Navigation 101:  Plotting Your Course

1. Orient Yourself. Use your compass to align your map to reality. Turn the compass bezel to the local declination (the difference between true and magnetic north, listed on every topo map), line up the edge of the baseplate with the left or right margin of the map, and turn them together until the magnetic needle is inside the orienting arrow on your compass. Your map is now oriented to true north. 2. Take A Bearing. Keeping your map in place, align the compass baseplate with an imaginary (or pencil) line between where you are and where you want to go. Make sure the direction-of-travel arrow is pointed the right way (towards your destination), otherwise you will end up going in exactly the opposite direction. Turn the bezel of the compass until the magnetic needle is inside the orienting arrow on your compass or aligned with the latitude lines displayed on your topo map. The direction-of-travel arrow now indicates your bearing; make a mental note of the bearing in degrees showing at the top of your compass. 3. Follow It. It is recommended that you hold the compass at chest level and "imagine there's a laser coming out of the middle of your chest, through the direction-of-travel arrow, to some distant landmark that you can keep in sight." Walk to this object. When you get there, pick a new sight point and repeat the process until you reach your goal. Follow steps #2 and #3 ... and practice, practice, practice!

(courtesty of National Geographic Adventure Magazine)