Compass Cove

WHITE MOUNTAIN

welcome to

white mountain, AK

Just 77 miles from Nome, this village is located on the banks of the Fish River. It takes its name from that of a picturesque nearby mountain. The Iditarod race checkpoint is located in the community hall building up the hill from the store.

The area that is present day White Mountain began as the Eskimo fish camp Nachirvik which means "mountain look-up point." The bountiful resources of both the Niukluk and the Fish rivers supported the Native populations there. The community grew with the influx of white prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. The city was incorporated in 1969.

White Mountain is most notable as the last of three mandatory rest stops for teams competing in the annual Iditarod. All mushers are required to take an 8-hour rest stop at White Mountain before making the final push to the end of the race, 77 miles away in Nome.

Population = 209

White Mountain serves as the Cyber Sled Race checkpoint: Compass Cove. Below you will find information and challenges related to basic compass skills, navigation, and map reading.

The content below is for participants of all ages, unless otherwise noted. Utilize your connected worksheets and tracking tools to find the specific information for your rank.

EXPLORE MORE ABOUT NAVIGATION

Navigation - the art of finding your way - is important for every Scout to learn.

Since ancient times, rough maps of the Earth and simple compasses have guided explorers, warriors, and pioneers like Lewis and Clark, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, and Amelia Earhart. Often, their skills with map and compass were all that kept these men and women from disaster. What has been a vital skill for humans for thousands of years is now a sport—orienteering. In 1919, a Swedish Scout leader, Major Ernst Killander, decided that compasses and maps could be used for fun as well as survival and navigation. Sport orienteering was born on that day, as 155 contestants fanned out around Stockholm with compasses and maps.

USING A COMPASS

Earth is a giant magnet with two ends, a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole. The poles are areas where the lines of magnetic force come together and are strongest. Even at distances of thousands of miles, the poles exert a pull on magnetized minerals. The Chinese were probably the first to discover this between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago when they noticed that lodestone or magnetite, if allowed to swing freely, would always point in a north-south direction. By carving a small pointer of this mineral and then floating it on a liquid, they invented the first compass. Once they added a compass card, showing the major directions, they could follow those directions relative to the Earth’s magnetic field. Today’s compass

has not changed much from those early models. Basic compasses combine a compass card showing 16 or 32 points of the compass or 360 degrees of a circle, and a magnetized metal needle that is colored on the north end.

A compass rose is a figure on a compass, some maps, and nautical charts. It is used to show the four basic geographic directions: north, south, east, and west. This symbol has been used by mapmakers since ancient times. The term “rose” comes from the figure’s compass points, which look a little like the petals of a rose. It was originally used to tell the direction of the winds and was sometimes called a wind rose. The compass rose is often located in a bottom corner of a map. Reading a compass rose is a lot like reading a clock. You start at the top, which is where north is located.

North

South

West

East

Here’s how to remember the points of a compass rose going clockwise in a circle: Never Eat Soggy Waffles!

Never = North

Eat = East

Soggy = South

Waffles = West

PARTS OF A COMPASS

North, south, east, and west are the points of a compass. A compass can help you figure out what direction is north. Once you know that, you can decide which direction to go to move toward your destination. You can also use a map and compass to figure out how to get from one place to another. Wherever you happen to be on earth, the compass needle will always point north. Hold a compass flat in your hand. Look down at the needle to see where it is pointing. Turn your body slowly. Keep turning until the compass needle lines up with the north line or “N” on the grid. Remember the floating needle is magnetized and the red end will always point to magnetic north. You can always figure out the other points of the compass when you stand facing north.

When you are facing north using a compass, east will be on your right, south will be directly behind you, and west will be to your left. If you forget, remember “Never Eat Soggy Waffles” and you’ll get right back on track.

When using a compass, it is important to know the parts of a compass to help you navigate.

1. Scales

These help measure distance on a map. If you check the common scale for the maps in your area before buying a compass and can get them to match, this can make map work a bit easier. A common scale for USGS topographic maps is 1:24,000, but this isn’t always the case – so check. If your compass and map scales don’t match, most orienteering compasses have centimeter and inch scales.

2. Direction of Travel Arrow

This is an arrow that is marked on the baseplate. It guides the direction of travel while following a bearing in the field.

3. Orienting Arrow

The orienting arrow is marked on the bottom of the housing and rotates with the housing. It allows the baseplate to be aligned relative to the magnetic needle. To take a basic field bearing, the housing is turned until the orienting arrow and the magnetic needle are aligned. These two elements are then kept in alignment while following the bearing.

