Navigation Course
Wilderness Navigation
Wilderness Navigation - CASC
Contacts
- Tue, Apr 29, 2025 - Sat, Jun 7, 2025
- Committee: Foothills Navigation Committee
- Members: $100.00
- Availability: FULL (9 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
===== Click MORE+ to see further details ========
CASC EDITION
This course is by invitation only and is limited to students in the Seattle 2025 CASC scramble courses.
Details will be provided via email by the course leaders
REQUIRED MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Compass, Book, Maps, Gaia GPS Smartphone app.
Note: See Required Equipment and Course Materials tab for details and links.
Badges you will earn:
Basic Navigation Course
Basic GPS Course
This course has no scheduled activities.
===== COMPUTER =====
You must have a laptop or desktop computer with speakers for the Self-Study activity. A phone by itself will not be adequate.
=====COMPASS=====
You must have a declination-adjustable compass for all of our activities. Some local stores might run out of the model you want, so it's recommended you buy a compass well in advance. Only specific compasses will be accepted, so read the suggestions in Mountaineers Required Compass Features before purchasing a compass.
Our #1 suggestion is the "Suunto M-3 NH". Available at REI, Amazon, and other places.
NOTE: A compass with a mirror is optional. It helps measure super-precise bearings and apply sunscreen, but it is not needed for the course and is rarely used on actual Mountaineers trips. Some people find them helpful, while others find they simply make the compass heavier and slower to use. Plus, they cost more and weigh more.
NOTE: Avoid inexpensive knock-offs on Amazon, such as the "Sun Company—Prosight." They are unreliable and have subtle problems. Buy one made by a leading brand such as Suunto, Silva, or Brunton.
NOTE: An altimeter is one of our five basic navigation tools. While we won't use the altimeter at Discovery Park much because of the small change in elevation, it is incredibly useful for navigating mountainous locations. Many use it much more frequently than the compass. CalTopo and Gaia GPS both have built-in altimeters, and many sports watches also include them. There are many free or nearly free phone apps. An Android favorite is Accurate Altimeter (computes elevation 3 different ways).