Assignment 6: Navigation with Map and Compass

Introduction

This exercise is the implementation of accumulation of skills we have learned in the past few weeks. We are going out the Priory to locate 5 points out in the woods. There were 3 different courses set up. Two teams would be on a course. One team would be going in one direction and the other in the other direction. All of the courses overlapped each other. This was done because there was snow on the ground and we could have followed tracks of the same team on our course to find the point instead of following the compass. With the courses interwoven together, we would have no idea if the tracks led to our points or anther courses points. The weather was overcast. There was snow flurries on and off while we were out there. We  used a map we made last week to plot points that were given to us. Once the points were plotted we then measure the azimuth from point to point so we can navigate once we are out in the field. At each point there was a flag with a hole puncher so we can punch our score card proving that we were at that point.

Methods

Upon arriving at the Priory we went into the building to meet up with our team. Inside we were given points in UTM coordinates. Figure 1 shows our points that we were to find. My team would be doing course 1 backwards. We would not be actually finding point 1 as part of the navigation exercise. Point 1 was used as a starting point. We were then to find points 6-2, in that order.

Figure1: These are the points that we were to find. We used our map to plot the UTM coordinates

We used the map we made last week to plot the points. This map had a grid over the map that was in UTM. I plotted the points and had Stacy and Drew double check my work. Figure 2 shows Stacy and Drew making sure the points were plotted correctly.  Once we were sure that we had our points plotted as accurate as we could get them, we then used a compass to get the azimuth for each point. We measured the azimuth from point 1 to point 6 and so on and so on. We would use these measurements to find our way in the field. Before leaving, we also measured out the distance between the points. We used the scale that was included on our maps and a sheet of paper so we had rough idea of how far we need to travel to find the point. Figure 3 shows us measuring out the azimuth for the points. Figure 4 is a table of our azimuth measurements. When taking the azimuth we did not need to worry about the declination because here in Eau Claire we are basically at zero.

Figure 2: Stacy and Drew checking the plotting of our points

Figure 3: Stacy is measuring out the azimuth using a compass and the map. Drew is recording the measurement

Figure 4: A table of our azimuth and distance to each point

Once we had our map done and had gotten all of our measurements, we went to outside to start the course.  Each person on our team had a specific role to play. Stacy was in charge of the compass. It was his job to make sure we stayed on course with our azimuth reading. Drew was our pacer. Last week we all paced out 100m so we could get our pace count. It was Drew's job to count his paces so we knew how far we had roughly went. My job was to go out in front of the group and stand in a spot on in line with our azimuth so it was possible to stay on course. I would work with Stacy so that we could stay on course. Once I went out a certain distance Drew and Stacy would catch up, Drew counting his steps, and we would start the process over till we found our point. Figure 5 shows me and Drew at the light post that was our starting point.

Figure 5: Me and Drew are all set to start the course.

Once out on the course we quickly figured out that the snow would become a problem. Drew had to adjust his pace count because he took it on a flat surface and he was now walking out in a forest that was covered in snow. We were also having to maneuver through trees both standing and those that had fallen. I could only go so far ahead of the other two because of visibility problems. Figure 6 shows Stacy taking a azimuth reading so we knew which direction to walk in. Figure 7  shows Drew counting out his paces. I am standing at the tree to mark where the path is.  At each point there was a flag and a hole puncher. Each team had a score card that they had to punch to prove that they had been to each point. Figure 8 shows the flag and punch card. Due to time constraints we only made it half way through the course. It took us a long time to get to from point 5 to point 4.

Figure 6: Stacy is using the compass to take an azimuth reading so we knew which direction to travel.

Figure 7: Drew is counting out his paces and I am standing behind a tree marking where he has to walk to

Figure 8: This is one of the flags we had to find. I am punching our card proving that we did indeed get to point 4.

Discussion

We were out on the course for about an hour and a half. Due to time constraints and the fact it was getting dark we only finished half of the course. We located points 6-4. It took us a very long time to get from point 5 to point 4. We were walking through the woods in winter. Which means in Wisconsin there is snow on the ground. The snow could have been as high as a couple of inches in some spots. In others we were walking through a couple of feet. To make matters more interesting the course was set up in such a way that we had to go up and down several hills to get to the points. The snow also caused issues because it hid fallen tree branches and some times whole trees. You did not walk down those hills, it was more like you slid down them. Figure 9 shows one of the hills we had to navigate. If you look up near the top of the picture in the middle, you can see Drew and Stacy coming down the hill.

Figure 9: This picture shows some of the terrain we had to walk through during the course. Stacy and Drew are at the top of the hill coming down to where I am near the bottom.

Due to visibility problems I could only go so far before having to stop and wait for the other two to catch up. These visibility problems were caused by the hilly terrain and the forest itself. Figure 10 shows an example of the low visibility that we had. A lot of the time I could not see Stacy and Drew and they had to shout to me which direction to move in so that i could stay in line with our azimuth reading. We also resorted to hand signals to communicate.

Figure 10: Stacy and Drew are catching up with me. In the woods could not see very clearly very far.

Conclusion

This was a very good exercise. It showed us how to navigate using no technology. All we were allowed to use was a compass and a map. Using the azimuth readings we took and keeping track on how far we had traveled we were able to locate 3 out of 5 points. Given more time I am confident that our team would have found the remaining two points. Next week we will be using GPS units and no maps or compasses to locate a new set of points.