NFST Map and Route Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When navigating with a compass and map, 'declination' refers to:
- The elevation difference between two points on a route
- The angular difference between true north and magnetic north (Correct answer)
- The steepness of a slope measured in degrees
- The bearing from your current position to your destination
Correct answer: The angular difference between true north and magnetic north
Magnetic declination is the angle between geographic true north and the magnetic north indicated by a compass needle.
Question 2: On a topographic map, an index contour line differs from intermediate contour lines in that it is:
- Drawn with a dashed line style
- Printed in a different color (red) to stand out
- Drawn as a heavier, bolder line and labeled with its elevation (Correct answer)
- Only shown at sea level
Correct answer: Drawn as a heavier, bolder line and labeled with its elevation
Index contours are thicker, bolder lines labeled with their elevation value to make reading the map easier.
Question 3: You are planning a route and want to avoid a slope steeper than 30%. On a 1:24,000 map with a 40-foot contour interval, which horizontal distance between adjacent contour lines would indicate exactly 30% grade?
- About 100 feet apart on the ground
- About 133 feet apart on the ground (Correct answer)
- About 200 feet apart on the ground
- About 400 feet apart on the ground
Correct answer: About 133 feet apart on the ground
A 30% grade means 30 feet of rise per 100 feet of horizontal distance; 40 ft ÷ 0.30 ≈ 133 feet horizontal between contours.
Question 4: A saddle on a topographic map appears as:
- Two closely spaced summit loops connected by widely spaced contours between them (Correct answer)
- A single closed loop at a hilltop
- Parallel contour lines running perpendicular to a stream
- A series of concentric circles indicating a crater
Correct answer: Two closely spaced summit loops connected by widely spaced contours between them
A saddle is a low point between two high points, appearing on maps as two summit loops with spreading contours in the pass between them.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'back azimuth' in land navigation?
- The azimuth from your destination back to your starting point (Correct answer)
- The azimuth measured from magnetic south instead of north
- A corrected azimuth after applying declination
- The compass bearing to your next waypoint
Correct answer: The azimuth from your destination back to your starting point
A back azimuth is the reverse direction of a given azimuth, calculated by adding or subtracting 180°, used to retrace a route.
Question 6: When analyzing a route for resupply needs, which map feature is most useful for identifying potential water sources?
- Brown contour lines
- Blue lines and symbols (Correct answer)
- Green shading indicating vegetation
- Black triangles marking summits
Correct answer: Blue lines and symbols
Blue lines and symbols on topographic maps represent water features including streams, rivers, lakes, and springs.
Question 7: To estimate travel time on a route with significant elevation gain, planners commonly use Naismith's Rule, which adds extra time for every:
- Mile of horizontal distance traveled
- 100 feet of elevation gained (Correct answer)
- Degree of slope encountered
- Stream crossing on the route
Correct answer: 100 feet of elevation gained
Naismith's Rule adds approximately 1 minute of extra travel time for every 100 feet (or 30 meters) of elevation gained.
NFST Map and Route Analysis 3
When navigating with a compass and map, 'declination' refers to: