
• Taking a compass bearing.
• Following a compass bearing.
• Pacing.
• Judging Distance.

Does a compass work in both hemispheres?

In use, the compass case is held in a horizontal plane. In the northern hemisphere, the magnetic field dips downward toward the north (the dip angle), which would cause the north-pointing end of the needle to droop downward. Today one can buy compasses with “global needles” that work equally well in both hemispheres.

What are 3 types of compass?

Compasses normally come in three different styles.

• Baseplate Compass. The most typical compass is normally referred to as a Baseplate Compass.
• Mirrored Baseplate Compass.
• Lensatic Compasses.

How do you demagnetize a compass?

Place the compass on a flat, stable surface facing upward. Place the south pole of the magnet directly on top of the needle. Drag the magnet slowly along the length of the needle towards the north-marked end. When you reach the edge of the compass, slide the magnet down the side of the compass.

What is the most fundamental skill in orienteering?

orienting the map
The most important skill in Orienteering is orienting the map! Maps are not supposed to be held with the top up the top, but instead in the same orientation as the terrain around you. Look for a prominent feature around you like a fence or a road, and rotate the map to match.

Do you need an orienteering compass for survival?

An orienteering compass is part of the essential survival gear, and most people take one with them into the mountains without knowing actually how in the world does it work. Luckily it isn’t too hard to use your compass and when paired with a good map.

How does the magnetic needle work on an orienteering compass?

Alongside the orienting arrow our orienting lines that you’ll use to help you line up the compass with north on a map. A liquid capsule that contains the magnetic needle is rotating housing. The liquid helps dampen the needle movement, making it easier to get a more accurate reading.

Where can I get an introduction to orienteering?

For a more thorough introduction, sign up for an upcoming orienteering program through the Forest Preserve District. Visit dupageforest.org and click on “Things to Do” and “Calendar of Events.” The Map In orienteering, the map is more important than the compass. Taking a compass bearing and traveling in a straight line isn’t always the best choice.

How much does a Silva orienteering compass cost?

Starting at $59.99 Starting at $69.99 Starting at $79.99 Starting at $59.99 Starting at $69.99 Starting at $18.49 Starting at $54.99

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQOB5TexnfE