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Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

13 messages in this thread | Started on 2004-06-29

Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: cpascott (seh-letterbox@comcast.net) | Date: 2004-06-29 21:49:50 UTC
I did a search in this group for "declination" and came up with
nothing, so I'll pose my question for the group to answer.

We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use compass
directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes. In
general, we've noticed that such directions are only estimates and
not too precise (a good thing, in our opinion!). However, some clues
for boxes we've not yet hunted have more precise degree
instructions. For example, Team Green Dragon's Time Travels box
(listed on the LbNA database) lists degree readings of 130, 230, 33,
240, etc.

Now, following a degree reading of 33 degress might be hard enough
given the precision of that ... but it could be near impossible if
the clue writer used a compass which was adjusted for declination
while I am not or vice versa -- or if the declination adjustment
varies from his compass to mine.

For the record, I purchased a Suunto M-2D compass with an adjustable
declination correction scale and set it to 15 degrees west per the
map provided with the compass.

Using it with some clues, it's become obvious that some clue writers
are not using such compasses.

Whether Team Green Dragon did or not isn't really my point, but the
overall question is what is more common for clues -- declination
adjusted readings (meaning the degree headings relate to the
geographic north pole and are proper) or not (meaing the degree
headings relate to the magnetic north pole are improper)?

Either way it doesn't matter to me, I just wish not to get out in the
woods somewhere trying to read clues with a 15 degree margin of error!

Many thanks for your thoughts.

CPAScott


Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: Ron Salladin (salladin@frontiernet.net) | Date: 2004-06-29 18:04:10 UTC-04:00
There's no need to adjust for declination if you're using a compass only
(no map). I would imagine that any degree reading shown to locate a Lb
would be magnetic. If you and the placer were standing in the same
place, 130* on the placer's compass should be 130* on yours too. If you
adjust declination on yours by 15* and the placer didn't then yes you
will go astray.

I haven't seen this come up before so it'll be interesting to see how
others respond. If you get into Orienteering, the O-maps are adjusted
for declination.

ROC'nRON

cpascott wrote:

>I did a search in this group for "declination" and came up with
>nothing, so I'll pose my question for the group to answer.
>
>We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use compass
>directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes. In
>general, we've noticed that such directions are only estimates and
>not too precise (a good thing, in our opinion!). However, some clues
>for boxes we've not yet hunted have more precise degree
>instructions. For example, Team Green Dragon's Time Travels box
>(listed on the LbNA database) lists degree readings of 130, 230, 33,
>240, etc.
>
>Now, following a degree reading of 33 degress might be hard enough
>given the precision of that ... but it could be near impossible if
>the clue writer used a compass which was adjusted for declination
>while I am not or vice versa -- or if the declination adjustment
>varies from his compass to mine.
>
>For the record, I purchased a Suunto M-2D compass with an adjustable
>declination correction scale and set it to 15 degrees west per the
>map provided with the compass.
>
>Using it with some clues, it's become obvious that some clue writers
>are not using such compasses.
>
>Whether Team Green Dragon did or not isn't really my point, but the
>overall question is what is more common for clues -- declination
>adjusted readings (meaning the degree headings relate to the
>geographic north pole and are proper) or not (meaing the degree
>headings relate to the magnetic north pole are improper)?
>
>Either way it doesn't matter to me, I just wish not to get out in the
>woods somewhere trying to read clues with a 15 degree margin of error!
>
>Many thanks for your thoughts.
>
>CPAScott
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: Tom LeClerc W1TJL (w1tjl@arrl.net) | Date: 2004-06-29 15:11:45 UTC-07:00
--- cpascott wrote:-----------------------------
>I did a search in this group for "declination" and came up with nothing, so
I'll pose my question for the group to answer.

I've often wondered the same thing... I really wonder if most people even know
what declination is much less use it. From my experience (many years of using
and teaching map and compass in the Scouts and arctic survival training where,
BTW, compasses only marginally work) the readings given are probably only
magnetic readings and not all that accurate. We usually use the compass to get
the general direction and then look for stated landmarks to get a bit closer to
the prize...

I doubt you could ever get a consensus as to how it should be done - much
simpler discussions brings much dissention and arguments. I'll just go on
assuming the placer just took the compass reading as a magnetic reading and go
from there. I have never seen clues that stated declination was taken into
account...

Tom (of Tom & Suz)


=====
Tom LeClerc, Amateur Radio Station W1TJL
(past calls WB1CBY, /VE8, /VE1, /VO8)

LeClerc Consulting
email: w1tjl@arrl.net
PC/Network Consulting

Re: Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: rscarpen (RiskyNil@pocketmail.com) | Date: 2004-06-29 22:37:00 UTC
> We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use compass
> directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes.

Unless the clue explictly states otherwise, it's generally safe to
assume the degrees mentioned in clues are magnetic. And typically,
you can expect them to be accurate to within about 5 degrees. For
most boxes, that's plenty accurate to get the finder to the letterbox.

Don't get too stuck on that 15 degrees declination. It changes
depending on your location!

