Simply Hiking

Even experienced hikers will rely on maps or GPS units to navigate along trails and through wilderness areas. In fact, it’s the MORE experienced hikers who tend to do this and the beginners who think they can just wing it.

You really can get seriously lost, even near clearly marked trails. Even stepping a few yards off a trail into heavy forest has confused more than one beginner. You can wind up walking even farther from the trail without realising it and before you know it, you’re lost.

Many maps won’t necessarily help you out of that forest, per se. But a good map will help you easily get back to your starting point so becoming familiar with maps is a must for any serious hiker.

So, how do you start?

Acquire a current map covering the area you intend to hike. Study it at home in a relaxed environment. You won’t be able to match the map against features you see, but it will help you understand the symbols used.

Almost all will have a legend. Get familiar with the symbols. They differ from map publisher to publisher. Find out what the scale is - look for 1 inch = 1 mile or similar markings.

Don’t forget, though, that distance is only part of the story. One mile on level ground is one thing. But if 3/4 of that distance takes you from near sea level to 2,000 feet high by a steep, winding incline, that’s quite another.

Altitude markings are usually indicated by a series of curved lines that, if ’stretched out’ would make a circle. The distance between two curved lines around some natural feature like a large hill indicates the altitude. These are sometimes called contour lines. The closer the lines are together, the steeper the terrain.

Orient the map to the way you are hiking as this makes reading the map much easier and you’ll be able to recognize the features easier as well.

Go out for a couple of hours top practice developing your map reading skills as this will help you enjoy your hikes more.