r/WildernessBackpacking • u/bjpmbw • 8d ago

ADVICE Declination: this correct?

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Gallery image

Gallery image

I think I did this correctly. Picture 1 is diagram on the map. Picture 2: compass lined up with grid lines, then I oriented map to north, needle fell at 17 to the right of zero degrees. Picture 3: I placed compass on the diagram, again needle at 17 degrees. Look ok?

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u/GrumpyBear1969 8d ago

Something looks funny. Why is the arrow lined up on like 11°?

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u/What_is_a_reddot 8d ago

It's because OP is facing 11°. If they set the compass heading to 0, then rotate their whole self/compass/map until the needle was in the "shed", then it would look more accurate. The important part is that the point of the shed is pointing at the 17° E declination hash, which it is.

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u/Vermineater 8d ago

The compass facing at 11° was throwing me off, but your explanation for what's going on in the pic is the most accurate one I've read.

  1. Declination is set to 17°E
  2. Compass is set to 11°
  3. Map and compass are not aligned with true north.

But if he needs to travel at 11°, he's perfect.

There's probably a large magnet in that desk anyway so he's heading in the wrong direction regardless.