Staying Found: The Complete Map & Compass Handbook by June Fleming
Learn Practical Wilderness Navigation and Explore with Greater Confidence
Learn how to navigate beyond marked trails with Staying Found: The Complete Map & Compass Handbook by experienced wilderness instructor June Fleming. This approachable outdoor guide teaches the practical skills needed to read topographic maps, use a compass, plan routes, follow bearings, interpret terrain, and maintain awareness of your location.
Rather than waiting until you are lost, Staying Found emphasizes habits that help outdoor travelers continuously track their position. Clear explanations, charts, and illustrations make essential navigation concepts understandable for beginners while providing useful techniques for more experienced hikers, prospectors, hunters, and backcountry explorers.
The book also discusses natural navigation, snow travel, GPS technology, and methods for teaching children basic outdoor awareness. It is an excellent companion for anyone traveling away from established roads and trails.
Perfect For
What You'll Learn
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How to read a topographic map
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How contour lines represent terrain
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The basic components of a compass
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How to orient a map
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How to determine and follow a bearing
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The difference between true north and magnetic north
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How to account for magnetic declination
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How to combine map and compass information
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How to identify useful landmarks
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How to plan and follow an outdoor route
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Techniques for maintaining awareness of your location
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How to navigate away from established trails
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Basic natural-navigation techniques
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Special considerations for route finding on snow
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How GPS technology complements traditional navigation
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Ways to teach children how to stay found
Useful Prospecting & Detecting Applications
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Navigating to remote prospecting areas
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Recording routes to productive gold locations
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Following topographic features to historic sites
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Relocating old mining camps and geological formations
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Planning safe routes around steep or difficult terrain
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Maintaining awareness while metal detecting in wooded areas
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Returning safely to a vehicle, camp, or trailhead
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Using maps to study waterways, ridges, valleys, and elevation
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Supporting GPS navigation with reliable traditional skills
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Improving preparation for backcountry fieldwork
Features
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Written by wilderness-skills instructor June Fleming
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Complete introduction to map-and-compass navigation
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Beginner-friendly instructions
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Helpful charts and illustrations
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Covers topographic map interpretation
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Explains compass bearings and magnetic declination
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Includes route-planning and route-finding techniques
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Discusses natural navigation and snow travel
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Includes guidance for teaching children
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Introduces GPS as an additional navigation tool
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Compact paperback format
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157 pages
Benefits
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Navigate unfamiliar terrain with greater confidence
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Develop skills that do not depend on batteries or electronics
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Recognize terrain features shown on a topographic map
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Reduce the likelihood of becoming disoriented
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Plan more effective prospecting and detecting routes
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Maintain better awareness of your position throughout a trip
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Use a map and compass as a backup to GPS navigation
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Teach family members essential outdoor safety skills
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Become better prepared for remote-area emergencies
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Add a practical navigation reference to your outdoor library
Recommended Accessories
Prepare your navigation kit with:
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Baseplate compass
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Current topographic maps
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Geological and mining maps
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Handheld GPS receiver
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Field notebook and pencil
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Waterproof map case
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Map ruler or coordinate tool
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Headlamp or flashlight
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Emergency whistle
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First-aid kit
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Spare batteries or portable power bank
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Personal locator beacon or satellite communicator
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Weather-resistant backpack
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Local prospecting and rockhounding guidebooks
Specifications
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Title: Staying Found
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Subtitle: The Complete Map & Compass Handbook
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Author: June Fleming
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Publisher: The Mountaineers Books
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Publication Year: 2001
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Format: Paperback
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Pages: 157
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Book Dimensions: Approximately 5.3" wide × 8.3" tall × 0.4" thick
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ISBN-10: 0898867851
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ISBN-13: 9780898867855
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Language: English
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Subject: Wilderness Navigation, Map Reading, Compass Use, Orienteering and Outdoor Safety
What's Included
Important Navigation Notice
Navigation tools are only effective when users understand their operation and practice regularly. Magnetic declination changes over time and varies by location, so always obtain a current local declination value from a reliable source.
Carry an appropriate map and compass even when using GPS. Electronic devices can lose power, malfunction, become damaged, or receive an inadequate satellite signal. Leave a trip plan with a responsible person and carry suitable emergency supplies whenever traveling in remote areas.
Why Buy From High Plains Prospectors?
At High Plains Prospectors, we know that the ability to navigate confidently is essential when prospecting, metal detecting, rockhounding, or exploring beyond established trails. Staying Found teaches dependable map-and-compass skills that can help outdoor adventurers understand their surroundings, document productive locations, and return safely. It is a valuable addition to any field kit, vehicle, classroom, or outdoor reference library.
Features many new charts and illustrations-- New contact information for purchasing maps in the U.S. and Canada. This tried-and-true guide teaches practical skills for navigating in the wilderness: reading maps; determining "true" directions following bearings, backbearings, and baselines; using nature as a guide; teaching kids to "stay found"; and coping if you really are lost. June Fleming, 160 pages.
