Map & Compass 201: Declination

[MrBushLife]

outstanding Packrat...where do I sign, for the course..you gotta teach it up man. cheers ;-))

[CoyoteBeats]

YOU REALLY HELP ME OUT MAN!!!

MY SARGE EXPLAINS THIS SUBJECT SO DIFFICULT

[edcjunkie]

dont use a topo map's declination values. they're only accurate to the year the map was made and may have shifted several degrees by now.

[lurcher789]

Great video Packrat, clear and precise. Thanks from the UK.

[r1c3b0wl]

So if you do the declination like you did above and get 80 degrees E. Then would you take your compass and change it to point at 80 degrees instead of 90 degrees? sorry if that doesnt make any sense.

[dirkdigler23]

Awesome video, by far the best one I've seen so far. Thanks!!!

[trainz222]

Mine is -12 W is it still Best even though its a negative

[Jaxx137]

This helped improve my understanding immensely. PackRat, thank you very much.

[waynep10]

AWESOME. You have the talent & patience to teach others and that is a God given gift for sure. Thanks for the layman's terms and explanations. Really great.

[lancewillard]

Great intro vid.

[spoonhombre]

I believe you are the expert. lol. Thank you for the rhyme.  The way you explained it was much clearer than what I have been trying to read.

[m15cell]

Excellent job. You sir are a great educator. Thanks!

[Nnawgs1]

One even said orientate the map so the needle points parallel to the north south grid lines. "now the direction you choose will be correct with your compass" horrible advise. This was from a professional too

[Nnawgs1]

Great video. There are many videos on this subject, but many don't even consider declination. Finally you did! I've seen videos explain how to get a bearing off the map put that number on the compass card and hike. Are they crazy. People will be lost watching their videos. Yours is one of the few that actually is correct. I am an avid hiker and pilot, search and rescue. I understand navigation very well. thank you for knowing what you are talking about. Less people I will have to search.

[1swampwalker]

question, Ive checked a few websites on this subject and in my area magnetic declination is 2degrees 34 west and declination-negative does this mean we donot have to adjust for declination. just learning about map and compass.like to see more videos from you on this subject. thank you!

[OldManGlitch]

Rat, I know this is an old vid, but I have to tell you, you've done a very good "Laymans" way of explaining declination. Keep your videos coming. I like the way to simplify things.

[carlomac]

@PackRat556

Very clear and easy to understand video tutorial. Brilliant Job! Thanks for your efforts!

[fauzi9786]

thanks man..good stuff!

[0on0o]

thank you so much for this, and the saying. east=least west=best

[him3zz]

PACK RAT, I have a question for you. What if - now bear with me - I lived 1 mile of my destination. Would declination still be of relevence? Please respong.

[turinho76]

@him3zz within a mile, normally you can find your destination with a map based on terrain features alone. However, IF you can only use your compass (at night or in a forrest for example), then yes it would make a huge difference. For example, I'm in Utah and I try to find my way from point A to point B with a bearing of 90 deg on a map. The declination is 15 deg. If I did not adjust for this, and went walking at 90 deg (instead of 75 deg). After a mile I would be ~1500ft north of point B.

[mr4422]

I have heard about declination but never understood or knew what it's purpose was in mapping. Your video made it simple and clear. Now I have to go watch the first part! :-)

[DjConnor5]

great vid thank you

[rondan02]

Great Video, now I anderstant how to use declination. good work. Thank you merci

[dezera123]

very helpful

[marlowe5555]

Well done!

[skimalong]

great explanation and really easy to follow. thanks so much for sharing this.

[theRITTZer]

Ok, sorry, so, if your destination is east, you subtract, and vise versa? I understand the concept, just not sure if I understand the formula! Ha

[Buzzcutx]

East is least, West is best...

[jahhmin]

A fantastic video. Thanks a bunch !!!!

[P51Dwarbird]

Great video....just one question. Can an old map be used with an up to date declination from USGS?

[raykaye]

just learning how to use a compass/map and this video has helped me understand it alot better now Thank You and 5 stars .

