The Essential Wilderness Navigator: How to Find Your Way in the Great Outdoors, Second Edition
by David Seidman, Paul Cleveland
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Book Summary Information
Author: David Seidman, Paul ClevelandBrand: Seidman
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-12-28
ISBN: 0071361103
Number of pages: 173
Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
Book Reviews of The Essential Wilderness Navigator: How to Find Your Way in the Great Outdoors, Second Edition
Book Review: A Good Book That Needs An Update
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is good, and would have warranted four stars, when published back in 2001 (Second Edition). The general navigation and wayfinding techniques are clearly discussed and illustrated, but there have been some key developments in the mapping world that the authors should address in an updated edition.
First, the authors are unfairly dismissive of grid systems like UTM. Now, back in 2001 this was acceptable since the USGS really didn't have an accepted grid system. They put both UTM and Lat/Long grid tics on the topo quad sheets and basically said "use what you like". This attitude has caused endless confusion among topo map users in the US. However, post 9/11 and Katrina the USGS has agreed to adopt the US National Grid system, which is nothing more than the Military Grid Reference System extended across the US. The USGS has also begun producing the excellent US Topo series of maps as a substitute for the old 7.5 minute quad sheets, and these new maps all have the US National Grid overprinted on them. These two developments alone should be enough to force the authors and publishers of all land navigation handbooks and guides to update their works.
Next is the GPS appendix. Like it or not, GPS receivers are now a standard part of most hiker's kit and consumer GPS technology has come a LONG way since 2001. I don't really think it is useful to discuss specific GPS navigation techniques in a book focusing on map and compass navigation, that is really a better topic for a separate publication. I DO think it is important to address both the benefits of having a GPS unit available and to have a frank discussion of GPS system limitations based on things like receiver design, satellite visibility and geometry, masking, the effects of canopy cover, etc. Just as important, the (serious) limitations of GPS units embedded into devices like smartphones.
The use of the internet for planning should be addressed. There has been an explosion of useful tools on the web that can help the the wilderness traveler better plan his or her adventure. One is the availability of free digital copies of all USGS topo maps directly from the USGS Map Store in GeoPDF format and tools like the NOAA web tool for calculating the current magnetic declination for any area in the US [...]
Admittedly, all of the above comments were not valid when this book was published in 2001, and in the context of 2001 this is a very good book. If the reader keeps in mind and takes advantage of the advances I discuss then this can be considered a very good wilderness navigation book and from that perspective I can recommend it.
However, there are some issues that are fundamental to the book and reflective of the style and experience of the authors that I do have some reservations about.
First is the discussion of types of compasses and their use and limitations (I should note that this is something a lot of wilderness navigation authors are guilty of). For example, I have a collection of about 18 liquid dampened compasses by the big name makers (Silva, Suunto & Brunton). About half of them have air bubbles in the capsule and several of these bubbles are so large they interfere with the compass needle operation. I EXPECT a liquid dampened compass to develop air bubbles and for this reason I always carry a backup. However, I have never had an induction dampened compass fail. The selection of induction dampened compasses is admittedly limited. The most common example is the US Army lensatic compass, and it is an excellent choice for the wilderness traveler. The techniques of use for the lensatic compass are just slightly different, but no more difficult, than those used with baseplate compasses.
While ordinary baseplate compasses are great for orienteering or short range wilderness navigation they start to show their weakness when trying to determine accurate bearings to distant landmarks, particularly in desert environments. A sighting compass, like the Silva Ranger, is a much more accurate tool and provides the best features of the baseplate compass. For serious navigation work where accurate bearing determination is critical I strongly recommend a sighting compass accurate to 1/2 degree, like the Suunto KB-14.
Last, I'm somewhat concerned by the authors weak coverage of how to adjust for magnetic declination. The authors try to talk their way through the topic, and offer some useful memory jogs in the appendix (like "declination east, compass least"). However, my experience is that the use of the 'greater - lesser angle' diagram pioneered by the US military is the easiest to teach, easiest to visualize and the least error prone. I find that once students 'get' the diagram they find it easy to hold in memory and many of them never even bother to make use of the declination offset features available on their compasses. The concept of declination - both grid and magnetic - is too important to not cover clearly and in depth in any serious work on wilderness navigation.
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Summary of The Essential Wilderness Navigator: How to Find Your Way in the Great Outdoors, Second Edition
Now with full-color topographic maps and featuring the latest on electronic navigation, The Essential Wilderness Navigator is the clearest and most up-to-date route-finding primer available. Providing readers with exercises for developing a directional ?sixth sense,? tips on mastering the art of map- and compass-reading, and comprehensive updates on a range of technological advances, this perennially popular guide is more indispensable than ever.Transportation Books
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