IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Wilderness Navigation
Maps are a must-have to navigate in the wilderness. But you must also have a good orienteering-style compass, no other type works as well.
A good map is everything. A compass alone won't do. A compass is useful only if you know where it leads you. And that's why you need a good map. Topographic Maps are the best for Wilderness Navigation. The 15 minutes series are also called 1:62,500. Each map covers 15 minutes of latitude and 15 minutes of longitude. There are 63,360 inches to one mile, so one inch approximately equals 1 mile. This is the most useful and practical scale for backcountry trivia in the USA. For Canadian Maps it's 1 and 1/4 inches equals one mile.
Before you set out to where your base camp is located you MUST take a good compass reading with your map, and write down on your map the towns or outfitters location. Also take a GPS reading and write down the readings as waypoint #1. YOU MUST DO THIS! IT'S FOR YOUR SAFETY SO IF YOU GET SEPARATED FROM THE CLIENTS THAT YOU ARE PHOTO SHOOTING, YOU WILL KNOW WHERE THE TOWN OR OUTFITTERS LOCATION IS ON YOUR MAP, AS WELL AS THE COMPASS READING MAP'S LOCATION. THIS IS FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND IN FINDING YOUR OWN WAY BACK TO THE TOWN OR OUTFITTERS STORE.
The first important thing to do when you make base camp is take another compass reading with your map, then write down the compass reading and mark it on your map. Take your GPS reading and write it down on your map and mark it in your GPS unit as #2 base camp way point. This will tell you by looking at your map or GPS unit that this is the precise distance you are from the town or outfitters store that you left. Now all is well and you can setup your tent and personal camp area.
Always have the opening to your tent facing south or southeast. This is to take advantage of warmer winds, and not so harsh winds, or a driving rain or snow. Your personal camp fire dugout ring should be no closer than 12 feet from your tent door opening and south of your tent.
Keep all food away from your camp, and at least 20 yards from your tent. This will help keep animals from entering your camp site. Your fire pit ring should be 8-10 inches deep and about 3 feet across. Your clothes line should be 10 feet from your fire pit ring. Keep your fire wood near your tent, and make a walking stick 6 feet long. Some of this info was found in your survival book that you received. You must have it along with you when you are doing a P.T.P Photo Shoot.
