--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Elaine Schmeck
wrote:
>
> I have a question for folks who are writing up clues on the various
> sites out there:
>
> Which north do you use for your headings: true north or magnetic
north?
>
I think you will find that most folks just line that little 'pointy'
thing with north and use the degrees as they are shown.
There have been some clues that indicate that you must use a
declination, but those are fairly rare.

Don

All of my clues are magnetic north even tho I generally forget to put that
in the clues. Of the few boxes I've found that actually have compass
directions in the clues, they've always been magnetic north.

In travelling tho, I try to remember to find out the declination "just in
case" I end up needing to know it someday.

~~ Mosey ~~

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Elaine Schmeck
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 10:01 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Compass Settings - True North or Magnetic North?


I have a question for folks who are writing up clues on the various
sites out there:

Which north do you use for your headings: true north or magnetic north?

While most of the time, the declination will not affect anything as you
are going such a short distance, it would be a wonderful additional note
to the clues if it were specified somewhere. If using magnetic north,
then there would be no adjustments to the compass. If using true north,
then we would know to find out the area's declination.

As I will be teaching basic orienteering to my Girl Scouts as they work
on their badge, I'd like to know which one to tell them to find on their
compasses before we set out as I know it will be asked.

thanks

frettchen



Yahoo! Groups Links

I am one of the people who has used True North, but that's only
because when I started this hobby, I thought that's what everyone else
used. As I've learned, most people use magnetic north so you don't
have to declinate your compass.

I have considered re-writing any clues I have with compass directions
so that they reflect magnetic north, but haven't done so yet. I'd
recommend if you write clues for the masses, use magnetic north.

When someone reviews my clues from my website, it tells them that any
compass directions use True North.

If you're interested in reading what I wrote about declination, see
http://home.comcast.net/~scott.e.hall/declination.html


CPAScott

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Elaine Schmeck
wrote:
>
> I have a question for folks who are writing up clues on the various
> sites out there:
>
> Which north do you use for your headings: true north or magnetic north?
>
> While most of the time, the declination will not affect anything as you
> are going such a short distance, it would be a wonderful additional
note
> to the clues if it were specified somewhere. If using magnetic north,
> then there would be no adjustments to the compass. If using true north,
> then we would know to find out the area's declination.
>
> As I will be teaching basic orienteering to my Girl Scouts as they work
> on their badge, I'd like to know which one to tell them to find on
their
> compasses before we set out as I know it will be asked.
>
> thanks
>
> frettchen
>

Hello Frettchen,

I have never seen true north used in either letterboxing or
competitive orienteering. In my area, the magnetic deviance is only
5 deg, so you would have to be traveling a fair distance for it to
matter. It is, however, a good thing for the girls to know about
(especially for those who want to go on to be pilots).

The watch method is also useful in a pinch. You can teach them to
hold their watch level and point the hour hand at the sun (they can
also draw a watch with the correct time on a piece of paper or on the
ground if they have a digital watch). Bisect the angle between the
hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark (or the 1 o'clock mark during
daylight savings time) to get the north-south line. If there is any
doubt as to which end of the line is north, remember that the sun is
in the east before noon and in the west after noon (and due south at
noon). I have used this technique when letterboxing without a
compass (while traveling recently in Texas) and was able to
extrapolate compass bearings well enough to find the box. This also
works fairly well when it's overcast -- if you stick a stick in the
ground, you usually still get a good enough shadow to figure out
where the sun is.

Good luck, and have fun!

Fly

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Elaine Schmeck
wrote:
>
> I have a question for folks who are writing up clues on the various
> sites out there:
>
> Which north do you use for your headings: true north or magnetic
north?

The watch method you describe is unspeakably cool! I never heard of
that before, but I have been caught without my compass a time or two
so this should make things a little easier. My biggest problem is
that here in southeast Michigan, we go weeks at a time with no
sunshine, so I have to sort of guess where it is. Thanks for the tip!

TrailTroll

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "katek38"
wrote:
>
> Hello Frettchen,
>
> I have never seen true north used in either letterboxing or
> competitive orienteering. In my area, the magnetic deviance is only
> 5 deg, so you would have to be traveling a fair distance for it to
> matter. It is, however, a good thing for the girls to know about
> (especially for those who want to go on to be pilots).
>
> The watch method is also useful in a pinch. You can teach them to
> hold their watch level and point the hour hand at the sun (they can
> also draw a watch with the correct time on a piece of paper or on
> the ground if they have a digital watch). Bisect the angle between
> the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark (or the 1 o'clock mark during
> daylight savings time) to get the north-south line. If there is any
> doubt as to which end of the line is north, remember that the sun
> is in the east before noon and in the west after noon (and due south
> at noon). I have used this technique when letterboxing without a
> compass (while traveling recently in Texas) and was able to
> extrapolate compass bearings well enough to find the box. This also
> works fairly well when it's overcast -- if you stick a stick in the
> ground, you usually still get a good enough shadow to figure out
> where the sun is.
>
> Good luck, and have fun!
>
> Fly

I'm glad you like it. I wish I could take credit for it, but it's been
taught in the military and scouting for eons. I live in Ohio, where
it's also overcast quite often, but if you stick a stick in the ground
you will be surprised to see how clear the shadow is even on gloomy
days. Have fun!
Fly

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "TrailTroll"
wrote:
>
> The watch method you describe is unspeakably cool! I never heard of
> that before, but I have been caught without my compass a time or two
> so this should make things a little easier. My biggest problem is
> that here in southeast Michigan, we go weeks at a time with no
> sunshine, so I have to sort of guess where it is. Thanks for the tip!
>
> TrailTroll
>