Originally Posted by
nsherry61
Well, it looks like the OP is wondering about simple winter navigation under what they're hoping is pretty tame weather conditions. And, I think there was a lot of and a pretty thorough list of ideas to help with that.
BUT, as threads get interesting and tangential to the OP, this one seems to be opening up to a wider discussion about winter navigation in general. AND, the comment made up-thread about map and compass being useless in a white-out, in an area I know has useful terrain features to navigate by, triggered the urgent, oh crap, "I can't let this piece of misinformation propagate" impulse in my fingertips.
And, if people are going outside in winter very much, it can be most helpful to be adequately prepared to navigate the unexpected because the unexpected happens and becomes problematic in the winter. And, if you're confident in your winter navigation, you will go out for longer in conditions that are well worth exploring, but hold narrower weather safety margins.
So please, people, take time to practice finding your location on a map and hiking to particular pre-determined waypoints (like a trail junction or a creek crossing or whatever) without being dependent on a GPS.
1) Keep track of your location on a map as you hike using terrain features visible to you and on that map.
2) Practice finding you location and waypoints using low visibility tools such as slope angle and slope direction and altitude.
3) Practice marking up your map at home with notes about distances (and estimated travel time?), headings to and from notable terrain features, slope angles and directions for waypoints of navigational value, and whatever notes will help you navigate when you don't want to or can't take the time to figure it all out on the mountain in a blizzard, when your exhausted, and you are having to manage an emergency.
Then, go play outside with confidence in the wild beauty we have around us!