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Bjorn Kjellstrom
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Be Expert with Map & Compass Kindle Edition

by Carina Kjellstrom Elgin (Author), Bjorn Kjellstrom (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,094 ratings
This classic map and compass navigation guide—newly revised for the age of GPS—offers a clear and concise master class on the art of orienteering.
 
GPS devices are great, but they can break, get lost, or easily be hampered by weather conditions, making basic map and compass skills essential for anyone who spends time outdoors. This popular, easy-to-use orienteering handbook has been helping people find their way for more than fifty years.

Now updated to include information on GPS as well as current Web sites, references, sources, and photographs, Be Expert with Map and Compass remains the book of choice for professional outdoorsmen and novice orienteers, as well as teachers, scout leaders, recreational hikers, hunters, and others around the world.

Coverage includes understanding map symbols; traveling by map alone, by compass alone, or by map and compass together; finding bearings; sketching maps; and traveling in the wilderness. If you want to feel at home in the wilderness, this updated guide is an indispensable reference.
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  1. Print length
    382 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wiley
  4. Publication date
    November 10, 2009
  5. File size
    12.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The classic map and compass navigation guide—revised for the age of GPS

"Required reading for the beginner in map and compass work, as well as for those interested in serious orienteering. In simple, clear, concise terms the basics of map and compass work are described and illustrated."
–George T. Hamilton, Appalachia

GPS devices are great, but they can break, get lost, or easily be hampered by weather conditions or physical obstructions. That's why basic map and compass skills remain essential for anyone who spends time outdoors today. This popular, easy-to-use handbook has been helping people find their way for more than fifty years. Updated with current Web site information, photographs, and more, it covers traveling by map alone, by compass alone, or by map and compass together. It features:

  • Clear, concise instructions for using a map and compass effectively
  • Exercises to help you learn and practice your orienteering skills
  • An introduction to the basics of competitive orienteering
  • Useful references for fur ther information
  • Tips on using your GPS device in concert with map and compass techniques

If you're looking to feel more comfortable in the wilderness, this book will teach you the skills you need for safe outdoor navigation for hiking, hunting, or just for fun.

From the Back Cover

The classic map and compass navigation guide revised for the age of GPS

"Required reading for the beginner in map and compass work, as well as for those interested in serious orienteering. In simple, clear, concise terms the basics of map and compass work are described and illustrated."
 George T. Hamilton, Appalachia

GPS devices are great, but they can break, get lost, or easily be hampered by weather conditions or physical obstructions. That's why basic map and compass skills remain essential for anyone who spends time outdoors today. This popular, easy-to-use handbook has been helping people find their way for more than fifty years. Updated with current Web site information, photographs, and more, it covers traveling by map alone, by compass alone, or by map and compass together. It features:

  • Clear, concise instructions for using a map and compass effectively
  • Exercises to help you learn and practice your orienteering skills
  • An introduction to the basics of competitive orienteering
  • Useful references for fur ther information
  • Tips on using your GPS device in concert with map and compass techniques

If you're looking to feel more comfortable in the wilderness, this book will teach you the skills you need for safe outdoor navigation for hiking, hunting, or just for fun.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002WQLNC4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley; 3rd edition (November 10, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 12.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 382 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,094 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Bjorn Kjellstrom

    Bjorn Kjellstrom

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    Björn Kjellström, an enthusiastic outdoorsman, experienced wilderness traveler, and cross-country skier, is a former Swedish champion in Orienteering. His writings on the subject have been published in several languages. He was one of the founders of the Swedish Orienteering Federation, the first of its kind in the world, and also of the U.S. Orienteering Federation. He was a director of the U.S. Orienteering Federation for several years and was vice president of the International Ski Federation from 1951 to 1979. He was born in Sweden and now lives in Pound Ridge, New York.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Carina Kjellstrom Elgin

    Carina Kjellstrom Elgin

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,094 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book very informative and easy to read, particularly noting its helpful lessons and activities. Moreover, they appreciate its focus on orienteering and consider it a favorite book on land navigation. Additionally, the book offers good value for money and is suitable for children. However, the accuracy receives mixed reviews, with several customers finding it misleading.

