Help with navigation
Original post
Hi. My name is Mat, 34yo from NZ. I am walking the Te Araroa trail later this year and I need to learn some navigation skills. I have been having trouble finding any courses I can do and I was wondering if there is anyone on this website who would be willing to take me out for a day or two and show me some on/off track navigation skills, map reading and compass skills. I would be happy to pay a reasonable price. I live in Auckland but I could travel to most places as far south as Taupo if there was somebody willing to teach me. Or if anyone knows of any courses available or has any information on this, anything would be appreciated. Thanks
22 comments
First up Mat good on you for recognising the need to up skill.
You are right too to actually seek some personal instruction/hill time to learn navigation rather than just try to absorb it by reading.
I've posted a link to a guide I've written about the techniques I use. Be aware there are different approaches to navigation that will get you to the same answers [especially around whether you use grid or magnetic bearings].
Best then, if you do get some 1 to 1 instruction stick to their techniques so as not to confuse yourself.
http://www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1439151176
All the best for your tramps.
The Auckland Orienteering Club is very active and offers instruction for beginners.
http://www.orienteeringauckland.org.nz/
The North West Orienteering club runs a series of rogaines at Woodhill over winter and it looks like they have a training day coming up as well.
http://www.nworienteering.org.nz/
Thanks footsore. Very helpful information there. I will try putting that into practice next time I go out for a walk. Cheers
@Honora : "in NZ they run in alignment with grid north (which is almost magnetic north)."
Almost True North?
Has anybody used these guys?
http://www.sossurvivaltraining.com/#!adult-survival/csog
The 3 Day Survival one looks particularly cool.
wilderness mag did a report on them a while back, they had a reporter do one of the courses. the article was reasonably positive.
thing is though the parts to do with catching and preparing game are largely superfluous in NZ, starvation is seldom a factor if you get lost, if you're mobile, you should keep moving and find your way out if you have the skills to work out where to go and you'll find your way out before starvation becomes a problem
Great writeup @footsore, thanks for sharing it.
No worries nzbassa glad it was of interest.
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| Forum | Tramping partners |
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| Started by | Matramper |
| On | 27 May 2016 |
| Replies | 21 |
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