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RIDGE - A sloping line of high ground, a line that connects two hilltops.
This is what a ridge looks like in real life.
VALLEY - A stretched-out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers and located at
the base of a hill
This is what a valley looks like in real life.
SPUR - A short continuous sloping line of higher ground, normally jutting out from the side of a
ridge. Normally formed by parallel streams cutting down the side of a ridge. PRO TIP: Contour
lines shaped like Us or Vs point AWAY from high ground.
This is what a spur looks like in real life.
DRAW - A less developed stream course than a valley. There is no level ground, therefore little
to no maneuver area within it's confines. Usually occurs between two spurs. PRO TIP: The Us
or Vs of the contour lines point uphill and upstream.
This is what a draw looks like in real life.
Fist Terrain Features
You can use your fist to summarize a lot of the features, just make a fist and take a look at the
picture above to see the saddle, spur, draw, ridge, and hilltop.
Terrain Association: Next Steps
Now that you understand terrain features and how to identify them on the map, take a day and
go for a short hike. Use a topo map and try to identify terrain features on your map and in real
life. BAM! now you are doing terrain association. You can use terrain association to confirm
your location as you move or you can use it to try to find your location on the map by just
looking around and identifying terrain features around you. If you get disoriented, take some
time to find your surroundings on the map and you should be able to figure out where you are
on the map. In the next section we will talk about the compass, which will increase your ability
to navigate with a topo map.
Lensatic Compass Vs Baseplate Compass
Prior and current military will typically choose the lensatic compass over the base plate
compass simply because that is the issued compass and what we are most familiar with. I will
discuss each over the next few paragraphs and describe the pros and cons of each.
The Lensatic Compass
The biggest advantage of a lensatic compass over a baseplate compass is the lens that allows
you to sight in a landmark or navigational target while simultaneously seeing exactly what the
bearing is to the target.
This is particularly useful when you shoot an azimuth, and want to be dead on. The lensatic
compass will always weigh more than a baseplate compass but if you are not too concerned
about ounces, take a look at both compass styles and make your own choice.
The lensatic compass has many parts but don't get overwhelmed, its really simple to use once
you master a few basics. Theses also come in two night variants the phosphorescent (which
charges glow strips with light) and the tritium (which is a radioactive material that will glow for
about 12 years).
These can be beneficial in low light conditions without a flashlight. The tritium version usually
cost a little more than phosphorescent. I use the CMMG Tritium, click here to check latest price
on Amazon.