-- Ryan


Re: Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: James Dillon (n0kwa@bellsouth.net) | Date: 2004-06-30 01:25:56 UTC
I am onbe of the lucky ones who lives in an area where the magnetic
and true north differs by less than one degree. Currently compass
corrections are only academic for me. I need to be more concerned
with which belt buckle I am wearing and where I keep my pocket knife
than if the clues are true or magnetic.



Jim

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "cpascott"
wrote:
> I did a search in this group for "declination" and came up with
> nothing, so I'll pose my question for the group to answer.
>
> We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use compass
> directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes. In
> general, we've noticed that such directions are only estimates and
> not too precise (a good thing, in our opinion!). However, some
clues
> for boxes we've not yet hunted have more precise degree
> instructions. For example, Team Green Dragon's Time Travels box
> (listed on the LbNA database) lists degree readings of 130, 230,
33,
> 240, etc.
>
> Now, following a degree reading of 33 degress might be hard enough
> given the precision of that ... but it could be near impossible if
> the clue writer used a compass which was adjusted for declination
> while I am not or vice versa -- or if the declination adjustment
> varies from his compass to mine.
>
> For the record, I purchased a Suunto M-2D compass with an
adjustable
> declination correction scale and set it to 15 degrees west per the
> map provided with the compass.
>
> Using it with some clues, it's become obvious that some clue
writers
> are not using such compasses.
>
> Whether Team Green Dragon did or not isn't really my point, but the
> overall question is what is more common for clues -- declination
> adjusted readings (meaning the degree headings relate to the
> geographic north pole and are proper) or not (meaing the degree
> headings relate to the magnetic north pole are improper)?
>
> Either way it doesn't matter to me, I just wish not to get out in
the
> woods somewhere trying to read clues with a 15 degree margin of
error!
>
> Many thanks for your thoughts.
>
> CPAScott


Re: Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: Canis latrans (c._latrans@comcast.net) | Date: 2004-06-30 02:23:06 UTC
I, as a rule, use the word magnetic at least once in describing
my compass bearings. One of these days I will have to write a
set of clues using true bearings. As a strange aside I recently
learned that most compasses do no work well as you move
closer to the equator. They tilt on their bearings the farther you
get from magnetic north and become innacurate. Compass
needle have to be counter balanced in these situations.
Useless infomation unless you plan on letterboxing in Tierra del
Fuego.

C. latrans


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "rscarpen"
wrote:
> > We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use
compass
> > directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes.
>
> Unless the clue explictly states otherwise, it's generally safe to
> assume the degrees mentioned in clues are magnetic. And
typically,
> you can expect them to be accurate to within about 5 degrees.
For
> most boxes, that's plenty accurate to get the finder to the
letterbox.
>
> Don't get too stuck on that 15 degrees declination. It changes
> depending on your location!
>
> -- Ryan


Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: dave & diane (vonderinsel@cox.net) | Date: 2004-06-29 23:25:40 UTC-04:00
Very few letterboxers (you civilian folks at least) use USGS maps when letterboxing, so the use of declination appears to be mostly for those who have chosen to use mapreadings as an assist to the find. The assumption I've gone by is that the azimuth given is magnetic, as boots hit the ground.

Dave
The von der Insels
P10 F206 X113 H8 E3
----- Original Message -----
From: cpascott
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 5:49 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination


I did a search in this group for "declination" and came up with
nothing, so I'll pose my question for the group to answer.

We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use compass
directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes. In
general, we've noticed that such directions are only estimates and
not too precise (a good thing, in our opinion!). However, some clues
for boxes we've not yet hunted have more precise degree
instructions. For example, Team Green Dragon's Time Travels box
(listed on the LbNA database) lists degree readings of 130, 230, 33,
240, etc.

Now, following a degree reading of 33 degress might be hard enough
given the precision of that ... but it could be near impossible if
the clue writer used a compass which was adjusted for declination
while I am not or vice versa -- or if the declination adjustment
varies from his compass to mine.

For the record, I purchased a Suunto M-2D compass with an adjustable
declination correction scale and set it to 15 degrees west per the
map provided with the compass.

Using it with some clues, it's become obvious that some clue writers
are not using such compasses.

Whether Team Green Dragon did or not isn't really my point, but the
overall question is what is more common for clues -- declination
adjusted readings (meaning the degree headings relate to the
geographic north pole and are proper) or not (meaing the degree
headings relate to the magnetic north pole are improper)?

Either way it doesn't matter to me, I just wish not to get out in the
woods somewhere trying to read clues with a 15 degree margin of error!

Many thanks for your thoughts.

