Patrol Map

[WileECoyote]

Saw this on "Survivor Man" with Les Stroud in Africa. It's a technique he said comes from the military.

You find yourself in an area and without a map. As you walk around, you draw a map showing all the major landmarks. But, instead of trying to figure out distance, you write down how long it takes you to walk from one landmark to the next.

Anyone used this, been trained in it, etc.? How useful did you find it?

[secretbard]

I used this method in conjunction to my compass when hiking and hunting. It worked pretty well considering I am not as spatially gifted for distance any other way.

[Richardhead]

Everyone should know their "pace count", and use this to mark distances between land marks.
It's a simple method of counting every other step, problem is that in order to figure out your pace count you need to have a measured distance to initially determine said count.

Once you get it determined, your pretty much set. I think it would be easier to keep track using pace count, than say marking the time it takes you to move from point to point, what would you do if your watch broke? Then your screwed.

[czechnology]

I've never served in a military, but the Marines and Army guys I've worked with in reenacting taught me essentially what Richard just talked about when doing land navigation training.

Here is a detailed description of how to use pace count from armystudyguide.com

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/a ... -to-.shtml

[sandbagger]

If you have access to a high school or college track, just find the marked out area for the 50 yard dash. Walk normally, don't try to stretch your stride, count how many times your right foot hits the ground, and thats your pace count. Repeat the process a couple more times to average it out. Also try to walk the same distance with your pack and possibly weapon( if the law allows) the added weight will shorten your stride, but will be more accurate for tactical situations.

[OrionAK]

Military? Sounds like common sense to me. We've been gauging distances without maps using time for a long time.