Hiking: Travel With a Map or GPS

by Greg Hansward
Whether or not a hiker uses a maps or GPS unit has nothing to do with skill level. Even experienced hikers use these navigational tools.

Actually, more experienced hikers than beginners tend to rely on maps or GPS units since beginners and amateur hikers tend to think they will not need it. Beginners often think that they do not need to learn how to use maps and stick by the reasoning that well-traveled trails cannot be that difficult to follow. To this, experienced hikers chuckle and sarcastically wish them luck!

Truth is that you can get lost, even with visible, well marked trails and this is not a laughing matter. It is possible for any hiker to inadvertently travel off a trail. You would be surprised how easy it can be to get turned around. Stepping a short distance off a trial into a thick forest has confused many hikers and soon they are lost.

Many maps will not actually help you find your way out of the forest, but you can usually find a trail that connects to your previous trail. If anything, it can help you return to starting point. A tourist uses a map to navigate through a new city, and similarly you can view hiking as "tourism through a new forest." It can save you a lot of headaches and even worse!

Here's how to get started:

Get a current map of the area you are planning to hike. Take some time to study it beforehand to get familiar with the symbols and general trail connections.

Becoming familiar with the symbols is important. Almost all will have a legend, but symbols in general tend to differ among publishers. You should also determine what the scale being used is. Look for 1 inch = 2 miles or something similar as it can vary. Keep in mind that it is not all about distance. One mile on a level terrain is not the same thing as three-quarter of a mile near sea level then to a 2,000 feet winding incline.

For the latter, look at altitude on a map which is usually indicated by a series of curved lines. The distance between the lines circling a hill or another natural feature indicates the altitude of that area. The closer the lines are the higher the altitude.

As far as longitude and latitude, longitude runs vertically north and south while latitude runs horizontally east and west (or right and left).

During the day, you can use natural features such as the sun which sets in the West and rises in the East. This means that early in the day if you find the sun you are usually facing east. Likewise, late in the day, you will be facing mostly west if you turn toward the sun. Of course there are variations due to coastlines and latitude, but this is a good approximate place to start.

Finally, be sure to bring a flashlight to read the map in the unfortunate event you are lost at night!

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