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Course Outline

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When visibility is subject to change, such as from hills or fog, take a bearing on your destination while you can see it. Then, when it’s out of sight, use the bearing to find your direction. To take a bearing:

  • Hold the compass level, and point its direction-of-travel arrow toward your destination.
  • Rotate the azimuth ring until the orienting arrow lines up with the magnetic needle. Be sure the north end of the needle (usually red) points to N, not S.
  • Find where the degree markings around the azimuth ring line up with the direction-of-travel arrow. That degree mark is your bearing.
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