When hiking in unfamiliar terrain, what is the best way to maintain your bearings?

Using a compass and mapping your progress is an effective way to maintain your bearings while hiking in unfamiliar terrain because it enhances your situational awareness and navigational skills. By taking frequent compass readings, you can ensure you are heading in the intended direction and adjust your course as needed. Plotting your progress on a map allows you to visualize where you are and how far you’ve traveled, helping you confirm that you’re on the right track.

This method is particularly reliable in areas where trail markers might be sparse or obscured, allowing for better navigation even when electronic devices fail or are unusable. Additionally, understanding how to read a compass and map contributes to outdoor safety by encouraging hikers to be more engaged with their surroundings and understand the landscape better, promoting confidence in navigation skills.

While following local trails and sticking to well-marked paths are certainly good practices for safety and ease, they are less useful in unfamiliar or off-trail situations where paths may not be evident. Relying solely on GPS navigation, while convenient, can be problematic if the device loses battery, signal, or malfunctions, underscoring the importance of traditional navigation skills that do not depend on technology.