Description

Advanced Land Navigation Course: Rugged Backcountry Map & Compass Skills

Take Your Navigation Skills Off-Trail, Off-Grid, and to the Next Level

If you’ve already learned the basics of map and compass navigation, this is the course that pushes your skills into real-world, rugged terrain. Our Advanced Land Navigation Course is designed for students who want to move beyond trails, develop elite-level terrain association, and travel confidently across challenging landscapes using traditional tools and advanced route planning techniques.

This course builds directly on the foundation taught in our Land Navigation: Map & Compass Skills for the Backcountry course. While not required, we strongly recommend completing it before enrolling in this advanced session.

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What to Expect in the Advanced Navigation Course

Over three days, students will train in remote and physically demanding terrain, navigating longer distances while overcoming natural obstacles like elevation changes, water features, and thick vegetation. You’ll use detailed topographic maps, an orienteering compass, and terrain association to travel across wilderness landscapes—without trails, GPS, or modern crutches.

• Day One: Introduction at basecamp with refresher skills, basic wilderness survival training, and emergency signaling techniques. Then we relocate to a remote training area.

• Days Two & Three: Students will practice advanced map and compass navigation, learning to move across rough backcountry, sleep in primitive field conditions, and apply route planning and real-time decision making in the wild.

You’ll spend the night away from main camp, fully immersed in your environment. Proper overnight gear, durable footwear, and foul weather clothing are required.

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Advanced Navigation Skills You’ll Learn

• Topographic map interpretation and detailed terrain analysis

• Use of orienteering and military-style compasses in real-world settings

• Triangulation and back azimuth techniques for pinpoint location awareness

• Planning and executing backcountry routes with dead reckoning and terrain association

• Navigation over elevation, through brush, and across water

• Night navigation and emergency reorientation strategies

• Establishing safety bearings, backstops, handrails, and checkpoints

• Field signaling techniques for wilderness emergencies

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Why Take This Course?

The ability to navigate off-trail with confidence is one of the most empowering skills in the outdoors. Whether you’re a hunter heading deep into public land, a SAR team member working in unfamiliar zones, or a backpacker chasing remote peaks, advanced navigation training gives you the tools to go farther and return safely.

This isn’t just another orienteering challenge—it’s the real-world application of wilderness travel. You’ll leave this course with the skills, mindset, and confidence to move through the backcountry like a local, even when the trail disappears.

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Who This Course is For

• Hikers and backpackers ready to go off-grid

• Hunters and anglers pursuing remote locations

• Military and tactical professionals

• Search and Rescue members

• Orienteering competitors seeking real-world terrain challenge

• Anyone serious about mastering map and compass navigation

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Course Outcome

After completing this advanced navigation course, you will be able to confidently plan and navigate cross-country routes through rugged terrain using only a map, compass, and your own terrain awareness. You’ll understand how to move, adapt, and reorient in the field—day or night.

• Interpretation and use of topographical maps
• Use and selection of compasses
• Terrain identification and navigation
• Using back azimuths and triangulation to determine your location
• Route planning
• Navigation using dead reckoning, terrain association
• Safety bearings, backstops and guide rails
• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to navigate confidently through the wilderness over rugged terrain. This is an excellent course for hunters, hikers, military and search and rescue.