COURSE DESCRIPTION

“Maps encourage boldness. They’re like cryptic love letters. They make anything seem possible” – Mark Jenkins, “To Timbuktu”

Afraid of getting lost in the woods? Does the thought of using a map and compass stress you out? Let us help you banish that fear and uncertainty! Our Land Navigation 101 course will teach you how to use these basic tools to plot courses into the backcountry, and how to plot courses back out again.

This 30 hour class focuses on understanding the topographical map, orienteering and lensatic compasses, and using them together to navigate cross country. We will discuss the topographical map in detail including the legend or key, terrain features, contour lines and relief shading, grid lines, UTM coordinates, protractors, along with the function and use of orienteering and lensatic compasses. Once we understand the tools of the trade we will discuss how to plan routes, using terrain for navigation, safety bearings and using the compass to shoot azimuths and bearings. This class focuses on the understanding of terrain and terrain association to navigate. Our 1100 acres of land offers a wide variety of terrain and every topographical feature! We are very hands-on in this class and will be frequently doing short hikes around the property to understand the association with contour lines and topography as well as hands on training with the map and compass. You will plot predesignated points on the map and then use the tools to go out and find those points. Also covered is measuring distance on a map, taking your natural pace and risk management/mitigation.

The ability to go off-trail with confidence opens up a whole new world of areas to explore. Hunters know that often the best game hides deep in the woods where the trails don’t go, and the fishing is always better at remote lakes and streams. Many of the best vistas are known only to locals and those with the skill and spirit to find them.

Course Objectives

• Be able to understand the 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
• Night navigation
• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to navigate confidently through the wilderness with map, compass, and protractor. This is an excellent course for hunters, hikers, military and search and rescue.

LENGTH

3 days/2 night

RECOMMENDED READING

Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS (Mountaineers Outdoor Basics) BY Bob Burns

ACCOMMODATIONS

If students do not wish to camp with us, the town of Cripple Creek is a short 15 minute drive from our location and Woodland Park is 30 minutes away. Students will be responsible for making their own reservations with nearby hotels. We do have a central community campfire location with a few designated campsites but mostly offer dispersed camping. Students will be able to drive their car within 100 feet of the main camp and will not have to hike gear in for long distances.

• Shelter Lodging: Students can stay in one of our 20 person GP Medium tents when not running field exercises or may stay in their own tents, campers, vehicles or a primitive shelter. Our tents are equipped with wood burning stoves for cold weather conditions. Please note this is a shared tent for all students that wish to use it.
• Sanitation/Hygiene: A portable restroom and potable water will be provided at main camp.

FOOD AND WATER REQUIRED

Water will be provided but students will need to bring their own food. We recommend quick field expedient meals such as freeze dried hiking meals or MRE’s. They can quickly be made at our primitive camps and won’t slow down the learning process. However, students may bring any food that they wish to cook over the campfire or on their own personal camp stove.

Food can be purchased locally at nearby facilities. Walmart and several local eateries are within a reasonable driving distance.

SUGGESTED GEAR LIST

We do not provide students with gear unless they have purchased it from us ahead of time. Not much gear is needed for our courses, though good equipment does speed the learning process up greatly! Gear does not have to be purchased from our store to attend the course, but we recommend survival gear of equivalent quality.

• Orienteering Compass or Military Style lensatic Compass (we recommend a SUUNTO MC-2DLIN Navigator [orienteering], Cammenga Tritium H3 [lensatic] or equivalent compass of your choice)
• Ultra Fine Point Map Markers – (Staedtler Permanent Markers)
• Fixed blade knife (Preferably a full tang bushcraft style knife WITHOUT a serrated edge)
• Poncho or Rain Gear
• Outdoor Clothing and appropriate footwear
• Overnight Camping Gear: Tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, etc
• Headlamp
• Cooking pot and eating utensils
• Single walled metal canteen
• Notepad and pencil
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Small Backpack

CLOTHING REQUIRED

Warm outdoor clothing, warm gloves and hat, outdoor boots and wool socks. Cotton clothing is highly discouraged in the mountains! Wool will keep you warm even when wet and synthetics will dry faster. Layers are important in Colorado. You will want a water wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer, and a waterproof breathable outer shell. Check out our Clothes Layering Basics if you are unsure of what to wear.

Check Recommended Items List for more details!

If it is still not clear what gear is needed for our survival courses, then we have assembled a complete kit that is still high quality but for a budget friendly price. All the items in this kit were hand selected by our instructors to be the best bushcraft tools on a budget. This survival kit is a useful starter kit that can be used in all of our courses. These are all must have tools at a good price. It’s a great survival kit, bug out kit, go bag, or use it as a solid foundation to build a kit that perfectly fits your needs. With this kit and our training anybody can survive like a king in almost any environment!

NOTE

Due to the different levels of prior experience and knowledge among students in each class, individual outcomes may vary. Weather conditions can also be a factor in changing class content slightly. Nonetheless, our instructors will always endeavor to be as accommodating and consistent as circumstances will allow to ensure students get the best training experience and value for money.