4. Declination Scale

Declination is the difference, in angle of degree, between magnetic north and true north. The declination scale makes it easier to adjust for this difference. More advanced orienteering compasses often have an adjustable declination scale that can be set, usually by way of a tiny screw on the bottom of the compass.

5. Dial

The dial is part of the housing and is marked in two degree increments. When the dial is rotated, the orienting arrow, declination scale and orienting lines also rotate as part of the housing.

6. Index Line / bearing marker

This is where a bearing is read. A bearing is an angle relative to true north (true bearing), or magnetic north (magnetic bearing).

7. Magnetic Needle

A magnetic strip of metal that is on a pivot in the center of the housing. The north end is usually painted red, while the other end is often white or black.

8. Orienting Lines

These lines are marked on the bottom of the housing and rotate with it, the same as the orienting arrow. They are also often called meridian lines and north-south lines. When taking a bearing from a map, the orienting lines are aligned with the north-south map grid lines.

9. Housing

A liquid filled capsule that contains the magnetic needle. Orienting lines are etched on the bottom of the housing, and the dial is fixed to the top of the housing. The liquid helps dampen the needle movement, making it easier to get a more accurate reading.

10. Base Plate

The base plate is used to taking bearing on a map. The edge is placed between two points and the orienting lines and dial act as a protractor to give the bearing. The base plate is marked with scales, direction of travel arrow and index line.

HOW TO USE A COMPASS

If possible, use an orienteering compass for any activity you are needing a compass for. It allows you to precisely determine the direction you are wanting to head in.

Let's say that you want to travel east, which is 90 degrees. You would follow these steps:

Rotate the compass housing until E (east) or 90 degrees lines up with the direction-of-travel arrow.
Hold the compass flat in front of your stomach and turn your body until the north end of the magnetic needle (usually red) lines up with the north end of the orienting arrow.
Travel in the direction that the direction-of-travel arrow points.

TAKING A BEARING

Taking a bearing is simply measuring a direction from one point on the ground to another. Hold the compass in one hand, centered on your body. Rotate your body and the compass until the direction-of-travel arrow points in the direction you want to go. Rotate the bezel of the compass until the north end of the magnetic arrow (usually red) lines up with the north end of the orienting arrow. Determine the bearing by reading the number on the bezel directly opposite the bearing index.

Don't focus on the compass as you walk. You're liable to go off course or step in a hole. Instead, walk toward a landmark such as a tree that lies in the direction you want to go.

UNDERSTANDING A MAP

From an airplane, you can look down and see roads, rivers, forests, cities, and towns. A map is like a painting of that land. Since map makers can't include every detail, they choose information they hope will be valuable to anyone using the map.

You're probably familiar with all sorts of maps, including country maps that appear in world atlases and road maps that you can access on paper, online, or through a smartphone. Most of the time when using a map to navigate in the woods or on a hike, you will use a topographic map.

A map is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional space. It strives to reproduce on a sheet of paper, by using symbols, all the features of a piece of land or water.

Contour Lines. If you walk all the way around the base of a mountain and always stay at the exact same elevation, you are contouring around it. The line you follow is called a contour line. Now do it again, only walk a line 20 feet higher in elevation. You have walked a second contour line. The contour interval between the two lines is 20 feet. The contour interval varies from map to map. The contour interval for most USGS maps is 20 or 40 feet, while for most orienteering maps it is 3 or 5 meters. The amount of the interval is usually shown on the map. Find the contour interval on the lower right-hand corner of the full-color centerfold map of Sid Richardson Scout Ranch in this pamphlet. You also can figure out the contour interval. Here’s how. Determine the number of contour lines between the two adjacent index contours; add 1 to this figure, then divide by the elevation difference. Usually, an index contour occurs every fifth line. It is a bolder brown than the other contour lines, and on most maps you will find a number on it that tells its elevation above sea level. On orienteering maps, the index contour line does not have an elevation number, but is thicker than the others and is used as a guide for the eye.

You can also “see” the shape of the terrain from the profile of the lines on the paper. If a mountain is perfectly conical like a wizard’s hat, the contour lines depicting the mountain will look like a bull’s-eye. Each contour line will be perfectly circular, and all will be the same distance apart. More likely, however, the mountain is irregular. At one part of the mountain, the contour line may intersect a valley or a depression. If the contour line ran into the valley, it would lose elevation and would no longer be considered the same contour line. In order to continue indicating the same elevation on the mountain, the line goes up slightly and then drops back down at the other side of the valley, creating an upward-pointing V shape. When a higher point like a ridge is encountered, the contour line will “V” downward.

