CORE CORE Land Navigation and Orienteering 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When teaching orienteering to beginners, which skill should be introduced first?
- GPS programming
- Taking a compass bearing
- Map orientation using terrain association (Correct answer)
- Calculating pace count
Correct answer: Map orientation using terrain association
Terrain association — matching physical features on the ground to map symbols — is the foundational skill taught before compass use or coordinate systems.
Question 2: In pace counting for navigation, what must a student calibrate before using this technique?
- The magnetic declination of their compass
- Their personal pace count per 100 meters on varied terrain (Correct answer)
- The UTM zone of their location
- The color coding of their map legend
Correct answer: Their personal pace count per 100 meters on varied terrain
Each person must measure how many paces (double steps) they personally take to cover 100 meters on flat and varied terrain before using pace counting for navigation.
Question 3: What does 'orienting the map' mean in field navigation?
- Labeling all landmarks on the map
- Aligning the map so its north matches the actual north direction in the field (Correct answer)
- Folding the map to the section currently being traveled
- Converting the map scale to real-world distances
Correct answer: Aligning the map so its north matches the actual north direction in the field
Orienting the map means physically rotating it so that north on the map aligns with north in the real world, making terrain features match their map symbols.
Question 4: Which type of terrain feature is easiest to use as a 'catching feature' when navigating through dense forest?
- A single large boulder
- A linear feature such as a stream, trail, or ridgeline (Correct answer)
- A flat open meadow
- A single tall tree
Correct answer: A linear feature such as a stream, trail, or ridgeline
Linear features like streams, trails, or ridgelines act as catching features because they are hard to miss and stop or redirect travel when reached.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a 'handrail' in backcountry navigation?
- A physical safety rope on steep terrain
- A linear terrain feature followed alongside the route of travel for guidance (Correct answer)
- A series of waypoints programmed into a GPS
- A marked trail system in a state park
Correct answer: A linear terrain feature followed alongside the route of travel for guidance
A handrail is a natural linear feature — such as a fence, stream, or ridgeline — that parallels your direction of travel and guides you without requiring constant compass checks.
Question 6: When reading a topographic map, closely spaced contour lines indicate what type of terrain?
- A broad, flat valley
- A gentle rolling hill
- A steep slope or cliff (Correct answer)
- A marshy lowland area
Correct answer: A steep slope or cliff
Closely spaced contour lines represent rapid elevation change over a short horizontal distance, indicating a steep slope or near-vertical terrain.
CORE CORE Land Navigation and Orienteering 2
When teaching orienteering to beginners, which skill should be introduced first?