The picture below shows how the magnetic north (blue line) has moved since the 1590, and since 1904 it has been steadily moving in a northwesterly direction. Today, 40 years later, it points 11.63 degrees east of True North. For example, when I moved to Palm Springs in 1977 my compass pointed 14 degrees east of True North. Instead, they point to Magnetic North, which is constantly changing. There are very few locations in the US that a compass will point to True North. Your Compass Probably Doesn’t Point North Since my blog doesn’t have the ability to post comments and only handful of people have my email address, there won’t be the typical debate on my blog this subject might generate.īut first, let’s talk about the North Pole, magnetic declination and then look at some common compasses and how they might be used. In this post the protractor will be presented as a serious tool that backpackers may want to consider, and for those who have used and then abandoned a map protractor, perhaps a re-visit might be worthwhile. One piece of navigation equipment I rarely see in use by backpackers is a map protractor. ![]() Most backpackers bring a map and compass whether or not they know how to really use it. Of course, with practice you can use a map and compass to figure out your location if you do get lost. ![]() We need to keep in mind that the goal of using a map and compass is to always know where you are, not figure out your location because you are lost. Some of the backup maps and compasses in use are less than optimal and in a no-shit-need-to-have situation might be poor options (think button sized compass and a large scale general map). Many of the electronic persuasion carry and map and compass as a backup, which means duplicate items to do the same task, meaning unnecessary weight. Then there is the fact electronic solutions (GPS and smart phones) can fail or end up with a dead battery. Nowadays the subject includes GPS units, smart phones, base plate compass vs. Neither the red outlines nor the map image are printed on the tool.I am going to show you how to navigate quicker and more accurately with a map and any compass, by using a map protractor.įew subjects elicit more debates among hikers and backpackers than the subject of map and compass. The map image in the background is so that any white ink is visible. Internal cutouts are shown with red in the product images. Larger print type on both the scales and compass rose. Larger 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 scale rulers for maps with wider grid spacing. Includes 1:24,000 scale for USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps. Rounded corners keep it from wearing holes in your pockets. ![]() It's 33% thicker than the standard issue version, so it's less likely to bent or broken when you need to use it. It is the thickness and stiffness of a credit card. ![]() Our coordinate scales offer significant benefits over the standard issue GTA 5-2-12 The tool is printed on 30 mil plastic stock with a protective coating. Bands of white ink are printed under the compass rose to make reading the compass rose easier and to keep the tool from "disappearing" when you place it on the map. The inner protractor is marked in degrees. This tool has larger print numbers on both the compass rose and the coordinate scales. Plus, he overall dimensions of the tool have been reduced so that it is the size of a music CD, easily fitting into a pocket or any slot where you could store a CD. The 1:100,000 scale now spans 5km grid lines, making it much more usable. The tool features several additional map scales, including 1:24,000, which is the most common topographic map scale found within the United States. By using a slot on one side of the tool for access to the map, the tool can be more compact than the traditional GTA tool. Round Military Style UTM/MGRS Tool Large Print Version Scales: 1:24,000 x 1km 1:25,000 x 1km/1:250,000 x 10km 1:50,000 x 2km/1:500,000 x 20km 1:10,000 x 500m/1:100,000 x 5km Compass Rose in Degrees (Size 4.75" in diameter) This tool is an improved version of the Graphic Training Aid 5-2-12 Coordinate Scale and Protractor used by United States and NATO military forces around the world.
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