UNDERSTANDING TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

The best way to read a topographic map is to start at the bottom. There, you will find some important information that will help you make sense of the map.

Directions: First, look for an arrow pointing toward true north. It will help you orient

(align) the map with your surroundings. North is toward the top of most maps. That

means the bottom is south, the left is west, and the right side is east. You may also see a

second arrow pointing in the direction of magnetic north.

Scale: The map will include a scale that compares to the size of the map with the size of the area it represents. So on a map with a scale of 1:24,000, 1 inch on the map equals 24,000 inches on the ground, or 2,000 feet. On a map with a 1:62,500 scale, 1 inch equals 62,500 inches, or approximately 1 mile.

Distances: The map will also include several bar scales that you can use for measuring feet, meters, and miles on the map.

Date: The map's date will tell you when it was drawn or last updated. An older map will not show new buildings, roads, trails, or other recent changes to the land.

Location: The map's location will be indicated on a small state map. You can map see a graphic showing the names of adjoining maps.

Did you know?

The smaller the second number in the ratio, the smaller the area covered, and the more detail the map will show.

MAP SYMBOLS

Symbols like these to the left identify natural and manmade features on a map.

MAP COLORS

The colors used on a map are meaningful. Even if you don't know what a particular symbol means, you can make a good guess based on its color.

Blue: water (streams, lakes, permanent snow fields and glaciers, etc.)

Green: forest and vegetation

White: a general lack of vegetation. Clear of trees, such as fields, meadows, rocky slopes, etc.

Brown: contour lines (elevation information)

Black: man-made/cultural features (buildings, place names, boundary lines, roads, etc.)

Red: Highways and major roads, Township/Range/Section information

Pink: urban areas

Purple: reflect revisions to a map but is no longer used on maps in production

gps: global POSITIONING SYSTEM

Modern technology has provided hikers with a powerful electronic means of navigation— the global positioning system. A GPS receiver accurately calculates the longitude and latitude of any spot on the globe by taking bearings on satellites orbiting 12,000 miles above Earth. If you decide to use one, study the manufacturer’s instructions and practice using the GPS before you go hiking. Once you learn to operate a GPS receiver, you can use it to identify precise locations, determine elevations

above sea level, and plot the path of a trek. Inputting this information will create a history in the receiver that can be used if you need to retrace your steps. Electronic navigational instruments will surely continue to improve in accuracy, versatility, and ease of use. But a GPS receiver (especially one with dead batteries) is no substitute for being able to navigate the backcountry with traditional tools. Develop confidence in your ability to use maps and compasses and then, if you wish, add to them with a GPS receiver.

USING A MAP AND A COMPASS TOGETHER

You use the map and compass together as a unit, but the map is most important. You can navigate the course without a compass but not without a map.

DECLINATION

The maps you are most likely to use on hikes or backpacking trips are drawn with their tops aimed at true north. Extend a map’s boundaries far enough upward, and those lines will reach the north pole. You could say that these maps are made to speak the language of true north. However, compass needles do not point to true north. They are pulled toward magnetic north, an area in Canada more than a thousand miles away from the north pole. Compasses “speak” magnetic north, which is a different language from what most maps use.

Arrows drawn in the bottom margin of many maps show the difference between true north and magnetic north. The true-north arrow points toward the north pole. The magnetic north arrow points toward magnetic north. The difference between true north and magnetic north, measured in degrees, is called declination. Because of declination, the compass needle will lie to the east or west of true north by as much as 20 degrees westerly in Maine and more than 30 degrees easterly in Alaska. Only in a thin strip from Lake Superior to Florida is there zero declination.

If you do not compensate for declination, you will not be able to find the actual direction between two points as related to the north and south of the landscape. The simplest solution is to convert the language of the map into the language of the compass. Do this by drawing magnetic north-south lines on the map by lining up a ruler against the magnetic north arrow and extending this line with a pencil to the top of the map. Draw parallel lines to this one, a ruler’s width apart. This has already been done on all orienteering maps. Because they are drawn with tops aimed at magnetic north, compass readings can be obtained from or applied directly to these maps.

You can take a bearing from a map with magnetic north-south lines drawn on it by aligning the edge of the compass baseplate along the route of travel, making sure that the direction-of-travel arrow is pointing in the direction you intend to go. Rotate the bezel until the orienting arrow or north-south lines lie parallel to and in the same direction as the magnetic north-south lines on the map. Read the bearing directly opposite of the bearing index.

If the magnetic north-south lines are not drawn on the map, convert the language of the compass to that of the map. When you take a bearing from the map or apply it to the map, you must add or subtract the declination to the compass reading depending on whether the declination is easterly or westerly. Always add the number of degrees of error for west declination and subtract for east declination.

