You can also double check with time count also. Walk few miles figure your average time per mile. It's another good reference to know to compare to your pace.
You could also use equilateral triangle angles: turn right 60°, count the segment (let's call it "A"), turn left 60°, count normally, turn left 60°, walk a segment as long as "A", turn right 60° and resume the original bearing. In the total distance count, put just one of those two "A" segments instead of both. Same idea, just a bit more efficient since you're always getting closer to your goal (you waste 1*A distance instead of about 1.7*A). Edit: fixed a turn.
I always had trouble with long counts as I kept losing my count, so I got a clicker counter to practice with and try help improve my counting. Worked pretty well and I have attached it to my Ranger beads.
One thing you can do when you return to your original bearing after you've boxed out the obstacle is to take a back sight bearing to your previous waypoint if it's visible. It should be as close to 180° opposite of your travel bearing as possible. Taking a back sight bearing as you travel to your previous waypoints can be a very nice check to help you travel in as straight of a line as possible.
A lot of people struggle with land navigation. You did a very good job explaining these concepts in a manner that a beginner should be able to comprehend.
Thanks Dan. As you said, "a great tool for the toolbox". I do a lot of off the beaten path wandering along rivers and streams fishing. I do use a compass, but mostly just in terms of general direction back to the road and my car. I do use my pace counting beads and have tried to guesstimate distances to certain fishing holes, but as rivers and streams bend a lot, theres a lot of guess work. Now i can employ this tool to more accurately gauge distances in concert with my compass when shooting a bearing. Id like to see more navigation skills in the future as you said will come later in other videos.
I was mining claim staker and a timber-cruise compassman for a few years...so nice nowadays with the GPS, more time to just enjoy the travelling thru the bush...
I like the "boxing" idea. It is definitely something to think about. I usually sight a tree or something beyond the obstruction, and lock my eyes in that and then resume from there. The problem I get with that is, I tend to drift to the left.
Much easier method to clear the obstacle than what I learned in Scouts. That used a 90 degree triangle to clear the obstacle, with the path through the obstruction on the hypotenuse. The square path is so much easier!
Wow .. Damn I could have used this info 20 yrs ago. That and now I finally understand what the beads are for and how to use them. Will definitely have to try this. VERY COOL ...Thanks for sharing
The way we do it in the miilitary you start with your left foot and count on your right, and do a basic 30 inch step, like in marching. That way if you can have the same basic step as everyone else because people with longer legs would naturally have a smaller step count, longer stride, which would make they walk faster than someone with a shorter stride. Plus it's a pretty easy stride length for people to use that's comfortable to use.
You did a really good job here. Great diagrams make it easy to understand, and concise and to the point, thank you. One question, why does everyone bead out at 4km? Why not add beads to 10km or more?
ill often use time traveled vs pace counting as it lets me get a pretty tight data set without having to count, i just run a timer. just an alternative if someone else wants to try.
That was fucking awesome super simple and easy to follow. Could you do a video similar to this for a compass most people don't know how to properly read or use one.
Really cool you shrunk down to the size of a ant. Now I use to know what that symbol is on your hat I think from watching America Unearthed but I forgot a problem with old age can you tell me before I go nuts.
Pace count is great for determining distance traveled, but do you have a technique, or two, to determine distance off? It always helps, assuming you have a clear view, to know how far you are away from where you need to travel.
I figured this would get some response. Most USGS maps use metric for contour lines etc. So it makes sense to use the metric for measuring your distance and position. Even state maps usually have both scales on them.. it would have be nice if we had converted back in the day instead of holding out and sticking with Imperial measurements. As far as the military method I'm a Vet.
Good stuff! But I was thinking, to get a true pace count, should you find a place where you can do up hill, down hill ( say 15% both ways ) then flat then take the average?
Please, stop with the metric system. Why would you or anyone in the U.S. measure their pace count in meters?? We walk feet, yards and miles. All my maps are in the 1:24,000 scale or some variation, as are my compasses. Who in the U.S prints their maps in metric?
mmm the bears did not think I was very tastest what my mother said if I was lost the bears would eat me lol it was a joke 2 years I had a friendly bear he passed way on me yea my mom would want to to go to gramma house too No thanks did not want to be eaten by her lol
