Earlier this autumn , Matt was out working hard with Barney on Dartmoor. Barney has since written this amazing detailed course report which we’re publishing here as it gives a real insight into a navigation course like this.
Vertical Frontiers, Dartmoor, October 2013
1. Phase One
Four days and one night, one to one intensive navigation training in Dartmoor National Park with Mountain
Instructor Matthew Knapp a former Royal Marine from Vertical Frontiers covering intermediate navigation
techniques and night navigation.
Once Matt had explained the basics of contour lines, spot heights and linear features we headed out on the
moor for some practical instruction. As we arrived at our starting point he handed me the map and asked me
to find our position, once I had located/guessed it he showed me a simple technique to orientate the map by
aligning the compass northings with the map northings and then rotating the map until aligning the compass
needle North.
After a quick explanation of distance measurement and the importance of pacing when navigating in poor
visibility we set off down the track to calculate my pacing for one hundred metres. Arriving at a crossroads, he
explained how to confirm our position by observing the surrounding terrain, in this case comparing the
contour lines on the map to the steep slopes ascending to the East and descending to the West of the
crossroads.
I was then introduced to measuring distances on a 1:25.000.000 map with the edge of the compass and the
basics of navigating using linear features. The first test was to accurately pace 400m towards the corner of a
walled field en-route to South Hessary Tor. Rain and fog had reduced visibility to approximately 20m so the
conditions were ideal for training to emphasize the importance of accurate pacing and distance measurement.
I learnt that walls on maps aren’t always there on the ground so good judgement and understanding of the
terrain and the map is essential. From South Hessary Tor we followed the foot-high remains of a wall cross
country towards the road where I was tested on my observational skills or lack of… and ability to confirm our position by comparing our surroundings to the map, in this case fields, roads, walls and wooded areas. I was then tasked to find a Y junction in the bridle path and navigate there without looking at the map having had time to study the map and formulate a plan.
For the rest of the day Matt selected positions on the map and tasked me to lead him to them formulating my
own navigational strategy. Arriving at each position he debriefed me on what I did right and wrong and
introduced new lessons and techniques each time. Focusing on linear features I hand railed rivers, dry leats
and walls, navigating between enclosures, junctions, corners, footbridges, trigonometry points and
abandoned tin miner huts. To end the first day we covered eight figure grid references and basic compass
work. The final exercise consisted in pacing100m in each direction forming a square by returning to the
starting point with the least error possible. I managed to achieve this with only 5m of inaccuracy.
So much rain the DevonPort Leat burst its banks.
The second day started at Bristhworthy Plantation where I revised and practiced the skills learnt the previous day. New navigational techniques such as attack points, aiming off and catching features were introduced. My first task of the day was to lead us to a series of Cairns 300m North of our position using the techniques learnt for taking and walking on a bearing. Visibility was considerably poor at approximately 15m so accuracy was essential. My bearing was inaccurate, as usual, so I walked straight past the cairn until reaching the chosen catching feature, a wall 40m beyond. Matt took this opportunity to demonstrate another method of confirming our position by comparing map bearings to visible linear features. Using this technique I was able to locate our position at a vertex in the wall and from there, take a new bearing towards the cairn. As visibility was poor, once at the cairn I used the spiral search method to find the other Cairn 30m east of our position.
After a four-hour break we headed back out for my first night navigation exercise. Starting at Cox Tor car park above Tavistock I practiced the techniques developed earlier in the day over a period of four hours searching for tracks, hand railing rivers and visiting Pew Tor and Heckwood Tor. As with earlier in the day, I was constantly tested leading Matt to locations of his choice. I found the night navigation very challenging and now appreciate the importance of the fine detail required when map reading, the accurate measurement of distances and the usefulness of spiral searches and looking without light to observe the silhouette of natural features.
On the third day we further reinforced the techniques learnt up to this point focusing on catching features and
attack points as well as introducing some basic weather system principles and the use of expedition route
cards. We spent a lot of time on map interpretation and identification of contour features. At any moment Matt would walk off for 5 minutes without notice to test my ability to track our progress and locate our position, this I found very challenging.
My task for the fourth day was to plan and prepare a route of approximately 9km and lead Matt around the
route delivering a small talk on each point of interest along the way. I planned an elliptical route of 8.9km
starting from Four Winds car park on the B3357 passing through 8 waypoints.
From the car park I lead us North towards a contour feature and the origin of a tributary to Walkham River,
continuing North to Great Mis Tor and the mythical Devil’s Frying Pan. From the Tor the route descended
southwest to the remains of a 16th Century blowing house as well as lovely smelling bog which I ended up in
before continuing South until once again reaching the B3357. Crossing the road I planned to head to the
prehistoric Merrivale Stone Rows, continuing south to King’s Tor, southeast to a small pond, around
Yellowmeade Farm and back to the car park via the remains of a Neolithic stone settlement.
I chose this route as it incorporated a number of difficult objectives such as ponds, ancient remains, junctions and contour features. The route also allowed me to practice a number of techniques I had learnt the previous days such as hand railing, pacing, the spiral search method, aiming off, walking on a bearing and interpreting contour lines and identifying contour features. The exercise went very well and I learnt a lot by guiding Matt who gave me complete independence to formulate my own strategies and correct my own errors wherever possible. I can now fully appreciate the pressure of navigating whilst leading and guiding people in such conditions and the importance of formulating sound navigational strategies.
