Article Highlights:

  • Step-by-step advice on how to use a compass and orient your map with terrain.
  • Clarifies the difference between the sport of orienteering and real-world backcountry navigation.
  • Explains how to use phase lines and terrain features to stay on track.
  • Evaluates GPS benefits and limitations when navigating off the grid.
  • Includes real Global Rescue member stories that show how fast help can arrive when plans go off course.

 

 

Whether you’re hiking, hunting, camping or birding, your goal isn’t orienteering, but you need navigation skills to avoid getting lost in the woods. The ability to travel off the grid safely depends on preparation, awareness and knowing how to use a compass and map in combination with modern tools.

According to Harding Bush, former Navy SEAL and associate director of security operations at Global Rescue, navigation “isn’t the reason you head into the backcountry, but it’s what keeps your adventure on track and prevents it from becoming a rescue mission.”

 

How To Use a Compass, the Right Way

Every backcountry trip should begin with planning. Study maps, know the terrain and prepare both primary and alternate routes. “A great navigator always knows where they are, where they’re headed and how far they’ve come,” Bush says. “That awareness is the cornerstone of wilderness safety.”

Using a compass starts with identifying where north is and orienting your map accordingly. Align the top of your map with magnetic north using the compass needle, then match the visible terrain features on the map with those in the real world.

A compass and map together allow you to navigate by prominent features such as ridges, streams, valleys, and intersections, rather than pinpoint markers.

“Technology helps, but terrain association is what keeps you from getting lost,” Bush explains. “GPS won’t tell you that a slope is too steep or a creek is impassable.”

 

Orienteering vs. Navigation

While orienteering is a competitive sport that focuses on finding hidden markers using maps and compasses, backcountry navigation is a more practical approach. It’s about using prominent natural and artificial features to stay on track, without relying on a signal, a guide or guesswork.

Break your route into manageable segments or phase lines. These checkpoints, such as trail intersections or stream crossings, serve as reset points for confirming your position.

“Don’t go too far without verifying your location,” Bush advises. “The farther you travel off-course, the harder it is to recover.”

GPS is a powerful navigation aid, but it won’t make decisions for you. Use it to mark waypoints and track movement, but still rely on your map and compass to pick the best route. “GPS won’t choose the best route; you will. It just tells you where you are and how far you have to go,” says Bush.

GPS signals can drop in dense woods or deep canyons. Carry spare batteries, and if using a smartphone, bring a power bank and waterproof case.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Before you head out, let someone know your plan: where you’re going, who you’re with, when you’ll return and what to do if they don’t hear from you. “The best navigators have backup plans. Leave a trace with someone who can act if you don’t check in,” Bush says.

Even the most prepared outdoor enthusiasts can face disorientation, unexpected detours or momentary lapses in situational awareness. Global Rescue members have access to rapid, real-time support when things don’t go as planned.

For example, an Australian member got lost hiking the Great North Walk near The Basin Campground in Olney State Forest, New South Wales. He activated an SOS satellite alert through his communication device and confirmed he was alone and off course. Global Rescue coordinated with local first responders, who located him and ensured his safe return.

In another instance, a member reported his friend missing after they separated near mile marker 23.1 while hiking the Gila River Alternate on a trail in New Mexico. Global Rescue advised the caller to stop movement and wait there, while alerting regional emergency services. The next afternoon, both hikers were found safe. Each had mistakenly believed the other was lost and had been searching in opposite directions.

These real-world rescues highlight a critical truth: knowing how to use a compass and prepare properly is essential, but having access to expert support when you go off the grid can be life saving.