Safe Speed Forums

I go cross-country cycling with a lady friend from time to time and I am interested in our different approaches to navigation in “Wilderness” areas where we may not have been before.

She has very good observation for landmarks (much better than mine I would say) and remembers how we got to a place. She returns by retracing her footsteps.

Me, I am more likely to just point myself in what I believe to be the right direction to get back to base and strike out across unknown territory. I am usually right too! (I do not always know where I am, but I DO know how to get back IYSWIM)

Is this a “Male/Female” thing or just a difference between two individuals

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

different individuals/experience (dare i say it, attitudes to risk?!) i guess....

i think i use three techniques....
- instict.. fastest if you're right!
- landmarks & handrails.. good for most english countryside, except proper fells
- map & compass.. proper fell or navigating blind in bad conditions

or a combination of the above.

and since i sometimes have to do this as part of a race.... the trick is knowing which to use when!

There is of course a fourth, highly classified method called real-time visualisation. It was taught by my aircrew survival instructor and had many years fun teaching it too trainee aircrew.

Orient map.

Find small tree or bush (no taller than yourself).

Stand to the left of the tree/bush, with map still correctly oriented.

Reach out with right hand and grip tree/bush firmly with right hand.

Shake tree/bush whilst looking at map.

Look for tree/bush shaking on map.


Spend next five minutes rolling around laughing at 20 aircrew shaking bushes in a field...

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Gordon Brown saying I got the country into it's current economic mess so I'll get us out of it is the same as Bomber Harris nipping over to Dresden and offering to repair a few windows.

Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.

http://www.wildcrafts.co.uk

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