Navigation Course
On-Trail Navigation
This course is focused on learning and practicing key skills useful to navigate safely and efficiently on trail in both urban/suburban and back country terrain.
Contacts
- Rolling Enrollment: Sat, Oct 14, 2023 - Tue, Dec 31, 2024
- Committee: Seattle Navigation Committee
- Members: $100.00 Guests: $125.00
- Availability: 26 (100 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
This hands-on course, tailored to on-trail hikers and walkers, provides focused instruction on key skills and tools, and hands-on practice on the trail.
Students will become confident:
- planning a route using GPS, paper maps and other information
- relating topographic maps to observed terrain and built features
- using essential tools--map, altimeter, compass, GPS and watch to follow a route
- maintaining situational awareness (especially point position) including how to act if off trail or lost
The course has three components:
- Students self-study short videos followed by a self-scoring Alchemer Quiz calling for close inspection of their Mount Si NRCA (2021) Green Trails topo map. They use GaiaGPS on a computer or laptop to plan a short route.
- A two-hour, in person workshop provides both map/compass work and practice with digital navigation in the smart phone GaiaGPS app.
- Field trip is a scenarios-based, half-day city streets route to Carkeek Park (Seattle) where they work in small groups to learn and practice skills.
Badges you will earn:
On-Trail Navigation Course
This course has no scheduled activities.
Baseplate compass with adjustable declination (see http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/compass-declination.html, http://www.thecompassstore.com/comwitaddec.html)
Green Trails Mt Si NCRA 206S No. 2065 (rev 2021) map
SmartPhone loaded with GaiaGPS app (for both workshop and field trip)
Laptop or tablet (for the homework and, possibly, workshop)
Day Pack with urban oriented 10 Essentials
Emergency whistle
| Name/Description |
|---|