ORIENTING A MAP WITH A COMPASS

Orienting a map means aligning it with the terrain. You can do this visually, but it is easier to make errors that way. A more accurate way of aligning the map and terrain is to use a compass. First, rotate the compass bezel until N or 360 degrees is lined up with the direction-of-travel arrow. Next, set the compass down on the map, with the compass edge along one of the north-south magnetic lines and the direction-of-travel arrow pointing north. Rotate the map and the compass until the compass needle matches the direction-of-travel arrow. The map is now oriented.

A quick field method of orienting the map is to hold the compass on the map and turn the

map and compass so that the compass needle parallels or lines up with the north-south

magnetic lines, with the north end of the needle toward the top of the map. Check the

terrain around you to ensure that it matches what you see on the map. You can do this

almost constantly while on a course and even when moving.

MEASURING DISTANCE ON A MAP

You can measure distance on a map by using a compass scale, a ruled compass edge, or

any straight edge.

Using a Compass

Depending on the type of compass, a variety of scales may be marked along the edge of the baseplate. Ideally, one scale on the compass is the same as that on your map. For example, if your map has a scale of 1:24,000 and your compass has that scale on its baseplate, measuring distance is simple. Take the edge of the compass with the proper scale on it and connect the points for which the distance is desired. Simply read the distance directly from the scale. It is fairly common to find orienteering compasses with scales of 1:15,000, 1:24,000, or 1:62,500. Sometimes you might want to use the edge of the compass as a ruler, with inches on one side and millimeters on the other side of the baseplate. Measure the distance on the map with either scale and compare those distances with the distance rulers on the margin of the map. Read off the ground distance. Distance rulers on maps are generally in miles, kilometers, and feet. Orienteering uses metric measurements, so you usually will use the kilometer/meter distance bar on the map.

Using a Straight Edge

You can easily calculate distances using a strip of paper or other straight edge. This works well on routes with several legs and routes that are not straight.

IDENTIFYING LANDMARKS

With a compass and a map, you can identify a landmark that you can see from the ground if you know where you are on the map. Take a bearing to the object. Set the compass on the map with one edge of the baseplate touching your location. Point the N end of the housing toward the top of the map. Pivot the entire compass around your location until either the north-south lines in the compass housing or the orienting arrow parallels the north-south magnetic lines of the map. Extend a line from your location up into the map using the baseplate edge of the compass as a guide. Somewhere along that line is the landmark you wish to identify. Compare map, bearing, and actual terrain to locate and identify the feature in question.

BEFORE YOU GO OUT

Before you head out on any type of outdoor hike, campout, or activity, you want to make sure you have a plan!

Write down the five W’s of a trip plan:

Where are you going? Decide on a route to your destination and
back. For backcountry trips, include a copy of a map with your route
marked in pencil.
When will you return? If you are not back reasonably close to the
time on your trip plan, Scout leaders and family members can take steps
to locate you and, if necessary, provide assistance.
Who is hiking with you? List the names of your partners. If you need
a ride to or from a trail, write down who will do the driving.
Why are you going? To fish in a lake? Climb a peak? Explore a new
area? Write a sentence or two about the purpose of your journey.
What are you taking? Always carry the Outdoor Essentials. If you are
camping out, you may need additional food, gear, and shelter.

LEAVE NO TRACE HIKING

Caring for the environment is an important responsibility of every hiker. The principles of Leave No Trace can help you live up to that responsibility and enjoy the outdoors fully by knowing that you are respecting the environment.

Leave No Trace Principles: As you and your group plan a hike, ask yourselves how you can follow each of the principles of Leave No Trace.