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134 customers mention "Information quality"106 positive28 negative

Customers find the book very informative, particularly praising its helpful lessons and activities, and its effectiveness in introducing readers to orienteering.

"...It's well-written, extremely easy to follow, and filled not just with practical know-how but also some great games to get one started...." Read more

"...to read it and practice the exercises, it will absolutely teach you to find your way using a topographical map...." Read more

"Used for teaching orienteering. Like it's presentation and easy to follow progression...." Read more

"...It also has exercises for groups. The writer focuses a lot on orienteering and some on how to organize an orienteering event." Read more

62 customers mention "Ease of reading"49 positive13 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and comprehend, with a clear and simple style that follows a logical progression.

"...This was not a big deal, as it was quite easy to figure out by the headings. This book has given me the confidence to navigate off the beaten path...." Read more

"Used for teaching orienteering. Like it's presentation and easy to follow progression...." Read more

"...This book is simple, common sense, gives good explanations, and helps readers to develop the skills to use a compass...." Read more

"This is still a clear and good guide to the basics of the use of map and compass. I bought it to replace a long lost copy of the original edition...." Read more

41 customers mention "Map information"37 positive4 negative

Customers find this book to be an excellent resource for map and compass navigation, describing it as their favorite guide for land navigation.

"Very easy to see why this is considered a classic for compass navigation...." Read more

"Get the printed version. This book has a physical map that is used for some exercises in the book...." Read more

"great info on compasses and map reading" Read more

"...pick up some tips and tricks and at the end be able to navigate at a reasonable level...." Read more

12 customers mention "Orienteering"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on orienteering, with one customer noting how it explains using a map with an orienteering compass, and another mentioning how it helps avoid getting lost in the woods.

"...This book has given me the confidence to navigate off the beaten path...." Read more

"...It also has exercises for groups. The writer focuses a lot on orienteering and some on how to organize an orienteering event." Read more

"This is a great book, the classic text on land navigation...." Read more

"...It's focus is heavy on orienteering. I was disappointed it did not come with the practice map mentioned for the various lessons and quizzes...." Read more

12 customers mention "Value for money"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money.

"...No batteries, satellites, or expensive equipment is necessary - only a Bjorn Kjellstrom designed Silva or Brunton compass is necessary to always..." Read more

"...Worth what I paid for it." Read more

"...The book is good value for money but for those with interests in hiking and wilderness travel,The Essential Wilderness Navigator is a more complete..." Read more

"...described - and exactly what I wanted for his 30th birthday - at a fair price. Thank you!" Read more

7 customers mention "Fun for kids"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging for children, with one mentioning it includes fun exercises for young beginners and another noting that children can understand it well.

"...and filled not just with practical know-how but also some great games to get one started...." Read more

"...It’s fun and a good skill to have. This book is a good start." Read more

"Fun and interesting read. Lots of great information for a beginner and has interesting activities to promote better learning...." Read more

"Covers basics well and has fun excersizes for young beginners. As a basic text I reccomend it to my students" Read more

7 customers mention "Dated content"3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's content, with some appreciating it as an updated classic while others find it outdated.

"...Firstly, this book is quite old and has been through many revisions and updates. The later by the original author’s daughter...." Read more

"This is an upgraded edition of the he book I used years ago to learn how to use an orienteering compass...." Read more

"...I'd go with one of them. This is kind of old and out of date." Read more

"...It is immediately a classic update to include current additions in the technological world of navigation...." Read more

5 customers mention "Accuracy"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the accuracy of the book concerning, with multiple reviews noting that it is very misleading and contains very few statements about GPS.

"...or illustrations contained elsewhere in the book and are occasionally not accurate which can cause some minor confusion as there are a lot of..." Read more

"...2. The exercise questions were sometimes ambiguous or confusing...." Read more

"...4... This book very poorly discusses Longitude/Latitude, Magnetic fields, GPS, Hiking, told too many stories of her greatness without actually..." Read more

"...That is literally true but very misleading. I had expected information about how to use GPS along with a map or compass, or using GPS only...." Read more

