Orienteering... Huzzah!

[Granola Dude]

Hey everyone. I hope 2006 has been good to all so far. Anyway, I have a question about buying a compass for Orienteering and general map & compass work. I'm doing my homework by reading Be Expert with Map & Compass and I can't wait to go get lost somewhere, but I would like to know how to get back. Alas, a compass would be good! I walked into EMS yesterday to check out the goods, but I didn't really know what to look for. What is a good compass to get started with, and how expensive do I need to go for a good quality Orienteering compass?

Thanks! And do share your map & compass adventures! :beer:
peace

 

[ctenidae]

$10 basic plastic one with a rotary ring is about all you need. Useful to have inches/cm on the side. I see no need to get one with the flip-up reticle, since over any distance the error adds up so quickly, anyway.

Here's my E-Z orienteering course:
Pick two mountain tops or other mapped landmarks, take the bearings, and draw them on your map. Where the lines cross, that's where you are. Near enough, anyway (make sure your map skills are good enough to tell the difference between a ridge and a valley, and you're all set).