[ridinmabike]

Probably the best declination explanation that I've found to date. Thanks for posting. Just to further confuse things, there is generally an annual increase listed on the topo map beneath the declination value. This value will help you calculate the annual change to the declination value as the magnetic field shifts over time. It looked like your map read '1983', so the annual declination change could be significant for your area by now...

[7archers]

Thanks. I like the way you use the kiss method, (Keep it simple sir). It helps a lot.

[FixedByDoc]

Awesome video. Very well done. I like that saying. 5/5. Also I have and use that same none folding compass you showed. It is a great compass in my oppinion.

[armhead79]

Thanks PackRat! This cleared up the confusion I was having with declination!

[USNERDOC]

Great addendum to your compass vid! Thanks!

[capreolus4]

awesome video thanks

[PackRat556]

@capreolus4 Thanks for the support! I appreciate it!

[Lag1914]

@PackRat556 Great Video. You explained declination value very well. How would you apply the degrees on the compass itself?

[05MagnumSXT]

Great video Packrat, you really laid it out in laymen's terms and someone new to using a map and compass should be able to understand what you were saying. Keep up the good work.

[PackRat556]

@05MagnumSXT Thanks! I hope it will be helpful to those who are new to this. I appreciate you watching and commenting always!

[veritasfiles]

I'm gonna have to watch this one a few more times, but thanks for all of the great information!

[PackRat556]

@veritasfiles Your welcome. I hope it is helpful for you. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[backlasae]

thanks for the video. I had no idea what declination was. Fortunately, where I live there is only 5 degrees declination, and I've never gotten lost!

[PackRat556]

@backlasae With a small declination number like your area has, over short distances, you won't be very far off base. The longer distance you travel, the more of a difference it makes. If you are not using a map, it is not really necessary to worry with declination either. Thanks for watching!

[DTOlness2860]

great video as always

[PackRat556]

@DTOlness2860 Thank you! I appreciate it.

[ChristianBackpackers]

Good video.

The easiest thing to do is to buy a compass that has a means to adjust the declination. That way once it's set there's little chance of making a mistake. All you have to remember is to check the declination setting of the compass for each region you hike in before leaving the house.

[PackRat556]

@ChristianBackpackers That's true. My Silva 515 has just this type of adjustment and I really like that. It is good to understand the basics though, just in case you find yourself using a more simple model or backup compass. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[swiftwren]

Cheers for the info Pack Rat and i noticed you changed your intro and outro music...

[PackRat556]

@swiftwren Thanks! Your right, I actually recorded that on my computer as an experiment and decided to use it just to do something new. Thanks for noticing!

[kayceesdad]

you can also use L.A.R.S. (left add right substract)

[Lintassimilator]

Nice and pedagogical. :)

Remember to update with the link in the sidebar.

[PackRat556]

@Lintassimilator Thanks, I tried to put it in when I uploaded, but the upload failed. I will put it in now.

[awarenessis]

Sadly no side bar with iPhone. Could you email the link someone?

[4770589]

Wow this is a great video!!! 5/5*!!!!!

[wulfesinger67]

great info to know thanks!

[offramp100]

Maybe a minor point, but you are not pronouncing it correctly, the "e" should be soft, not hard i.e. like the first "e" in the word "decimate"

Audio clip of pronunciation is is here:

thefreedictionary(dot)com/decl­ination

Good vid otherwise, clearly and correctly explained

[Selax]

Very well made video. Very descriptive.

[knifeguyeddy]

5/5m8

[hewittdj1]

East is Least, West is Best.

[onlyMTBlade]

thanks alot for the vid it was very helpful. keep em coming

[ignium]

Great vid man. A subject that can't be over stated. Simple and to the point!

[BroPaul]

Great info! THANKS!!!

[ColinOutdoors]

Really good information Packrat, thanks for sharing :-) 5/5

[hybrid4163]

Thanks! I appreciate you having taken the time to explain these principles. Many consider it too basic, and don't realize that not everyone has had the training or life experience to prepare them for accurate orienteering.