NAVIGATION SKILLS – LAKE DISTRICT WEEKEND COURSE
THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE ACCURATELY IS A REALLY IMPORTANT SKILL FOR ALL HILL WALKERS. IN BRITISH MOUNTAINS IN PARTICULAR THE WEATHER AND VISIBILITY CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY, MAKING IT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR MOUNTAIN USERS TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE EFFECTIVELY EVEN IN LIMITED VISIBILITY. THIS LAKE DISTRICT NAVIGATION SKILLS COURSE AIMS TO GIVE YOU THE MAP AND COMPASS SKILLS TO ENABLE YOU TO NAVIGATE IN ALL WEATHERS AND IS SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS UPWARDS, ALSO A GREAT COURSE FOR FAMILY GROUPS.
THE COURSE IS BASED IN THE LANGDALE AND/OR ULLSWATER AREAS – AND KICKS OFF WITH A SHORT INTRODUCTION INDOORS, FOLLOWED BY A DAY OUT ON THE FELLS LEARNING ABOUT CONTOURS, LEARNING TO PACE AND TIME DISTANCES, AND GETTING TO GRIPS WITH REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE MAP IS SHOWING US AND HOW LANDSCAPE FEATURES ARE REPRESENTED. MANY NAVIGATION SKILLS COURSE PARTICIPANTS LIKEN THIS DAY TO LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE, AND ARE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT HOW FAST THEY CAN LEARN IT! ON DAY 2, WE CONSOLIDATE ON THE SKILLS LEARNT ON DAY 1, AND ALSO GET TO GRIPS WITH TAKING AND FOLLOWING COMPASS BEARINGS, AND UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHT SITUATIONS TO USE A RANGE OF NEW TECHNIQUES SUCH AS FOLLOWING ‘HANDRAILS, ‘AIMING OFF’ AND USING ‘ATTACK POINTS’.
MAIN TOPICS COVERED
- Maps, scales, grid system, grid references
- Concept of the three D’s – Direction, Distance and Detail
- The Compass, different types, advantages and disadvantages, measuring and taking bearings, allowing for magnetic variation
- Techniques for following bearings in bad visibility, back bearings
- Pacing distances and timing distances, all measuring and calculations,
- Understanding Contours – the shape of the land – and interpreting map features
- Navigation in very poor visibility
- Navigating around obstacles
- Routefinding skills – using the natural land ‘flow’ – hazard awareness- Equipment review- GPS and Memory Map
The maximum ratio at any one time will be 1:6, and it will often be lower than this, enabling us to give high levels of personal instruction.
COURSE PROGRAMME, DATES AND DETAILS:
Our weekend Navigation Skills courses are based in the Langdale and Ullswater areas. There is some excellent accommodation available locally including the Mardale Inn at Bampton and the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and Britannia Inn in Langdale. Some superb walking areas, ideal for learning about navigation lie close by. The course programme is flexible, to take into account the weather and the group, but broadly follows the following outline:
FRIDAY: Arrive
SATURDAY: Navigation Skills Course meets at 9.15am. Main topics covered. Introduction – scales, which map to use, the grid system and grid references; Detail – one of the crucial elements of the first day – learning to interpret not just the symbols, but the contours to show us the land shape and form. Most participants are really surprised at how much detail there is on a map. Distances – how to measure them from the map, and how to estimate them in terms of pacing and timing. By the end of the day you should be able to interpret the landscape effectively using the symbols and contours on the map, and be able to measure distances, and time or pace them. This forms the first two elements of the ’3 D’s’. In the introduction we may use Memory Map software to help illustrate key points relating to this day.
SUNDAY: Course meets 9.15am. Main topics covered: Refresher on yesterday; The Compass – taking bearings and following them in different levels of visibility. The 3 D’s – dividing your journey into legs and for each leg being able to follow a direction, for a set distance, whilst identifying a range of features suitable for confirming position; Attack points; Aiming off; Handrails; The course ends with group members trying to use all the techniques learned over the weekend to locate a single stone in the middle of a desolate moorland – and most do!. The course emphasis will be on allowing you to do as much practical navigation work as possible, building up your skills as the weekend progresses at your own pace and level.
DATES:
Feb- 4-5….18-19
March- 10-11….24-25………….
April- 7-8…….21-22
May- 12-13…….26-27
June- 9-10……..23-24
July- 7-8………21-22
Other dates can be arranged for groups over 3 people, Please ask
PRICES:
£160. Includes use of map or compass if required, , instruction with a normal maximum ratio of 1:4, and course notes. Discounts for groups and family groups.
EQUIPMENT:
You will need standard walking gear – warm and waterproof clothing – plus rucsac and any spare gear you would normally bring. Though we try and arrange beautiful weather, it does not always work, so be prepared for poor weather – even in the summer. Please bring a compass and a 1:25,000 map of the NE/SW Lakes, We have spare maps and compasses if you would prefer to loan them. A map case is very useful – especially if you have a paper map – the best ones are by Ortleib.
TUITION:
Instructors on this course are MLTB qualified and suitably experienced, with expert local knowledge.
HiGHPOiNT have been operating since 1988 and are fully insured, hold an
AALA license and are members of the Institute of Outdoor Learning & British Mountaineering Council.
If you have any questions about the course you can get in touch by email at info@mountainguides.co.uk or by telephoning 01539 437691