Plan Ahead and Prepare. When planning your hike, contact the land managers of the area you intend to visit or the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (see the resources section for contact information). Explain your desired route and ask how you can best implement Leave No Trace. Here are some additional guidelines to remember.
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you will visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit the backcountry in small groups no larger than parties of four to six hikers.
Travel on Durable Surfaces. Stay on existing pathways to help protect the surrounding landscape from being trampled, eroded, and compacted.
- In popular areas, hike on durable surfaces such as established trails, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow.
- Protect shoreline vegetation.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even if it is wet or muddy.
- Conduct activities in areas where vegetation is absent.
Dispose of Waste Properly. Remember this solid guideline: Pack it in, pack it out. Make it easier on yourself by limiting the amount of potential trash you take. Especially important is the disposal of human waste. Use toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, urinate away from trails, camps, and other gathering places. Choose rocks or bare ground; animals may strip vegetation in order to consume the salts left by concentrations of urine. Pack out solid waste, or use a cathole. Check with the land agency for the area you will visit to find out the preferred method. To dig a cathole, choose a remote spot at least 200 feet from camps, trails, water, and dry gullies. With a trowel, dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep in the topsoil. Take care of business, re-cover the hole, and disguise the site with leaves or other ground cover. Organic material in the topsoil will slowly break down the waste, making it harmless.
Leave What You Find. A cluster of flowers beside an alpine trail. Bricks from a historic homestead. A bird’s nest on a low bush. Every hike will bring with it a new discovery to see and enjoy. Here are some reasons why you should leave what you find.
- Future hikers will have the excitement of discovering for themselves what you have found.
- Plant and wildlife environments will not be harmed. Leave rocks and other natural objects as you find them. Avoid introducing or transporting nonnative species.
- Archaeological, cultural, and historic structures and artifacts preserve a record of America’s past; some are sacred to American Indians and other Native Americans. Observe, but do not touch or take.
Minimize Campfire Impacts. Most hikers are prepared to spend a day outdoors without needing a campfire. If you do expect to cook or get warm, plan ahead with options that do not depend on kindling a blaze. In any case, it is wise to know when a campfire can be lit and when a fire could scar the land. In many areas, fires are discouraged, prohibited, or allowed by permit only. If you must make a campfire:
- Use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, make sure the ashes are cold out, then scatter the cool ashes.
Respect Wildlife. Sharing the outdoors with wildlife is one of the great pleasures of hiking. Respect wildlife by always traveling quietly and observing animals from afar. You are too close if your actions cause an animal to change its activities. Always avoid wildlife when they are mating, nesting, raising young, and during other sensitive times.
- Never feed wild animals. Doing so damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Store all your food and trash securely.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Extending courtesy to other outdoor visitors is a natural habit of hikers. Speak softly and respect their desire for quiet and solitude. Leave radios and electronic devices at home. If you carry a mobile telephone for emergency communication, turn it off and stow it in your pack until you need it. Appreciate the company of those you meet on the trail and at campsites near yours. Observe proper trail etiquette. If you encounter horseback riders or pack animals, stop and ask the lead rider what you should do. The lead rider will probably ask you to step a few paces downhill from the trail and stand quietly while the animals pass. If you encounter other hikers or backpackers going uphill when you are going downhill, give them the right-of-way. Step aside on a rock or a log to minimize your impact, and watch your footing when you step below the trail.

Leave-No-Trace-Seven-Principles-Infograp

WHILE YOU'RE OUT - BE PREPARED

BEING PREPARED AS A GROUP

Many people keep things to themselves. They don’t want to hold up the team or are
worried about what others will think of them. An important step in avoiding backcountry

emergencies is letting your companions know when you are having a hard time or if you

are aware of something that might affect you or the group. Remember, stopping for a few

moments to deal with a hot spot on a heel can avoid bringing the group to a long halt later

in the day when blisters break out. Saying something about changing weather or asking

questions about the route that group leaders have chosen can bring important matters to the attention of the rest of your group and help everyone make good decisions.

Buddy System

"Two heads are better than one." You may have heard that saying before and it is true. Sometimes you may forget a safety rule, or not be aware of a hazard up ahead, but if you are with a buddy, it is easier to stay safe. The buddy system is a great way for Scouts to look after each other. especially on outdoor adventures. When you go hiking, swimming, or camping, you should be assigned a buddy. You keep track of what your buddy is doing, and your buddy knows at all times where you are and how you are doing. The buddy system is a way of sharing the good times and keeping everyone safe. If you and your buddy find yourself away from the rest of the group, make sure to follow the S-T-O-P rules below.

BEING PREPARED YOURSELF

Most important is how you think about things when you are confronted with a survival situation. Learn the right things to do at the right time, then practice these techniques until you know them by heart, and you will build your confidence in dealing with wilderness emergencies.

S-T-O-P

The moment you think you might be lost, stop immediately. If you ever feel fear, stop immediately. Put your hands in your pockets and take a deep breath. Look around and really see what is happening. If there are immediate dangers to avoid—a potential avalanche, a capsized boat, an approaching bear—do what you must to keep yourself and others safe. You might need to put on your rain gear or step around a tree to get out of the wind. You might also need to provide first aid for life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Once that is done, you can begin to figure out what to do next.

The letters of the word STOP hold a special meaning for
staying positive and beginning to take charge of a situation.

Stop / Stay Calm
Think
Observe
Plan

Stop/Stay Calm. At the beginning of a wilderness survival emergency, the most important thing you can do is stop. Once you have taken care of your immediate safety and that of others in your group, then relax as best you can. Drink some water. Eat a snack. You have time. You have resources. You have a good mind. Now is the time to start using it.

