If you want to walk with a compass you need to know the magnetic direction you want to follow. You can either get it from someone or pick it up from a map following either of these methods :
You then need to show this direction on your compass by putting the correct entry in front of the mark. The following example is set for 242°.
For the next step you need to turn around so that magnetic north on your dial (the lines at the back of the dial) correspond to the pointer of the compass.
You can now aim as shown on the picture below :
Some advice to aim well.
- Keep the compass horizontal otherwise the pointer will get stuck in the dial and won’t show the north.
- Create an aiming window with your forefinger and your ring finger as shown on the picture.
- Make sure you keep the lines of the dial and the pointer in the same direction, tilt the compass a little to see at the same time the landmark and the position of the pointer.
- Do not take a moving object as a mark ( a cow, a tractor) At night do not use a light of unknown origin as a mark, if you aim at the lights of a car you might be surprised.
- The mark you aim at should be as far as possible to reduce your errors.
- In the woods or at night it is better to work in pairs : the first person goes ahead and is used as a moving mark. He follows the instructions of the aimer. At night a moving mark can show his position with a torch.
You still need to go to the chosen mark
In that case you should control your direction aiming at the spot you just left. If the direction is good and if the settings of the compass have not been changed the pointer should indicate south on the dial.
