Trail Tip: Navigating by Elevation

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

In our latest tip we look at navigating by way of elevation, take a look at the links below:

Navigation by Elevation in Issue 42

Backpacking & Hiking Trail Tip: Navigation by Elevation - Republished on the TrailGroove Blog

Issue 42 Page 1

[DustOff]

Elevation is a great addition to helping stay found / located.  Being a little old school, I tend to rely on magnetic bearing, elevation, terrain features, triangulation and the forgotten Ranger Beads to know how far I've gone.  The Ranger Beads used when "Dead Reckoning" will get you extremely close to your destination w/o the GPS. 

Example:

1. Know your current location (Or find it)
2. GPS Batteries are dead
3. It's getting dark.
4. You know your bearing and distance to your destination - camping spot / meetup place / trailhead 
5.  The Ranger Beads have 9 beads on the lower portion with each representing 100 meters and four on the top portion, which equal 4 km + 5 km when they are all pushed back up and you start over
6. Need to know your pace for 100 meters
7. Every 100 meters you pull down one bead on the lower portion until you pull down the 9th
8. Next Pull Down One bead on the top = 1 km
9. Pull the lower beads up and start over.

Recently I tested the distance using the Ranger Beads against the GPS and was within 10 meters with the Beads.  62 paces  - For me and is counted only on the left foot.  Pace off 100 meters only counting either your left or right step/foot to determine the correct number of paces for you.  Then every 100 meters pull one bead down on the lower until you reach the nine beads and the next 100 meters you pull one bead down from the top and push the lower beads backup and start over.  (Hope this makes sense.)

Below is:  2.5 km

If you truly get lost stay close to the trail and hug a tree - stay in one place.  It will be much easier to find you.  Take it from a former Mountain Rescue Helicopter Pilot. 

Take the time to read "Trail Tip: Navigation by Elevation" by Aaron Zagrodnick in Trail Groove #42.  Great information.

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

Glad you found some good info in the article and thanks for the information / insight on the ranger beads. Normally I use time and average pace as a close enough indicator combined with the map and landmarks, but tracking paces compared to estimating pace is an interesting - and from your GPS test results — accurate technique!