A compass makes wilderness navigation possible by enabling you to accurately gauge directions from your current position to identifiable landmarks throughout the terrain that surrounds you.
The most basic function a compass provides is pointing north (magnetic north, that is). An orienteering-style compass allows you to assign a numeric value (a "bearing") to any direction in the 360° circle around you. This means you can head toward a specific spot rather than simply ambling "south-southwest" or "due east."
The rotating bezel of a compass is used to convert general compass directions into specific bearings. A bezel's outer edge includes index (degree) lines that breaks down the 360° circle into 2° or 5° increments.
A bezel measures the direction towards a given object in terms of an angle—specifically, the clockwise angle between a straight line pointing due north and a straight line pointing toward the object. This bezel allows you to express any specific direction as a number between 0° and 360°.
Why is it useful to know that your campsite lies on a bearing of 40° instead of "to the northeast"? Because precise navigation results in efficiency, safety and speed.
Chief Scout - Bear Grylls
The Chief Scout provides inspirational leadership to the Scout Movement in the UK. The public face of Scouting, the Chief Scout ensures that we reach as wide an audience as possible.
Chief Scouts are appointed for a five-year tenure.
Bear Grylls was the UK’s youngest Chief Scout when he was appointed aged 34.
As an ex-Special Forces soldier, he is not only known around the world as the host of hit survival TV series, he is also an inspirational speaker, bestselling author and a fervent supporter of young people experiencing adventure for themselves.
