Senast uppdaterat den 24 August, 2023

Compass + map

Most mountain maps have a scale of 1:100,000.
1:100,000 means that 1 cm on the map corresponds to 1,000 meters in the terrain.
There are also maps that are 1:75,000 or 1:50,000.

You walk approximately 3 km/h

Elevation curves give you an image of what the terrain looks like, the denser the elevation curves, the steeper the terrain. Maps are perishable, always buy the most recently issued map before you go on a trip. Sometimes joints are pulled or can tear.

Extract compass direction using map and compass
  1. Hold the map north using the compass so that the north of the map and the red compass needle point in the same direction.
  2. Put the long edge of the compass from your starting point to your destination point on the map.
  3. Turn the graduation ring until the N on the graduation points to north on the map.
  4. The north and south lines of the compass must be parallel to the meridians of the map.
  5. Take the compass in your hand and turn so that the red part of the compass needle coincides with the red part of the north arrow. Now you have the right direction.
  6. Divide a longer distance into several stages, and take the compass direction again. Otherwise there is a risk of getting off course. Sometimes the terrain is also such that you cannot walk straight.

Different parts of the compass

Compass without map

  1. To take a compass course without using the map (you may have lost it), select a landmark in the direction you want to go.
  2. Hold your compass horizontally with the heading arrow on the compass (see image above) pointing towards your target.
  3. Turn the graduation ring until the red end of the compass needle (see image above) points to N on the graduation ring, to get the compass heading to your benchmark.
  4. You can read the compass course at the index line.
  5. The red end of the compass needle should always point to N. When you look in the direction of the heading arrow, you have the heading towards your benchmark.

You can also use GPS, wristwatch, just nature and the sun and aiming.

Map of the trail between Kebnekaise south peak and the mountain station.