How to navigate while hiking
Who hasn’t arrived at a fork in the trail and had doubts about which way to go? Once you get far enough from civilization it’s not always easy to find your way. Whether it’s because of twisting trails, lush vegetation or steep terrain you can easily lose track of which direction is north! And even if you’re super keen to venture into the unknown, it’s better to know a few things about orienteering before you hit the trails in order to minimize the risks. So check out our advice on how to stay on track while you’re hiking.
1 – Plan your route
The formula for a successful hike lies in good planning! It’s imperative to plan your hike and identify your route before you leave:
- Identify the technical characteristics of your route: how far is it? What’s the elevation gain? Is it a loop or an out-and-back? What’s the terrain like and what kind of environment will you be in (mountain meadows, forests, brushland…)?
- Familiarize yourself with the trail markers and identifiable landmarks (peaks, passes, rivers, shepherd huts…) and the primary direction of your route.
- Learn the different types of trail markers on your route.
+ Study the weather forecast (wind, clouds, fog, rain, expected temperature…)
+ Take equipment that’s suited to your hike
2 – Tools and skills you’ll need to be able to find your way when you’re hiking
- GPS and applications
Out in the wild, away from it all, technology can be your best hiking buddy as long as you know how to use it… Even if the GPS, applications and interactive maps on our smartphones seem like a super easy solution for finding your way on a hike, it’s nevertheless a really good to familiarize yourself with your GPS before you go. It’s especially important to plan and download your route beforehand so that your route data will still be accessible even if/when you lose your GPS signal. And obviously, don’t leave without fully charging your phone! GPS applications can consume loads of battery power, so for long hikes we highly recommend carrying a portable charger with you.
- Maps
Ah, the good ol’ map! Even though your smartphone carries more cutting-edge technology, the time-tested map remains unchallenged! There are a wide variety of maps available in a range of scales depending on the region or territory. For hiking in Europe, the best is to take the infamous IGN Top 25 map (1cm = 250 meters). This topographic map precisely illustrates the relief and detail of the terrain (contour lines, roads, paths, buildings, waterways, forests and groves…) to enable you to better visualize the area. And while having a nice map is good, knowing how to read it is even better! As with your GPS system, we strongly recommend reading your map before you get lost! Study the legend carefully, trace your route and identify notable landmarks. (To learn how to read maps more easily, practice using one to find your way around places you are already familiar with).
If you get lost, you’ll need to try to get oriented by first positioning yourself on the map based on what you see around you. Locate the last known point you passed and estimate your speed of progress from that point. Once you’ve positioned yourself, it’s important to turn the map correctly so that you move in the right direction. IGN maps are always produced with north located at the top of the map when you have the map turned so the text is facing you. You’ll then have to determine which direction is north so that you can orient the map correctly either by using a compass or looking at the surrounding terrain.
- The compass
It's never a bad idea to keep a compass in your pack! When you are trying to find your way, you can easily get turned around and lose your bearings. The weather can also play tricks on you and thick fog can quickly blanket the area so that all reference points are hidden. In these cases, a compass will allow you to easily find your course and orient yourself even when visibility is limited. The objective is to find north and align your map with it. To do this, lay your compass flat on the north line and slowly rotate the map until it is aligned with the north needle on the compass.
- Natural landmarks
For the more adventurous, there are other ways to find your way while you’re hiking. Nature can tell us a lot! Depending on the conditions, there are clues out there that can put you back on the right path. At night, the good old navigator’s method is still in use! Turn your face to the stars to find north! All you need to do is find the Big Dipper (you don’t need to be an expert in astronomy to find it), take the two bright stars that form the bowl of the pan opposite the handle, then imagine a straight line extending upwards by about five times the distance between the two stars in the bowl. This is where you’ll find a very bright star called the North Star that indicates which direction is north. During the day, the position of the sun in the sky can also help you find east and west which will help you orient yourself. Finally, if visibility permits, try to locate landmarks that will help you figure out where you are.
GPS, maps, compasses and stars – all of these are good ways to navigate when you’re out hiking. To avoid the hassle of getting lost, familiarize yourself with orientation techniques before venturing out on the trails. And if you don’t want to take any risks, don’t hesitate to contact a certified mountain leader about teaching you how to use the different tools to orient yourself.