Common navigation errors and how to avoid them part 2

by Nigel Williams

On every course beyond beginner level I ask participants if they have had the experience of climbing a hill and summiting in the mist and then becoming disorientated on the way down as they fail to pick up the footpath they ascended. From my straw poll of participants, it turns out this is a very common experience, and I have done it more than once, and take it from me, familiarity is no guarantee of finding the path either.

Going uphill into the mist the horizon narrows as the terrain drops away to the sides and the summit nears. Just keep climbing upwards in the mist and one is generally channeled to the summit cairn. Descending from a summit though is very different, the landscape expands wider offering increasingly fewer clues as to the direction of travel.

After a short summit stop the desire to get going and warm up leads people to head downwards with the expectation of finding the path without wanting to stop to get an accurate bearing for the descent route. It seems easy enough, just retrace one's steps to pick up the path. However, the tops of many hills are rocky with boulders spread for some distance from the summit so there may be no clear path to or from the summit for 50 meters or more and every direction from the summit in the mist looks remarkably similar.

It is well documented that humans, without visual reference points, i.e. in the mist with lots of similar boulders, will veer off course within about 8 seconds and in a flattish area will start walking in circles (see other blogs). So being a few meters off course very close to the summit will expand very rapidly into becoming completely in the wrong direction. The only thing that might feel right is descending but this alone is a false re-assurance. Hoping to hit the end of a small path that might be around 100+ meters away in the mist is a gamble.

When the path fails to appear it is usual to start trending left and right hoping to pick it up until suddenly coming out of the mist there is a view of a landscape below that doesn't make sense. You find yourself on the wrong side of the hill, however, it should be reasonably easy to relocate oneself in that situation.

If still in the mist when the error is realised, perhaps by taking a slope aspect, going back uphill to the summit and taking an accurate bearing for the way off is likely to be the most reliable solution. It probably depends on how far you have descended though.

To avoid this trap in the first place, get the descent bearing onto the compass and note the distance information from the map immediately on arrival at the top and before taking a break and having a bite to eat and drink. This allows for that rapid departure to get warm again which overrides spending time working out the navigation, anticipation or relocation.

The strategy from the summit is "aiming off" - set the compass bearing not to the path end but up to about 50 - 100m to one side of the path, (usually the uphill side of it) and pace out the distance for a few hundred meters, that should take you well off the boulders and running parallel with the path. Then turn 90 degrees using a bearing, towards where the path should be and walk until you cross it. The other solution of course can be using digital mapping and GPS and following the blue dot to the path.

There is another little trick that can help in this scenario and particularly if wayfinding cross country off a path even in fine weather. Take time to stop regularly and study the ground behind which you have just crossed, try to memorize specific landmarks that might be useful on the return journey later in the day. E.g. boulders, knolls, re-entrants, outcrops, alignment with woods or rivers in the distance etc. Getting all the group to participate in this as well can be very useful and builds in natural rest stops.

Photo and diagram Nigel Williams.

You may also be interested in ...

- If you are in need of a compass then we stock a great range of items and other useful navigation equipment, suitable for all levels of navigation.

- For the perfect lanyard to go with your compass, the HARVEY Map - Measure - Go! scale bar laces double up to make measuring distance easy! Available in two scales, 1:25,000 scale markings (red) and 1:40,000 scale markings (yellow).




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