Overall the four days and one night of one to one instruction have been extremely informative and stimulating
and I have learnt a great deal about navigational techniques. I have also learned a lot about the Moor itself
gaining an insight into it’s history, the variety of terrain encountered on Dartmoor and most importantly the
significance of sound navigation skills when leading any number of people in the outdoors and the pressure
that goes with it. I have been constantly challenged and tested from the first day and found the night
navigation exercise the most interesting and challenging of them all. I lam keenly looking forward to the next
five days of instruction.
2. Phase Two
On Monday 14th October, we practiced remote navigation techniques without the use of linear features
starting from Prewley Moor approximately 7km SW of Okehampton. From the car park my first task was to locate a contour feature within a ravine, which proved quite challenging. From there we contoured around and up to Shelstone Tor 1km South of Meldon Reservoir, continuing up to Brancombe’s Loaf.
Following my bearing and pacing we arrived directly at the loaf, which demonstrates considerable improvement in navigational accuracy from the previous instructional period. Visibility was very good, yet I am confident I would have been able to navigate to our destination equally as well in poor visibility with the techniques Matt has taught me. From the Loaf I was tasked to find a contour feature lying between Kitty and Hunt Tor. This was the toughest terrain encountered all day, boggy and waist deep growth, but I managed to stay on track, just about… following my bearing for 1.5km. Arriving at the destination I knew I was within 20m of the feature, however, I could not see it to save my life. In order to correctly identify the feature we moved west 300m to Hunt Tor to gain better visibility from where we could return to the feature following pacing and bearing. From Hunt Tor I was tasked to locate a small pond 500m east of Great Links Tor.
My navigational strategy consisted of dropping down to a track cut out into the hills side until identifying the remains of a Y-junction from where I would follow a bearing to the pond. Visibility was good therefore following a bearing all the way was an option, however, the weather appeared to be closing in rapidly so we made use of linear features for this short leg. I have significantly improved since last week and am now much quicker at formulating a plan as well as being more accurate and decisive, competent and confident navigator. From Great Links Tor we made our way back to the car without the use of the compass relying on observation and the ability to orientate the map at all times. Arriving at the car Matt taught me the triangulation method which I then used to determine our position within only 40m of accuracy, so not a technique often used for that very reason but nonetheless useful to know.
Wednesday was spent at the Barn Climbing Centre where I started on the bouldering wall, progressing
through to belaying on the top ropes and onto lead climbing practicing high falls, a few of which genuine, and
leading on level F5 routes. I spent seven hours in total climbing, which proved a steep learning curve. As a
complete novice I found it very challenging yet worthwhile and I intend to pursue this interest in climbing
nourishing the skills learnt over time as I aspire to eventually become a Mountain Leader.
On the seventh day we conducted a remote supervision navigation exercise. I planned and prepared a route
card for a 15km route from Belstone to Postbridge passing various obligatory check points.
After briefing Matt on my route I followed my planned navigational strategies, confirming my position at prearranged checkpoints via radio approximately every three kilometres. Everything went according to plan
finishing five minutes ahead of schedule. I only made a few minor errors but was able to rectify them
immediately by using the catching feature technique, which is identifying a prominent feature beyond your
intended position that immediately implies that you have overshot the mark. Conscious of the time constraints I found that I am able to navigate much quicker than I had previously thought wasting little or no time at all stopping to check my progress, so overall a very productive and worthwhile exercise.
After a quick turnaround to collect more equipment, we went out to conduct a second night navigation session with a night of wild camping in the Swincombe area. The exercise proved very challenging, as this time we weren’t using torches in order to preserve our night vision. My first task was flawed as I completely overshot our intended destination and was temporarily disorientated (completely lost), however I was able to eventually determine our location, return to the last know linear feature and get back on track, walking straight towards the moon arriving at our intended location. This wasn’t a great start but it was an excellent lesson in successful error recovery.
After a quick debrief of the last leg, the Matt turned and walked away as the next leg was to be a “blind” leg
for me. I managed to keep track of his progress following closely behind as he zigzagged across a number of
features and was able to indicate our position on arrival. My biggest mistake of the night was in confusing a
dry leat for a wall. After two more hours of navigation tests we headed back to the site where we had pitched our tents for the night. Once there, Matt briefed me on camp administration and routine for camping with groups, which along with my previous experiences in the jungles of Belize has given me the confidence and knowledge to take charge of a small group in the future.
The eighth day was spent in the same area following the routine of the previous days with constant tasks and
debriefs, incorporating new lessons at the end of each leg. We concentrated on micro-navigation and precise navigation paying much attention to the finer detail. This exercise was very useful for sharpening map reading and interpretation ability as well as enhancing observational skills.
On the last day I completed a 10km orienteering route in the forest, which as with the solo remote supervision exercise was a great way of practicing navigating without a compass by orientating the map at all times as well as working on improving map reading speed. I located 22/23 posts within the allocated time frame.
Overall it has been an absolutely cracking and thoroughly enjoyable bespoke course during which I
have learnt a great deal of new skills. For anyone looking to improve their navigational or climbing
ability I would fully recommend Vertical Frontiers. Matt’s instruction has been truly fantastic meeting
all my demands and surpassing all expectations.
Barney James
