Trust your compass, NFRC Navigation Training Day

Trust your compass, 6th April 2023.

Northern Fells Running Club hold a navigation day every 2-3 years. It is a great chance for club members to come together and improve their navigation skills. 

This year there were seven participants, hosted by Jenny and Steve at their home in Skelton, the first nav skills of the day finding it!! 

Coffee and biscuits on arrival we got a start on our day. 

Pic 1

1. We covered the different maps available ( 1:50 000, 1:40 000, 1:25 000, BMC/Harvey and race maps)

2. Map symbols

3. Grid references

4. Reading contours – telling up from down, how steep is the slope. Direction or aspect of slope.

5. Using a compass.

a. Parts of a compass

b. How to take a bearing 

Pic2

6. Measuring distance,

a. timing

b. pacing  (Jenny had marked out a 50m practice area)

7. Using timing - ( for a guide 4KPH for Walking 8KPH running plus 1minute per contour going uphill only.

8. Orientating the map and setting the map with a compass.

9. What to do if you get lost

a. Look at the ground around you

b. Think about where you have come from

c. Set the map

d. Try and locate yourself on the map

e. back bearing from an identifiable feature (s)

f. Go back to your last known point

10. Thumbing the map.

11. Navigation techniques

a. Using handrails 

b. Catching features 

c. Attack points

d. Aiming off 

There were planned exercises for us to complete, and outdoor props set up!

Pic 3 

After lunch we headed off to Askham Fell to put what we had learned into practice. Staying in our groups, we were given a choice of staying low level and an easier route or going higher up and a bit more challenging. Jenny decided for us and we headed off to be challenged!! Cairn to cairn, direct routes through the wettest of terrain (returning to the path and then continuing on the compass bearing forgotten!!), finding non-existent reservoirs, tips to get the safest and quickest route off the hill, stream junctions. I think we covered it all and more. 

I think everyone was pleased to meet back at the cars, we covered 5 miles in 2.5 hours, in not the best of conditions, but good for learning and being tested on the hill. 

Pic 4 

I would definetly recommend anyone wanting to improve their navigation skills to attend. Huge thanks to Jenny and James again, firstly for their time and then their patience in sharing what they know.  

Comment from Jenny Russell: We come together to learn and improve navigation skills. We had a good day with everyone bringing loads of enthusiasm.  I had lots of offers from club members to help out (more people offered than asked to participate!) and would like to thank those who offered to give up their time. 

Comment from Nicola Carruthers: I would like to thank Jenny and  James for sharing their brilliant navigational knowledge and skills with the group. I felt we all took so much away from the day and has given me the confidence to get out and about and discover new running routes.  Thanks both. 

Comment from Angela Wilson: Many thanks to Jenny and James for giving up their time (& home in Jenny's case) to share their navigational knowledge and skills with us. This was my second time attending the course and I was determined to leave with knowledge and ability to use a map and compass. I was in Jenny's group and know I achieved my goal.  Here's to discovering new running routes and safely getting myself out of the cloud if necessary!!  Thanks both.

Pic5

I put my newly gained skills to the test yesterday with a very patient friend! I guided us around the Whinlatter Fells, Synge bagging. I did need help, (in looking at the finer details between map and land), but my compass skills are definitely coming along! There are no photos from the day as my phone was confiscated to ensure all my attention was on navigating! 

I will continue to practice and one day will hopefully be confident enough to navigate my way round the fells in cloud or a route somewhere other than the lakes! 

Pic 6&7