Topographic map reading

[Quinton]

Hi
Does anyone know of any navigation (map reading) courses local to the Central Coast? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Quinton

[Zone-5]

Nope, but this will help...

http://www.marinerescuensw.com.au/boati ... on-courses
http://www.aussiesurvivalinstructors.co ... content/GY
http://www.glenworth.com.au/Survival-Course-Bear-Grylls

[icefest]

Hey,

From a previous thread:

Map reading guide: https://www.ga.gov.au/image_cache/GA7194.pdf

In my personal opinion, this book is the bomb: http://nswrogaining.org/AboutRogaining/Books/Books.htm
It'll talk about map reading but also a lot of navigational tricks and skills to make you better.

[Kainas]

Could I also suggest http://www.newcastleorienteering.asn.au/

Orienteering using much more detailed maps, but I have found over time my ability to 'read' a map and follow a course on a map, and make decisions about how to get from A to B has improved considerably from my Sunday morning jaunts.

[Quinton]

Thanks, I will look into all suggestions.

[Zone-5]

Books:

Kals, W.S., Land Navigation Handbook. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 2005. This well written book covers all aspects of maps and compasses. It gets my top rating as the best overall text for map and compass at the college level.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157805 ... 1578051223

Kjellstom, Bjorn. Be Expert with Map and Compass (rev. ed.). New York: Macmillan, 2009. Still in print, this is the standard map and compass text. It is particularly useful for school aged children and includes a number of games and exercises.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WQ ... B002WQLNC4

Singleton, Robert. You'll Never Get Lost Again. New York: Winchester Press, 1979. Includes basic map information, but also takes a different approach, concentrating on finding oneself if lost.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087691 ... 0876912951

Barden, Cindy. Mighty Maps! Facts, Fun and Trivia to Develop Map Skills. New York: Lrnz Crprtn, 1997. This is children's learning book of maps.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157310 ... 1573100374



Videos and Materials Available on the INTERNET:

"Finding Your Way in the Wild." Richard Diercks Company, 1990. While this 35 minute video will not win any artistic awards, it does cover the basics well and is a good supplement to classroom work.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/630192 ... 6301922115

"Finding Your Way with Map and Compass." This brief introduction to using maps and compasses is an on-line version of a booklet that the U.S. Geological Survey publishes. Includes text and graphics. Address: http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs03501.html

"Beginning Guide to Orienteering." A very brief description of the sport of orienteering from the Orienteering USA Site: http://www.us.orienteering.org/new-o/beginners-guide

"The Sport of Rogaining." What is rogaining? It's orienteering on steroids. It's a long, 24 hour- orienteering races done in teams. Here is more information from the International Rogaining Federation: http://www.rogaining.com/articles.html

[Quinton]

Cheers Zone5. Appreciate your time.

[icefest]

Cheers Zone5. Appreciate your time.

If you want more information, this is where the book list was copied from: http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/mapshort.htm

The original journal article is probably more useful as it describes how to learn navigation and map reading.
You can find it here: http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/maplong.htm