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Hannah's Hare
Possum's Pie
Nightcrawler's Nightmare
Redworms Noose
Sneaky Paws
Pinch It Off
Sycamore Tweet
The Peed Piper
Crazy Worm
Caching with a Compass
Here's some tips on compass or bearing work. This
is ideal with two people. The first person is the bearing man, the second, the pacer. The bearing man sets the general direction.
The pacer then proceeds the correct number of paces in that direction and turns around and faces the bearing man, awaiting
instruction. The bearing man then directs his pacer to move either to the left or right until he is at the precise bearing.
Then the bearing man joins the pacer and from that spot look for the marker to determine the next "leg" of travel. If travel
is over hill and dale, it helps if the pacer carrys a walking stick with a bandana tied to it. That way he can raise it over
his head to aid the bearing man in sighting him properly if he ends up out of line of sight. For practice it is good to switch
roles, and that will be fine in THIS case as there are markers at the exact locations. IF, there were NOT markers at the end
of each leg, it is far more accurate to NOT switch places but for each partner to maintain his role until the finish.
Another tip, if doing this alone. This will take longer
but will achieve the same effect. Establish a general line of travel, then step 3 steps to your right. Plant your walking
stick with the red bandana at your heel. Now take your time and set your compass on the exact bearing. Determine an object,
tree or bush IN THE DISTACE to mark that bearing. Take your time with this. Then proceed the required paces. Take 3 steps
to your left. (the reason for the off-set is so that you don't damage the marker itself by posting your stick too close to
it) Now sight backwards to your walking stick WITHOUT changing the dial on your compass. If you are using a digital compass
or gps unit you may need to add or subtract 180 from your previous setting If, when back-sighting, the bandana is not where
it should be then move either to the right or left until it is. You have just been both the bearingman and the pacer and you
are as close to the spot as you can orient to. NOW look down and in an outward spiral from this point find the marker. If
you miss entirely, it is an easy matter to go back to the walking stick and begin again.
Using these two tips will nearly
always get you to within 20 feet or visual distance of the marker.
A final tip. If you are alone and there is an obstacle
in your line of travel, proceed to near it and stop on an even pace, say 20. Then turn 90 degrees to the right and walk X
number of steps until you can clear it. Stop, then turn 90 degrees to your left. Resume your count , as you proceed past the
obstacle, say up to 25, paces then stop. Then turn 90 degrees to the left and walk X number of paces (the same number as before).
Stop, turn to your right 90 degrees. Reconfirm your bearing by sighting on your distant object and resume the original line
of travel counting from 25 onward. This is called "squaring the obstacle" and is easier to do than it is to write! With 2
people that can stay in visual contact with each other, this will hardly be necessary.
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