Lyle Brotherton, navigator extraordinaire and author of The Ultimate Navigation Manual demonstrates how to take a compass bearing from a landscape feature and demonstrates the brace position in the process.
Don't you need to take into account the magnetic declination of your location (and adjusting your compass accordingly) so that the bearing is accurate?
And then what? Exactly how do you use your compass to navigate toward the object you took the bearing on? What if the object itself disappears behind trees or other obstructions while navigating toward the object. How do you use your compass to maintain the proper direction of travel?
You don't need to see the feature if it disappears behind trees or other obstructions. Even if you walk into a valley. He left a lot out but he was just showing how to set up a bearing "Azimuth" by site. It looked like his bearing is 034 degrees. When he turned the bezel or Azimuth ring to line up the LARGE RED ARROW beneath the Magnetic North Arrow that set your compass bearing in line with your feature giving you your 034 degree bearing which is a lined with the triangle. So, as you continue to walk toward your feature "Destination" you would regularly check your compass to maintain your bearing. Now to check your compass bearing stop take out your compass, holding it in front of you about chest level and facing the compass the same way he did, turn your body until the LARGE RED ARROW is again lines up with the Magnetic North Arrow so that the 034 degrees is a lined with your little triangle. You will then be a lined correctly with your first Azimuth. The main reference with this way of navigation is that the LARGE RED ARROW is a lined with the Magnetic North Arrow so that your bearing will always be true to your first Azimuth. I hoped this helped.
@@desertmaverick7567 Thanks for the explanation. What I was getting at was exactly how to navigate around an object like a large hill or mountain and end up at least approximately on the same line of approach where you encountered the mountain on the other side. Something like taking a 90 turn to the right until you can walk around the obstacle (counting paces of course), then returning to the original course until you're past the obstruction, then making another 90 degree turn and walking back the same number of paces to approximately your original course and then continuing on your way on that course. Many thanks.
Thanks, well explained. I can see a trig point from my loft window I have taken a bearing. What I want to know is, when I'm at the trig point what is the bearing back to my house (it will help me when looking through binoculars to find my house) Is it just the opposite bearing on the compass?
Yes it is. You can add 180 if it’s less than 180 or add 180 if it’s greater to get the back bearing. Some compasses have an index mark on the opposite side to give you that back bearing. You can also turn the compass so that the opposite end of the magnetic needle lines up within the orienting arrow.
Look up back bearing or reciprocal bearing. Depending on the bearing( of your trig point) you add or subtract 180 degrees OR with your compass have the original bearing on the the index line, rotate the compass so that the black/white end of the magnetic needle ends up in the orienting arrow. Your direction of travel arrow will have you back to your house.
