On the civilian side for hunting, hiking, etc…I use Google Earth imagery with MGRS overlays (printed and waterproofed with acetate paper), as well as topographical maps. I keep a GPS handy just in case I run into problems, but generally I just use terrain association. A thorough “map recon” will allow you to identify terrain features along your route and orient yourself based off them. Water towers, power lines, prominent hills, waterways, roads, etc, are all very helpful. If you become familiar with your route on the map before actually setting off, you’ll find that you can leave the map and compass tucked away for most of the trip and actually, you know, enjoy what you’re doing.
Getting good at terrain association is much preferred to dead reckoning. IE…determining your pace count, shooting an azimuth, then walking it. It’s unnecessary most of the time, unless you’re in a barren environment like a wide open field or a desert. Anywhere else, you can generally just terrain associate with the help of a topo map when need be.
If you get really messed up, find some high ground and do what’s known as “resection.” Can be very useful in figuring out where the hell you are.
Of course it’s a good idea to “confirm what you think you know” along the way as far as where you actually are BEFORE you get lost, just in case you aren’t able to determine your location.
Sounds good. I am still looking around for something suitable. I am going to concentrate on maps of surrounding states and go from there. A road atlas is a good start, however the scale may be too much to show any decent amount of detail. Thanks for the replies.
For walking nav, the 1:25 000 (1cm=250m) scale maps are awesome. The 1:50 000 (1cm=500m) is good too.
Be aware that I live in a metric country, so I do not have the american scales from the top of my head (1:24 000 and 1:63,360, according to the USGS :dance3:).
More that that, you start to loose too much detail.