Think. Assemble the group. Use your brain to figure out what is really going on. If you think you are lost, study your map and try to determine where you are. Look around for landmarks. Note the contours of hills, ridges, or mountains, and where you are in relation to streams or lakes. If you don’t have a map, try to remember where you could have gotten off course. What was the last landmark you positively identified? In what direction did you travel from there? If you are on a trail or a road, can you follow it back to your starting point? If you have left footprints in snow, can you retrace your tracks? Don’t go anywhere yet. There is no rush.

Observe. Assess the immediate situation. Does anyone need additional first aid? What are the weather conditions? Where is a good place to take shelter? Inventory everything you have in your pack and pockets, and look around to get a sense of the natural resources nearby. What clothing do you have? How can you improvise with what is available to make it suit your needs? Don’t go anywhere yet. There is no rush.

Plan. When you have figured out what your situation really is, the group can put together a plan for what to do next. Build your plan on what you have observed, what you have in the way of equipment, what you can improvise from native materials, and how you can keep yourself safe. Put into practice the survival steps you have learned, and wait as calmly as you can for help to arrive. Plan carefully and cautiously; don’t make your situation worse by acting hastily. If you left a written trip plan with a responsible person before leaving home, your failure to return on time should trigger a search effort. Most people are found within 24 hours of becoming lost or encountering difficulties in the backcountry. You could, if you had to, survive much longer.

LION ALTERNATIVE - SAW

S = Stay Put

A = Answer (if you hear your name)

W = Blow your Whistle

SAFETY TIPS AROUND ANIMALS

SAFETY AROUND DOGS

It is not unusual to come upon dogs as you walk through cities, towns, and near
farms. You may meet them on trails, too. Since you are a stranger to them, they
might snarl and bark at you. Avoid eye contact; talk to the dogs you encounter
in a calm, quiet voice and give them plenty of room as you pass. Do not
threaten them, but if you have a hiking stick or trekking poles, keep them
between you and the animals. Cross to the far side of the road or trail if you
can, or avoid a dog’s territory by taking another route.

SAFETY AROUND WILD ANIMALS

Seeing deer, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and other animals that make their homes in the outdoors is a special part of any hike. If wild animals must alter their normal habits, you are too close. They are not likely to become aggressive unless they feel threatened. Enjoy watching wild animals, but keep your distance. Do not disturb nests or burrows.

Be aware of the kinds of predatory animals you might meet during your adventures. Wolves, coyotes, and cougars (mountain lions, panthers, pumas) are curious. If you meet such an animal, do not approach the animal, run, or play dead. Face the creature and slowly retreat. Make yourself “big”—wave your arms and clothing above your head. Be noisy; throw rocks and sticks. If you encounter a bear, do not run or shout. Stay calm, back away, and avoid eye contact with the animal.

VENOMOUS REPTILES

Snakes and other reptiles will usually get out of your way when they see you coming. But if you stumble over one, it may bite. Fortunately, most snakes and other reptiles don’t have poison in their bites. Here are the few that do.

Gila monster: Found in parts of Nevada and Utah and down into Mexico

Crotalus-adamanteus-8-Eric-Stine-copy.jp

Eastern diamondback rattlesnake: Found along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana

Western diamondback rattlesnake:

Found in the southwestern United States, from Missouriand east Texas to southern California

Prairie rattlesnake: Found in the western half of the United States

Studies-thermoregulatory-behaviour-sidew

Sidewinder or horned rattlesnake: Found in the deserts of the Southwest

Coral snake: Found in some Southeastern states and in southern New Mexico and Arizona

Copperhead: Found in most Southern states, but also as far north as Massachusetts and as far
west as Illinois and Texas

Water moccasin (cottonmouth): Found in or near water from southeastern Virginia to Florida to east Texas and up through Arkansas and parts of nearby states

DANGEROUS INSECTS

Bees, hornets and wasps: Most flying insects are just annoying, like mosquitos. A few of them can be dangerous for people with bad allergies. If someone gets stung by a bee, hornet, or wasp and has trouble breathing, it’s important to seek medical help right away. People who know they are allergic to insect stings usually carry special medicine called epinephrine with them all the time. If you carry this medicine with you, be sure your leader knows about it!

Ticks: Ticks are hard-shelled insects that like to bury their heads in your skin. (Yuck!) You should check yourself for ticks when you’ve been in the woods. If you find one, have an adult gently pull it out with tweezers. Wash the area with soap and water and put antiseptic medicine on it.

