Hello!

Did you check the FAQ page under how to use a compass? On that page
is a link to compass use. If there is some type of outdoor store, REI
or EMS, close to home go there and scream HELP! If not, then hunt
down a BOY SCOUT (troop).

Have Fun!

Monica(the hiker)

"mjfillen" wrote:
> I made my first attempt at finding a letterbox today (D'ville
> Letterbox, Indiana) and failed miserably. I tried 2 or 3 times and
> ended up in 2 or 3 different places. I need a letterboxing guru to
> teach me how to follow a compass in person so they can tell me what
I
> am doing wrong.

Yes, I went to the page and several other pages about reading a
compass and it SEEMS simple enough to do it. That is why I need a guru
to tell me in person what I am doing wrong because I THINK I am doing
it right.
There is nothing outdoors in Indiana to see worth looking at so
outdoor stores would cause confusion and bewilderment among us
natives. Just open the refrigerator and see all the corn and soybeans
(products) you can stand to view. Make the sound of someone playing
basketball during a car race as you look at the corn and soybeans
(products) and you have "The Total Indiana Experience". By the way, we
are heading into the 10-month winter season now. Followed by one week
of Spring, then a month of summer, 3 weeks of Fall, then 10-month
Winter. Boy Scouts do nothing but play dodgeball and complain about
not being able to play computer games during meetings.

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., "lizardbuttsfamily" wrote:
> Hello!
>
> Did you check the FAQ page under how to use a compass? On that page
> is a link to compass use. If there is some type of outdoor store, REI
> or EMS, close to home go there and scream HELP! If not, then hunt
> down a BOY SCOUT (troop).
>
> Have Fun!
>
> Monica(the hiker)
>
> "mjfillen" wrote:
> > I made my first attempt at finding a letterbox today (D'ville
> > Letterbox, Indiana) and failed miserably. I tried 2 or 3 times and
> > ended up in 2 or 3 different places. I need a letterboxing guru to
> > teach me how to follow a compass in person so they can tell me what
> I
> > am doing wrong.

Hum! I bet you eat a lot of popcorn. You must live in the northern
part of the state. Your state does have a National Forest, called
Hoosier National Forest. So, what is a "Hoosier"? Parke Co. claims
to have more than 30 covered bridges, great place to hide some boxes
when the weather warms up. And isn't there one of the largest caves
in the US, somewhere in the southern end of the state. Pretty state
from 30,000 ft up in the air.

Now,if you need a vacation from that long winter then I suggest that
you head to Maui,and look for Funhog's King Highway letterbox. The
kings highway will make you appriciate Indiana. Also,go snorkeling!


Monica (the hiker, who is happy to live in California where the hills
are brown 3/4 of the year)



> There is nothing outdoors in Indiana to see worth looking at so
> outdoor stores would cause confusion and bewilderment among us
> natives. Just open the refrigerator and see all the corn and
soybeans
> (products) you can stand to view. Make the sound of someone playing
> basketball during a car race as you look at the corn and soybeans
> (products) and you have "The Total Indiana Experience". By the way,
we
> are heading into the 10-month winter season now. Followed by one
week
> of Spring, then a month of summer, 3 weeks of Fall, then 10-month
> Winter. Boy Scouts do nothing but play dodgeball and complain about
> not being able to play computer games during meetings.
>

I need a letterboxing guru to
> teach me how to follow a compass in person so they can tell me what
I
> am doing wrong.

Try asking for help at a local Agriculture Education Center in a
local high school. They have Natural Resources teachers . They are
where the FFA kids get their classes so if you see a Blue and Gold
Jacket ask where they go to school.
You could also ask a forester, people who work in the woods
usually have compass experience.
Third just go back and try again, slow down and think about each
step and it should come to you... Leader of the Pack

You might try this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0020292651/qid=1035207692/sr=2-1/ref=
sr_2_1/104-7166333-6039953

(that should all be on one line. If it's not you'll have to cut 'n paste it
together in your browser.)

It cleared things up for me - and I didn't have anyone to show me how to use
the compass either.
If you type in "map and compass" at Amazon you'll find the above book and a
couple of others that may help.

You did take the magnetic declination into account, right? Although in
Indiana it can't be too significant. Most people make the mistake of
subtracting the declination when they should be adding, or vice-versa. That
can really throw you off.

Best regards,

HangGlider
----- Original Message -----
From: "mjfillen"
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 8:36 PM
Subject: [LbNA] I need a letterboxing guru


> I made my first attempt at finding a letterbox today (D'ville
> Letterbox, Indiana) and failed miserably. I tried 2 or 3 times and
> ended up in 2 or 3 different places. I need a letterboxing guru to
> teach me how to follow a compass in person so they can tell me what I
> am doing wrong.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List etiquette, info, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Declination. I don't know what it is, nor whether I should have taken
it into account or not. So I must decline on the ation.

> You did take the magnetic declination into account, right? Although in
> Indiana it can't be too significant. Most people make the mistake of
> subtracting the declination when they should be adding, or
vice-versa. That
> can really throw you off.
>
> Best regards,
>
> HangGlider

Magnetic declination is the difference (in degrees) between where your
compass thinks North is (magnetic north) and where the real North Pole is
(true north). Some clues are posted using magnetic North, and some use
"true" north. But this is all pretty confusing - I'd really suggest
checking out one of the texts mentioned previously, or track down a local
Orienteering Club. They'll be happy to teach you how to use the compass.

Best regards,

-HangGlider
----- Original Message -----
From: "mjfillen"
To:
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] I need a letterboxing guru


> Declination. I don't know what it is, nor whether I should have taken
> it into account or not. So I must decline on the ation.
>
> > You did take the magnetic declination into account, right? Although in
> > Indiana it can't be too significant. Most people make the mistake of
> > subtracting the declination when they should be adding, or
> vice-versa. That
> > can really throw you off.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > HangGlider
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List etiquette, info, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>