CPAScott


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Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: Anna Lisa Yoder (annalisa@fast.net) | Date: 2004-06-30 00:50:15 UTC-04:00
I second the earlier statements...Somewhere or 'nother, I've seen a couple clue sheets using True North, but this is stated if it is the case. Then your declination adjustments should be used. Otherwise, I understood that nearly all compass readings for letterboxing are based on Magnetic North and I shouldn't need to worry about declination. I do agree that there may be some people out there who are writing clues and have never thought about the difference, but still they would tend to go by magnetic North if they haven't given thought to it, correct? A related problem I have run into with many clues is that sometimes it is not stated whether you should remain on that compass bearing after a certain turn in a path or after the beginning of a new path, or whether the compass bearing should be ignored once the new path is found, so that you remain on the path. I would like to know which I should be doing, but many clues don't bother to say. Could be part of being mysterious, but to me there are other things that can be mysterious without being so ambiguous there. There are plenty of places where it would be a lot safer to know whether you are to stay on a path or get off it. --lunaryakketyact

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: T Prindle (tprindle@nativetech.org) | Date: 2004-06-30 12:01:45 UTC
We often bring a copy of the USGS topo map area for a box, they come
in very handy! They always indicate what the declination is for the
map, many state trail maps do also.

My archaeology survey days had me lugging around a huge brunton
compas and always adjusting for magnetic declination, or our test
pits would be crooked (we always used to joke, they'll look better
when we put them on the map)! It's a joy to use a light weight trail
compas and magnetic north!

We had to wonder, though, with a couple boxes we've done, if the
placer was taking bearing from magnetic north, or a bearing simply
from the direction they happen to be standing in? ie: they're facing
a sign that is not to the north, but they say "look for a sign and
take a reading of 45*" ... now does that mean, a magnetic reading of
45* from north? or 45* from the direction facing the sign? (We
finally found it, it turned out to be 45* from facing toward the
sign).

Rush Gatherer & Powwow Dancer
The Dawnlanders



Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: cpascott (seh-letterbox@comcast.net) | Date: 2004-06-30 13:44:39 UTC
Dawnlanders ... what a worthwhile observation! Letterboxers, perhaps
we can agree on this as well? Certainly 45 from north (be it
magnetic or geographic) will send a letterboxer in a completely
different direction that 45 from the direction your facing if that
direction isn't north! Perhaps we should either agree that compass
readings should always be from north or that clues should be a tad
more specific if they are not (such as in the example the Dawnlanders
give below).

CPAScott

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "T Prindle"
wrote:
> We had to wonder, though, with a couple boxes we've done, if the
> placer was taking bearing from magnetic north, or a bearing simply
> from the direction they happen to be standing in? ie: they're
facing
> a sign that is not to the north, but they say "look for a sign and
> take a reading of 45*" ... now does that mean, a magnetic reading
of
> 45* from north? or 45* from the direction facing the sign? (We
> finally found it, it turned out to be 45* from facing toward the
> sign).
>
> Rush Gatherer & Powwow Dancer
> The Dawnlanders


Re: Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: (r.labelle@verizon.net) | Date: 2004-06-30 14:00:27 UTC
I, too, think that most letterboxers assume that magnetic north is
being referenced, i.e. that your compass, unadjusted for local
magnetic declination, will correctly point the way. Few clue-writers
even address the problem. Probably, most of us don't have an
adjustable compass in the first place, and making a mental adjustment
is a bit touchy (quick: + or - ?).
An obvious advantage of all using magnetic north is that you don't
have to know anything about the variable declination; your compass
will tell you the same 'truth' as anyone else's, wherever you go.

Bob / 'Cock o' the Trail'

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "cpascott"
wrote:
> I did a search in this group for "declination" and came up with
> nothing, so I'll pose my question for the group to answer.
>
> We are noticing a number of letterboxing clues that use compass
> directions as a means for directing us towards the boxes. In
> general, we've noticed that such directions are only estimates and
> not too precise (a good thing, in our opinion!).

> Many thanks for your thoughts.
>
> CPAScott


Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: (mohmers@aol.com) | Date: 2004-06-30 10:17:42 UTC-04:00
In a message dated 6/29/04 5:33:24 PM Central Daylight Time,
salladin@frontiernet.net writes:

>
> There's no need to adjust for declination if you're using a compass only
> (no map). I would imagine that any degree reading shown to locate a Lb
> would be magnetic.


GOOD ANSWER.

Usually a letterboxer will also give landmark clues as well.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination

From: dave & diane (vonderinsel@cox.net) | Date: 2004-06-30 14:00:36 UTC-04:00
It behooves a placer to put some sort of landmark - nicely identifiable - as a back-up direction to clues posted. Some troubles include there not *being* a nice, outstanding marker to use in addition to a compass reading (trackless jungle, desert, etc...). I leave the solution to *that* one as a study for the diligent student.
If your so declined to.
I've also seen more than once people refer in clues to "turning around to 180 degrees" when they meant to say "Turn around 180 degrees", meaning "turn around".
But I do bear in mind that most letterboxers keep a compass handy, and availability of maps is sometimes iffy.

Dave
The von der Insels
P10 F206 X113 H8 E3
----- Original Message -----
From: mohmers@aol.com
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 10:17 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Question about compass readings in clues -- use of declination


In a message dated 6/29/04 5:33:24 PM Central Daylight Time,
salladin@frontiernet.net writes:

>
> There's no need to adjust for declination if you're using a compass only
> (no map). I would imagine that any degree reading shown to locate a Lb
> would be magnetic.


GOOD ANSWER.

Usually a letterboxer will also give landmark clues as well.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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