Chiggers: Chiggers are too small to see, but they can cause big itches when they burrow into your skin. Don’t scratch chigger bites; cover them with calamine lotion or special chigger medicine, such as 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment.

Spiders: Some spiders, especially the black widow and brown recluse, can make you sick if they bite you. Symptoms can include redness and pain at the bite site and also fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, joint or muscle pain, and cramps. Anyone who has been bitten by a spider should see a doctor as soon as possible.

POISONOUS PLANTS

Most plants are beautiful and harmless, and most animals are more afraid of you than you are of them. However, you should be aware of the poisonous plans and dangerous animals that you might see on the trail - even in a city park or neighborhood.

Here are the most common poisonous plants. If you touch them, your skin may get red and itchy. You can prevent a reaction by washing with soap and water as soon as possible.

Poison Ivy.

Poison ivy grows throughout most of the continental United States as either a shrub or a vine. Look for leaves with three leaflets and maybe white berries.

Poison Oak.

Poison oak grows as a low shrub in the eastern U.S. and as clumps or vines on the Pacific coast. Look for clusters of three leaves and possibly yellow-white berries.

Poison Sumac.

Poison sumac grows as a tall shrub or a small tree in wet areas in the northeastern, midwestern, and southeastern United States. Look for leaves with seven or more leaflets and possibly yellow-white berries.

To avoid poison ivy and poison oak, remember this rhyme: "Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, poisonous sight"

THE OUTDOOR CODE

As an American, I will do my best to –
Be clean in my outdoor manners.
Be careful with fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
Be conservation minded.

CONNECTED CHALLENGES

The activities below are for designed to allow you to explore more about orienteering and hiking by doing hands-on activities. These are labeled by program area. To find which activities correlate with your advancement, check your connected tracking sheets located at Anchorage - Starting Line.

LOCATE WHERE YOU LIVE

A map is a drawing or sketch of an area or country. Explorers have used maps since ancient times to travel from one place to another. We use maps every day. You may have used a map to locate a trail you hiked with your family. Now it’s time to get to know your town better and the area where you live! You can find a map of your city or town at a public library, the local convention and visitor’s bureau, or the chamber of commerce. You can also print out a map of your area from the Internet.

Some online map programs might also allow you to see a satellite image of your street and zoom in on a picture of your home. You can find the location of your home by typing in your street address with your parent or guardian’s help. Your home will not be pictured on a regular city or town map, though.

HOW TO FIND YOUR HOUSE ON GOOGLE EARTH:

Go to https://earth.google.com/web/
Type in your address in the Search bar
Locate your house!

Then, draw a map for a friend so he or she can locate your home, a park, a school, or other locations in your neighborhood. Use symbols to show parks, buildings, trees, and water. You can invent your own symbols. Be sure to include a key so your symbols can be identified. Maps have lines, symbols, and colors. A key, or legend, tells you what those symbols and colors mean.

Using the key, locate different symbols on the map. What symbols did you find? Now make a map of your neighborhood. Include your home, your school, or other locations you choose. Make up your own symbols to show parks, buildings, and bodies of water nearby. Be sure to mark the streets and landmarks on your map so a friend could easily find the location you selected.

DRAW YOUR OWN MAP

MATERIALS NEEDED

Paper
Colored Pencils / Markers / Crayons
Optional: Ruler

DIRECTIONS

The first decision is what to include on the map. Use your neighborhood and surrounding landmarks. Focus on the major landmarks in the area you're mapping. Places like your home, the road, neighbors' houses, stop signs, etc. are perfect examples.
Begin to put those landmarks on the map! Start by drawing a compass rose to indicate north, south, east and west on the map. Position the paper to line up with the actual directions. This makes it easier to put the landmarks in the appropriate spots. Decide on symbols for different landmarks. A square might indicate a building in the neighborhood, for example. A circle might represent trees. Start by drawing a representation for a prominent landmark. Make sure to keep in mind the proportion of the objects on the map. A fire hydrant shouldn't be as large as the house, for example.

Use the maps below as examples! Click on them to enlarge.

COMPASS TREASURE HUNT

It’s time to have some fun using a compass! A parent, leader, or older Scout will place an object or objects nearby for you to find. Then he or she will give you directions for using the compass to locate them. First, find north on the compass and line up your body so you are facing north. Someone will give you directions to an object from the position where you are standing. Using the compass, follow the directions to get to the hidden object. Good luck on your scavenger hunt!

MATERIALS NEEDED

compass
paper and marker to write instructions.
treasure

HOW TO MAKE A COMPASS TREASURE HUNT:

An adult or older Scout will need to map out your course.

