How to Plot a Course With a Compass

A compass uses the earth's magnetic poles to indicate your direction of travel. This system of navigation has been reliably used for hundreds of years. If you are hiking, boating or driving in your car, a compass helps determine the direction to your destination. A compass has a magnetized pointer which aligns itself with the planet's natural magnetic field. This points the compass needle to magnetic north, which is slightly different than true north. By using a map and a compass, you can plot a course to get you to the destination.

Things You'll Need

  • Map
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the map and locate your current location and the desired destination.

    • 2

      Place the compass on the map so that its base-plate edge connects your current position to the destination. The base-plate edge is the long side of the rectangular base plate.

    • 3

      Turn the dial on the compass so that the its orienting lines run parallel with the map's north/south grid-lines.

    • 4

      Hold the compass flat in front of your body. Turn your body until the red end of the needle is directly over the "N" marking on the compass.

    • 5

      Look at the direction of travel arrow on the compass; it is pointing precisely to your target direction. The direction of travel arrow is the marking on the center of the rectangular base plate that doesn't move.

    • 6

      Sight a visual landmark like a large rock or unique tree and walk in that direction.