Belongs on the history shelf
2 out of 5 stars
Belongs on the history shelf
This was the first book I ever bought on the subject of using a map and compass for students attempting to learn the art of land navigation. It was recommended by everyone I knew, as there wasn't a whole lot else out there at the time, and it had been in print since 1955. While it's been revised several times, the material is largely unchanged. About the best I can say for Kjellstrom's book is that it is better than the rambling "Sierra Club Land Navigation Handbook" (revised edition or not), but that's about it. The illustrations in "Be Expert With Map and Compass" are few and small, and the guidance questionable. To give one example, I'll point to the section on adjusting your compass for magnetic declination (the difference in degrees between magnetic north and true north in the local area of travel). As the only alternative to memorization, the author recommends using the 3-inch straightedge of your compass baseplate to draw multiple pencilled lines of magnetic declination on your topo map(s). Problem is, you'd need an artist's easel, fine-point pencil, and long ruler to draw those lines accurately, because if you don't, you could end up miles away from your destination. What people do in real life is to buy a compass with adjustable declination (you can look up local declination online or check your phone's compass app). Or simply tape a tiny pointer for local east or west true declination on your compass baseplate. A very serious problem with this book is that fully half of it is completely irrelevant. That's right. Half the book is devoted to setting up orienteering races and games for pre-teens. Orienteering utilizes special large-scale maps oriented to magnetic north; the compass is used only to orient the map. Unfortunately, learning how to set up control points and courses isn't going to teach you how to follow a course heading in remote backcountry using a USGS topo. This over-emphasis on orienteering means that the book completely leaves out things like dead reckoning, improvised landmarks, pace counting, resection/position-finding, latitude/longitude and UTM grid systems, navigating in specialized environments and weather, etc, etc. - vital information that anyone hiking the wilderness should learn. There's no reason today to handicap yourself with such a book. It belongs on the history shelf. Try the Essential Wilderness Navigator or Lyle Brotherton's Ultimate Navigation Manual - better writing, better subject coverage, and much more relevant.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • permacultist
    5.0 out of 5 stars There's a reason it's a classic! Great book!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Very easy to see why this is considered a classic for compass navigation. It's well-written, extremely easy to follow, and filled not just with practical know-how but also some great games to get one started. The included practice map is of great help, as are the "quizzes" that run throughout the book. Checking my own calculations against the answers in the back of the book was of great help. The only thing I noticed was that the page numbers referenced as containing the answers were off in my version. This was not a big deal, as it was quite easy to figure out by the headings. This book has given me the confidence to navigate off the beaten path. I have been an avid hiker for 30 years, but always on trails in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Now I feel comfortable exploring the woods off the path, and know that I can make my way back to the trailhead. So happy that I finally learned how to really use map and compass skills together.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • W.B. Craver III
    5.0 out of 5 stars Upgraded edition
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is an upgraded edition of the he book I used years ago to learn how to use an orienteering compass. If you are diligent to read it and practice the exercises, it will absolutely teach you to find your way using a topographical map. I have been lost twice and found my way out of the woods using what I learned in this book. I highly recommend it.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • William P.
    4.0 out of 5 stars good intro to map and compass work, with some advanced use
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book provides a good general introduction to map and compass work, with some more advanced techniques. The portions dealing with how to plot a course using a topo map are particularly well-presented, as the author's primary focus seems to be competative orienteering. The author does not provide particularly useful guidance for poor visibility/nighttime navigation, but one cannot be perfect on everything.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Warren Schrick
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is as advertised.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Used for teaching orienteering. Like it's presentation and easy to follow progression. I don't know what a reviewer wants when he says it will not make you a expert. I don't know what else he wants. I have been using a map type compass for over 60 years, and find this book excellent. I have also done surveying, where I am , in a sense making the map! I also have a Brunton pocket transit, but it is by no means a map compass. I have used a military lensatic compass, but find the transparent base of a map compass superior. In conclusion, if not a expert, then highly proficient. That said, we used to jokingly refer to "experts, as someone with a briefcase 50 miles from home".
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Jason Dirnbauer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get the printed version
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Get the printed version. This book has a physical map that is used for some exercises in the book. This is a great hands on book to navigating with a compass and map. It walks the reader through a series of more progressive exercises up to real life. It also has exercises for groups. The writer focuses a lot on orienteering and some on how to organize an orienteering event.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • maura k
    5.0 out of 5 stars good book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    great info on compasses and map reading
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Chuck H
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to navigating with a compass.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    An old standard that is still around for a good reason.