The course can be located anywhere: the park, backyard, or in your
house! It can be as simple or complex as you want, but should be scaled
in difficulty to the ages of everyone involved.
Standing at the starting point, look around in the distance for a

hiding place for the first little treasure and next clue: behind a tree,
hanging from a branch, behind the garage … Hold the compass and check to see that it’s level enough for the needle or card to spin freely. Wait till it points steadily in one direction, and turn the compass so “N” lines up with the pointer.
Now hold the compass in front of your face, and turn it until the needle points to North. Look to the hiding spot, then look down to the compass and read the “degrees” which point to the spot. (This method is simple, but not “pinpoint” accurate. Keep the next clue reasonably easy to locate).
Walk to the first hiding spot and count your steps along the way. Be sure to take the same size steps as the players would. Write down the number of steps and the course (in degrees) on a small piece of paper. This is the clue you’ll give the players at the start.
Repeat the process for the next clue: look for a hiding spot, take a compass bearing, count the steps, and write it down. Once you’ve finished plotting this second clue, you have to backtrack to the first clue location and leave the note with compass bearing and # of steps to the spot you just plotted. Don’t forget to leave a few treats to keep the players enticed.
Create as many waypoints as you like, but make enough so that each player gets a turn. The final “treasure” can be buried, hidden, or covered, but where all can access it together. (Not up a tree!) It can even lead right into your house where the birthday cake is waiting as the treasure.
Remember, kids have shorter distances in-between steps than adults, so take small steps.
Make it fun! Add instructions like spinning, jumping, climbing and more after they finished counting their steps. It breaks everything up and keeps them guessing and excited for not just the treasure at the end, but the hunt to get there.

GO ON A HIKE USING A COMPASS

You’ve practiced with your map and compass, and now you’re

ready to try out your skills on a hike. Plan a hike with your

family using a park map, a map of your community, or a

map you have created.

Be sure to plan the route for your hike so you can follow the directions using your map. Remember to bring along a pack with the Cub Scout Six Essentials or the Ten Scout Essentials and dress for the weather like you learned about at the Survival Shack in Ruby!

When you get to a point on the map that is marked, such as the intersection of two streets or a marked fork in the trail, stop and orient yourself by using the map. Point to the place where you are on the map, and show an adult that you know your exact location.

Make sure you apply the Outdoor Code & Leave No Trace Principles you learned about above on your hike! After your hike, share with your family what you did to demonstrate the principles.

While on your hike, make sure to use our HomeScouting Scavenger Hunt to see what you can find! Download it below to look in your Cyber Sled Race guidebook for it already printed!

Scavenger hunt

Connected Cub Scout Advancement Requirements:

In addition to going on a hike and following the instructions above, find other connected advancement requirements below related to your rank earned by going on a hike. This is IN ADDITION to advancement earned during Cyber Sled Race. (i.e., Tigers in the Wild requirements are not listed below because they are a main adventure for Cyber Sled Race. Refer to your tracking sheets for the details on these requirements)

Lion - Mountain Lion: Demonstrate an understanding of respect for animals and nature when participating in a learning hike.
Tigers - My Tiger Jungle: Go for a walk outside, and pick out two or more sights or sounds of "nature" around you. Discuss with your partner or den.
Wolf - Call of the Wild: While on a hike, identify four different types of animals you see or explain evidence of their presence. Tell how you identified them.
Bear - Fur, Feathers, and Ferns: While hiking or walking for one mile, identify six signs that any mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, or plants are living near the place where you choose to hike or walk.
Webelos - Webelos Walkabout: Plan a hike or outdoor activity, prepare a first aid kit to take with you and a nutritious snack.

three-leg compass walk

MATERIALS NEEDED

Compass
Piece of Candy or another prize

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large outdoor area, the piece of candy/prize is placed on the ground.
Standing where the candy lies, each person sets their compass at 360º, faces north, and walks for 50 paces following that bearing.
Next, set the compass for 120º, face that bearing and take another 50 paces.
Finally, set their compass for 240º, face that bearing, and again take 50 paces.
When you're done, if they’re five feet from the piece of candy, you can pick it up, put it in their pocket, or eat it.

Note: ideally, the candy will be placed on grass or other terrain so the person can’t spot it until they’ve finished the last leg of the triangle.

Expand the Challenge: The Scout chooses their own bearings, adding 120º to the first and second as they go.

travel to nome

Take the suggested route to Nome to face the Final Frontier!

Travel to Nome

YOU ARE HERE

White Mountain

Compass Cove

Go back to the race course

Nome

Final Frontier

Virtual Race Course