| Haydar Kutuk ~ Dec 15, 2003 |
| I found the workshop overall very useful and would definitely recommend it to anyone whether you already know navigation basics or not. Here are few points that I'd like to share: 1)The class material was prepared very profesionally, which also provided for many in-class exercises to test your understanding of all the key points. 2)The class presentation using a map software on a laptop was also excellent. This enabled explaining lots of fine details easily what otherwise would have been very difficult and time consuming. 3) Despite the bad weather the field sessions were very helpful and informative. The creative exercises both complemented the theory from the class and provided a fun way to practice all the acquired knowledge in the field in various ways. The instructors were very helpful and patient and one could practice the same exerices many times. 4) Steve described a system that basically took out the declination computation out of navigation by expicitly drawing magnetic north lines on the map. For those who used declination, this approach was initially confusing. I had to try and convince myself that both methods give the same results. I have to agree that the system without declination computation makes it much simpler to read bearings in the field and carry them to the map. Nevertheless, it is probably a good idea to mention how to read and carry bearings on a map if the map does not have magnetic north lines drawn already and drawing them is not an easy option. In class it was briefly touched on back bearing to check for drifting, but it would also be useful to show how to use the same bearings for the return trip. 5) The class provided an environment to use and get the most out of a GPS even if you had never used a GPS before. Entering waypoints and navigating a route with compass using GPS data was the best one could take from the exercises. Many thanks to Steve for putting a great deal of effort in preparing, organizing and teaching this essential class. Thanks to the assistants too for all the help and patience. Great job all! |
| Craig Johnson ~ Dec 16, 2003 |
| The Chemeketan Route Finding School was one of the best uses of my time that I can remember. Steve put in an immense amount of time and organization excellence to make this training helpful, memorable and rewarding. He couldn't have faced worse field conditions but his sessions worked very well to illustrate the lessons from the classroom exercises, despite this. In my case, I had a fuzzy understanding of how to use a compass and no understanding at all about how to use a GPS. Now, I feel ready to take either or both of these tools and eliminate the greatest fear of wilderness travel. I have confidence I can locate were I am and create a plan of travel to take me were I might want to go. I frankly feel a great deal of security in now possessing these skills. My next hope is that he will design an avalanche class. Craig Johnson |
| Jerry Croft ~ Dec 17, 2003 |
| Let me add my admiration for the thorough job Steve has done with organizing the route finding class and providing it at such a reasonable cost. I will nit-pick just a little in the interest of future micro-improvements. Printed materials are divided into 3 sections with page numbering starting at 1, 2, 3...for each section. It was a little confusing as we flipped between sections. Consider numbering pages consecutively from start to finish of the book. Steve, the pace of your instruction on the Wednesday evening session was a little slow in the first half (elementary topics) then you had to rush toward the end (more complex topics). A pace adjustment would help. I like the periodic practical quizzes in the text - they help us know if we understand the concept or need to flag you to repeat a concept. Suggest you use the quiz results to gauge your pace. You save most of the definitive info on UTM for the last (GPS) section of the instruction. There's some mention of UTM in the second (Map) section and I found myself wanting to know more about UTM at that point. I would consider shifting the UTM info (currently on pages 4 and 5 of section 3) up into section 2. Also, you had a slide showing how a UTM zone is configured. It's a confusing but important concept to grasp. Recommend you put the slide into the printed materials. Like Hydar, I like your discipline of ignoring any declination adjustment on your compass and just dealing with magnetic bearings relative to manually drawn magnetic north grid lines. Simple is good, especially when one is in the throes of field conditions. Stick with your approach. I have a Garmin 12 GPS like you and your illustrations suited me very well as a result. I'm curious how others with differing brands and models were able to relate. The field activities were very well designed to illustrate your teaching objectives. I last had formal navigation training 30 years ago when in college (even the degree of declination has changed in the interim!). Your course really peaked my interest. I bought the Maptech software, plugged my GPS into my computer and am having lots of fun settin waypoints on the map and sending them to my GPS for field navigation. Looking forward to field applications where I can set the waypoint while in the toolies then download at home to the map to see where the heck I really was! Thanks Steve (and family) for your excellent work.
|
| Jerry Way ~ Dec 19, 2003 |
| After taking Steve Dougherty's recent map/compass/gps class,I feel more comfortable and confident in these 3 areas. Felt myself go from a zero comfort level to a high degree of confidence following the concepts as taught. Lastly, the class setting and instruction was friendly,imformative and non-threathing - even for someone with limited knowledge in these areas. |
| Dave Johnson ~ Dec 19, 2003 |
| This class increased my confidence immensely. There have been some uncomfortable times in the past while hiking, skiing, etc. I anticipate my anxiety level will be considerably less in the future as a result of this class. It provided me with sound basics in map reading and applying the real world to what I see on the map. My time was very well spent! The course was very well prepared with excellent exercises to insure understanding. I would recommend it to anyone. Well done!! |
| Barry Jahn ~ Dec 20, 2003 |
| I've been using map/compass navigation since a kid, but this course really filled in the gaps. Nice to have the background info that Steve provided --- understanding the 'big picture' is very helpful. The most beneficial tips for me was changing my orientation from degrees/minutes/seconds to the metric equivalent; and taking the time to prepare my topo maps with 'declination lines' marked in. The compass use in the field was 10 times easier and more efficient. And learning how to efficiently use the GPS and compass hand in hand was invaluable. Up to now I've never figured out just when to rely on the GPS vs the compass when in the field. Steve made this clear with the follow up field activities. Whether you are a novice, or expert, you are guaranteed to take something with you that you did not know coming in. Not only will you learn from Steve, but also from the partners you meet in the in-class and field activities. |