How to use a map and compass to navigate in the wild.

All about the USGI compass and how to use it [VIDEO]

To determine the direction, or bearing, from one point to another, you need a compass as well as a map. Most compasses are marked with the four cardinal points—north, east, south, and west—but some are marked additionally with the number of degrees in a circle (360: north is 0 or 360, east is 90, south…

They call them “sun pillars”, a type of halo effect, that form when sunlight reflects off the surface of falling ice crystals. Occasionally the optical phenomenon can also be produced from other sources of light, including street lights. Such was the case in Finland last week when light pillars rose into the air projecting a…

Reminder how some things change while other things remain locked in time. The above is a 1947 map from National Geographic illustrating the proposed changes to Palestine (division of Arab State and Jewish State). The text at the top reads…

Topographic maps describe the shape of the land and can be used to help you locate natural and man-made features like woodlands, waterways, important buildings, and bridges. The information derived from a topographic map can help you locate sources for water and even if a clearly-defined water resource is not visible on the map, you…

Tim Cook issues letter to iPhone owners apologizing for the Apple Maps fiasco and suggesting alternative mapping solutions

Tim Cook issued a letter to iPhone owners today apologizing for the Apple Maps fiasco. In the letter (see below) he summarizes the problem and suggests customers try alternatives like Bing, MapQuest, or Google Maps.

Apple’s “form over function” mentality was blatantly evident with their switch from Google’s mapping service to Apple Maps in iOS 6 and Apple users are irate over the change. Apple Maps in beta was horrible but hey, it was a beta. Then iOS 6 rolled out with the final Apple Maps product installed and guess…