>>1204218>I was never in any boy/eagle scout programThat doesn't mean you can't buy the book and learn. It's a great /out/ resource.
CalTopo.com is a great site for topo maps. Has a lot of features that are real convenient for trip planning. You can share/print maps from there, and when you print it there's a QR code to share the map with friends.
Compass points north. Use that to align your map.
Shoot bearings from wherever you are to a couple of identifiable landmarks on the map. You are where those lines intersect.
If you nav with GPS, set that map page to "North up", compass heading to degrees, and north reference to magnetic. Then the GPS plays real nice with a map and compass.
>>1204246>make a gameplanthis, so much this
A little bit of effort into a trip plan (one, maybe two cups of coffee if it's a big day) goes a long ways. Have a map, have a general idea of where you're going and when you'll be back. Check the weather, I usually note overnight and next-day conditions in the area and pack accordingly. Avy forecast if you're playing in the snow. Have some sort of emergency plan.
Your goal is to get home safe, but there's objectives you can achieve along the way (take this trail to this summit, whatever). Change the objectives based on conditions to meet the goal.
