How to Operate a Compass
- 1). Familiarize yourself with the markings on your compass and its housing or turntable. The red needle on your compass will always point north. The markings around the dial of the compass indicate north, south, east and west. The last important marking on your compass is the direction-of-travel arrow that is drawn from the compass down to the front of the turntable.
- 2). Choose the direction you would like to head. For example, northwest.
- 3). Hold the compass flat in your hands. Pointing the compass up or down may change your reading.
- 4). Turn the compass turntable until the direction-of-travel arrow is pointing between north and west on the compass dial. Note that the red compass needle is still pointing north.
- 5). Choose a point on the horizon in the direction you would like to head and move towards it. Check your compass every couple hundred feet to ensure you are continuing in the correct direction.
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