Staying Found: The Complete Map & Compass Handbook [Paperback]

June Fleming (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1994

A guide to orienteering explains how to use topographical maps and a compass in order to follow a route when traveling in wilderness areas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 2nd edition (August 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089886397X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898863970
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,774,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and understand with one glaring flaw, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Staying Found: The Complete Map & Compass Handbook (Paperback)

I know why Fleming's readers stay found: after they set up their maps to take a bearing they are reluctant to move again.

Friends of mine use Fleming's method of laying their maps on the ground and orienting everything just so before they transfer bearings to the map. It's time-consuming and they often goof up because the darned map moves around. (Fleming suggests putting rocks on the map edges.) My objection is that there is a much quicker, easier and foolproof method and other map and compass books (and compass manufacturers' handbooks) that I've seen use it: Use a compass with settable declination and when you transfer your bearing to the map, align your compass's meridian lines with the map's grid lines. You don't need to orient your map; you could be standing on your head and it wouldn't matter. This method only takes a few seconds to accomplish (as long as you don't stand on your head). To be fair, Fleming includes this method in an appendix for people who can't find a flat place (and people who maybe don't have all day to take bearings).

Fleming's objection to the faster, easier method is that grid north is not the same as true north. In my area, there's about 1/2 degree difference so big woo. If it matters, draw lines of longitude on your map before you start.

I think Fleming is in love with her "main" method even though it's not very practical for the kinds of people she's addressing. Give it up, June, and you'll have a better book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pratical, easy to follow advice, February 15, 2000

By 

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This review is from: Staying Found: The Complete Map & Compass Handbook (Paperback)

Fleming's objective is to provide a way of using a map & compass that is easy to remember as well as being not intimidating, and she achieves these results remarkably well in her book Staying Found. I have been out in the woods backpacking off-trail and have been able to use these techniques successfully, not only "staying found" but also navigating to small hidden lakes. Carol in California is lucky - in MY area, the declination is currently 19 degrees. Considering this value drifts back & forth, and that being even one degree off when you're taking your compass bearing can get you seriously lost, I think I'll stick with June's method rather than draw lines on my map that change from year to year.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In response to others, September 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Staying Found: The Complete Map and Compass Handbook (Paperback)

I agree, the method of drawing lines on maps is egregiously flawed. For one, you must keep drawing lines on your map every year to change with declination. For every degree of error in calculating declination you can expext to miss your target by 1/60 of your distance travelled. Having said this, Fleming presents the material in an easy to understand format. She will help you to become a more confident backcountry traveller. Better to know what you are doing instead of drawing lines.