How to Use a Compass

There are a few features on your compass that you should become familiar:

• Orienting arrow
• Compass Housing with Degree Dial
• The red magnetic needle
• The base plate edge
• Orienting Lines
• Direction of Travel Arrow
• Index Line

If you measure the exact direction to a distant landmark, that specific direction will keep you traveling toward the landmark even when you can't see it.

Don't confuse the north end of the compass needle with the south end.

Read more: How to Use a Compass | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2523_compass.html#ixzz0tUSy3Vgq

Does your life lack direction?







Things You Will Need:

• Map
• Base Plate Compass
  

Step One: Open map and find your current position, and desired destination.

Step Two: Place your compass base plate edge on the map so it connects the distance between your Position Landmark and Destination Landmark.

Step Three: Turn the dial so that the orienting lines on the transparent bottom are parallel with the North - South grid lines on the map.

Step Four: Turn your compass together with the map until the red needle points to 'N' (North).

Step Five: Hike to your destination - it is located in the direction that the compass arrow is pointing.

If you measure the exact direction to a distant landmark, that specific direction will keep you traveling toward the landmark even when you can't see it.

Don't confuse the north end of the compass needle with the south end.

Read more: How to Use a Compass | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2523_compass.html#ixzz0tUSy3Vgq

Step 2

Rotate the entire compass housing until the needle sits within the orienting arrow stenciled onto the base of the compass housing. (Usually the orienting arrow is red.) The zero degree mark on the compass housing and the north end of the needle should be aligned - they now point to magnetic north.

Step 3

Keep the orienting arrow and the compass needle pointing north. Twist the base plate until the direction-of-travel line points exactly at the distant landmark you wish to move toward. Double-check to make sure everything is still properly aligned.

Step 4

Note the exact number of degrees marked on the compass dial where the direction-of-travel line intersects the compass dial. That number of degrees is the direction to the distant landmark.

Read more: How to Use a Compass | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2523_compass.html#ixzz0tURkYcoP