I think the compass adds something to the "hunt". I like it best when
there are both compass bearings and trail information (such as: head 330
degrees (or NNW) 14 paces to the 2 dead trees) so I don't have to rely on
only one clue to get where I am going. Since I happen to letterbox with my
9 year old son, it also lends an educational aspect to our search, and also
makes the search a little more interesting for older children. Once we did
forget the compass, but luckily it was a sunny day and in the afternoon. So
we relied on the sun and figured out the degrees with a pencil and a circle
and found our way anyway. Even though its a little thing, it made me feel
good.

I don't mind boxes without the compass bearings though. I enjoy walking
through the woods, and this hobby/sport is a wonderful way to get us out
and discovering what's around us!

Good hunting!

Pat and Wesley





"pairomedicsa
ndtheivs" To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
hlink.net> Subject: [LbNA] compass usage

05/01/02
08:02 AM
Please
respond to
letterbox-usa






Hello!
I just have a quick question about compass usage. Is it a common
practice for letterboxers to carry a compass? My husband and I have
been using compass bearings as part of our clues, but I don't know
how heavily we should get into that, we certainly don't want to
hinder the pursuit of our boxes, but at the same time it adds more of
the treasure hunt atmosphere when you have to use a compass. Any
advice would be greatly appreciated.



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Hi there,
RE: Compass useage.

We love it. It adds another demension. However, we
still like a clue or two such as the "big tree" or the
"fallen down stone wall" to double check ourselves.
Vinnnie the dog does very well on the compass.
:-)
Always fun.....
jurneez & Vinnie the dog.



--- pairomedicsandtheivs
wrote:
> Hello!
> I just have a quick question about compass usage.
> Is it a common
> practice for letterboxers to carry a compass? My
> husband and I have
> been using compass bearings as part of our clues,
> but I don't know
> how heavily we should get into that, we certainly
> don't want to
> hinder the pursuit of our boxes, but at the same
> time it adds more of
> the treasure hunt atmosphere when you have to use a
> compass. Any
> advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
>


=====
Journey's End Digital Farm

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Just a thought about compass usage ..and how it is in the UK

There is really not any clue I have ever seen for Dartmoor which didn't
have a whole host of cross bearings...

As to accuracey of the measure, well they are on the whole very good...

Lets be real though... no-one would use less than half a degree.

Less than half a degree is just not readable !

I must say that bearings from multiple points are part and parcel of the
clue...I wonder how you can determine a "fix" without at least three ?

I appreciate that there are big differences between clues in the UK and
the US..Dartmoor Letterboxers don't give the copious directions that LbNA
members are used to seeing..

Here are a couple of typical UK Dartmoor clues...

Monarch Butterfly 67** 73**
Lone tree in field 26 Corndorn Tor highest point 80
Another obvious nose shaped rock on Yar 333 White Gable End 355

Babbling Brooks 3 - Snowdon Brook
(680 678)
Hollys on brook 331 & 350, church tower 98, church spire 106, nearest
dead tree stump 165
Box in split of rock high above brook LHS going up
__________________________________

For the technically minded:

The 67 73 and 680 678 bit are a "grid reference".
This is the UK mapping standard (called OS)
..you can use your GPS for this..

It will locate the boxes to being within a grid square ..
These are sized 1 kilometre by 1 kilometre for Monarch Butterfly..
and 100 metres by 100 metres for Snowdon Brook (about 100yds by 100yds)
respectively!

Easy eh !

Without a compass you'd be lost I fear !

For the very technical..and if my grid system maths holds up ..
The second box is approx.1 km East and just over 5 km South of the first
shown here.

The only problem I have is that I have no idea what a kilometre is
___________________________________


Finally though....I can't imagine anyone going out into the wild without a
compass..?

Happy Boxing

Graham Howard
aka The Moorland Wizard

I like to carry a compass even if the clues don't call for one. A
compass can be handy to have at times. I like clues for boxes to
include some use of the compass along with the large tree, big rock
on your right, etc. Now, my partner molly takes the sniff and follow
your nose procedure which seems to work well for her. To each his own
I guess....Chuck & Molly P24-F87-X7

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., "pairomedicsandtheivs"
wrote:
> Hello!
> I just have a quick question about compass usage. Is it a common
> practice for letterboxers to carry a compass? My husband and I
have
> been using compass bearings as part of our clues, but I don't know
> how heavily we should get into that, we certainly don't want to
> hinder the pursuit of our boxes, but at the same time it adds more
of
> the treasure hunt atmosphere when you have to use a compass. Any
> advice would be greatly appreciated.