When you are navigating you have to split your route into manageable chunks (also known as a ‘Leg’). A navigational leg could be as short as a few metres or as long as several kilometres depending on the terrain.

For each leg you will need to convert the information that you have from the map into information that you can work with to help you navigate on the ground. A good way to do this is to identify 5 things about the leg (all of which begin with the letter D).

1) Destination - What will it look like when you have reached the end of the leg.
2) Description - Describe the leg using handrails and tick features.
3) Distance / Duration. How long will it take to walk the leg and roughly how long will it take to reach each tick feature.
4) Direction - In which direction do you need to walk. Usually this will be obvious as it will follow on from your previous leg, but if there has been a change in direction from the previous leg you may need to set the map or take a bearing.
5) Dangers - Are there any navigational or physical dangers that you may encounter.

Before you start walking on each leg you need to identify your 5 D’s. At the very least you need to know what you are going to see and when you are going to see it.

When you get to your destination (the end of your navigational leg) you must stop and repeat the process not just continue on without forming your new strategy.

You must always have a strategy.

At all times you must know

1) What you are expecting to pass, cross or see.
2) When you are expecting to pass, cross or see it.

Next Page - Compass Work