    We rely too heavily on our tech these days.

    So a lot of us keep a compass handy.

    What good is that without some rudimentary working knowledge?

    This book is simple, common sense, gives good explanations, and helps readers to develop the skills to use a compass.

    Funny thing is I’ve used my compass in cities more than out in the boonies so far.

    It’s fun and a good skill to have.

    This book is a good start.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Eric
    3.0 out of 5 stars Probably Worth the Time
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I had previous experience with this book in a college class I took on map reading and interpretation. We used some of the exercises but I didn’t have first hand experience with the book itself.

    The first thing to understand is that the author was a champion at competitive orienteering and the inventor of the Silva compass. Those two points overshadow the book. And while I am on that note I will proceed with the bad points of the book in order if sinfulness.

    Firstly, this book is quite old and has been through many revisions and updates. The later by the original author’s daughter. This leads to two finer points: One is that he book is very repetitive of some points that have little to do with becoming skilled in navigation; The second is that the book references information or illustrations contained elsewhere in the book and are occasionally not accurate which can cause some minor confusion as there are a lot of illustrations.

    I also don’t personally don’t care for how the book is written. There is an almost juvenile feel to the assertions that you will find joy in this or that activity or that this will be an activity that you will want to repeat. This becomes more annoying as it comes closer to the points of competitive orienteering which I have no interest in. And this is at the cost of not covering anything other than the most basic methods of plotting location and nothing at all on cartesian coordinates in any form.

    And that brings me to the worst sin, wastefulness. The information is presented in a very long winded fashion. It makes following the thread of the lesson more difficult. I am fond of personal stories about a skill, preferably in the beginning of a chapter. But not throughout and not trying to convey skills in a storybook fashion. It may work for some but not for me. The book also references competitive orienteering entirely too much. It does stress how some skills benefit you outside of that sport but it's almost anecdotal. The book tries to sell orienteering all too much and the last nearly third of the book is all on orienteering and not in a way that leads to skill development. It stresses what to do when planning to go to an event and what it will be like all the way through how to set up your own events and how they should be planned. As a book on orienteering that would be great but this book doesn’t propose to be that.

    Now all that said, this book does have a lot of good information. Most of it is presented in easy to learn segments. There are a ton of exercises (that I am not up to doing) that will improve your skills and understanding. Many of these could be great to those who education others in navigation skills.

    The original author was obviously very passionate, skilled, and knowledgeable. The lessons are, though long winded, written in a way that anyone should be able to pick up on them with ease. For anyone not intimately familiar with map and compass, you will probably pick up some tips and tricks and at the end be able to navigate at a reasonable level.

    Time is given to the skills of map reading and compass reading separately and their uses singularly. That would be about the first third of the book. The second third is given to uses together. Some small time is spent on some more primitive techniques. The remainder is only useful to those want to orienteer as a sport.

    But give it a shot if its a skill you want to work on. I do recommend this book but only concern yourself with taking what you need and leaving the rest.
    53 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alberto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in Spain on August 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Calidad
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  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Missing a training map that is used for several exercises
    Reviewed in Germany on July 31, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I do not have the first and second edition, but I have the impression that the third edition contains a lot of redundant information. Informat that was added to justify a 3rd edition.
    And why did you make that major error: the table of contents mentions a training map that is missing. That map is used in several exercises!! Sloppy, if you ask me.
    Report
  • macca
    5.0 out of 5 stars Learning how to read a map
    Reviewed in Australia on August 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Bought this book on line, as i am starting to hike in our forest areas, thought this might put some structure into the correct procedures for map and compass use.
    Found this book very informative and a good learning platform, one problem with buying on line was the fact that a lot of the training exercises in the book needed the training map in the back of the book, you do not have this with on line downloads..
    Would recomend this book to readers looking to improve the skills needed for safe passage when going off track.
    Report
  • Andrew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Orienteering Book!
    Reviewed in Canada on August 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is the perfect orienteering book for orienteering, backpacking, camping, hiking and kayaking - any navigation really!
    Report
  • Declan Duffy
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's got me back into navigation
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As being a ex soldier navigating is all we did. When I left the Army my daughter as me a question about navigating got her the answer and got her this book.
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