Backup Compasses,

it is a 6/54...now called a Expedition 54 i think

Thanks MN1

Geoff

watch?...digital or anologue

Thanks Cuffs,

Heaps of votes for the Silva,

Geoff

I am the same as Stephen, I still carry a compass around my neck, paper maps, a douglas protractor and a good reliable watch. There are enough landmarks around in most area's to work out your speed

In my younger days I flew in the remote area's and that is all we had to go on and it worked ok. My first trip across the Simpson Desert in a Land Rover that is all I had. There it is relatively easy if you keep track of the number of dunes you have crossed.

Even today, I am always aware of where I am on the paper map and even without the GPS would not have any problems continuing. GPS's should be an aid to navigation only, not the sole basis of your navigation.

Thanks Gents,

You've pretty much covered my plans anyway. Those items are continually in use but also a backup for the GPS and movong maps.

Geoff

Geoff,
Why not try the Scout Shop


Kotara Westfield - Shop 2075, Cnr Northcott Drive & Park Ave, Kotara (02 4950 9340)

They usually have all this basic gear.

Cheers

Thanks Bushtrek,

I wonder how long the Scout Shop has been at Westfield!! I know it disappeared years ago from Hunter St!

I've never seen it in the shopping centre! I know, I'll ask one of my teenage daughters. They practically live at Westfield!

Geoff

Glad you got that info, Geoff, I've been wondering where to get a decent compass to replace my el cheapo eBay one. Better than nothing, but want a quality one. Catch ya sometime, Dave

Funny how your brain can unconsciously work out north from the time of day (or the rumbling of your belly) and the position of the sun and keep a rough and ready compass going

Great if you’re below the tropic of Capricorn

Really stuffs you up in the Northern hemisphere though; 40 km the wrong way down an autobahn because I wanted to turn east and turned right from the sun’s direction

What happens at night?

"What happens at night?"

Turn the backlight on in your digital watch!

About as useful as summertime in the Top End.

Geoff

John,
I'm doing the preliminary planning for a trip to here: Geosurvey Hill

If the GPS navigation goes down it could get seriously ugly in that part of Australia! At the moment there are at best 1 group per year travelling through this area.

If the following winter is very wet we could be sitting out there 2 years waiting for rescue or revert to the old standby paper map and compass.

There's a tutorial here on using a compass: Compass Tutorial

Geoff

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the information, how could I forget Suunto?

I guess I worded the question a little poorly, my use is exactly the same as yours.

The backup part is probably a furphy as the GPS is really a luxury and the compass is the primary means of navigation.

Thanks again,

Geoff

East end of Hunter Street, why?

Congratulations to you and Keryl mate.

Geoff

Didn't Les Hiddins always maintain the most dangerous thing in the Australian Army was an officer with a map and a compass?

Seriously Dug, I can do the same as well but if it's really, really important then some backup is always good.

My ex-wife was seriously useless with a map. Spin her around once and she was buggered. I couldn't even conceive what she'd do with the help of a compass!

Geoff

The iPhone struggles as a phone!

Sheesh, I can't imagine what it'd be like as a navigaional aid or should that be navigational impediment!

Geoff

Margo was one of the few army officers I have ever met who can accurately navigate across unknown terrain using just a map and compass.

I have seen her get lost in a shopping center car park, I have seen her lose her way in a one way street, I am constantly and totally appalled by her complete lack of any sense of direction, but give her a map and compass and she has no problems.

I, on the other hand can find my way quite easily by using my sense of direction, but I am hopeless with map and compass navigation !

Complimentary defects !!!!