How to Take and Walk on a Bearing: The Essential Hiking Skill

In navigation, a bearing is the horizontal angle between your forward direction of travel and magnetic North. It is expressed as a number from 000° to 359°.

For example, if you stand on a ridge and see a mountain peak directly East-Northeast of you, its bearing might be 068°. Even if you descend into a dense, foggy valley where the mountain peak disappears from sight, holding that 068° bearing ensures you walk in a straight line directly toward it.

1. Face the Target: Square your shoulders directly toward the distant landmark (a summit, cabin, lake outlet, or distinctive tree).
2. Sight Across the Compass: Hold the compass flat at eye or chest level. Point the top reference marker straight at the landmark.
3. Read the Azimuth: Look at the number under the lubber line. Let's say it reads 142°. That is your bearing to the target.
4. Write It Down: Always write down your bearing in a field notebook or phone note. In bad weather or stressful conditions, memory easily plays tricks.

The biggest beginner mistake is looking down at the compass needle while walking. Doing so causes you to unknowingly veer around boulders, logs, and bushes, drifting dozens of yards off course over a single mile. Use the Intermediate Landmark Method instead:

• While standing still, sight along your bearing (e.g., 142°).
• Find a prominent object directly along that line of sight 50 to 100 yards ahead—a distinctive birch tree, a split boulder, or a fence post. This is your intermediate checkpoint.
• Put the compass in your pocket and walk directly to that checkpoint without worrying about compass drift.
• Once you reach the checkpoint, stop, take out the compass, sight 142° again, pick a new intermediate checkpoint ahead, and repeat.

If you need to retrace your steps back to camp, you calculate a back-bearing (the exact 180° reverse direction):

When hiking on a bearing, you will inevitably encounter impassable obstacles—a deep marsh, sheer cliff, or flooded river. To navigate around it without losing your position:

1. Stop at the edge of the obstacle. Turn 90° to the right (e.g., if heading 000°, turn to 090°).
2. Walk until clear of the obstacle, counting your paces (e.g., 80 paces).
3. Turn 90° left back onto your original bearing (000°) and walk past the obstacle.
4. Turn 90° left again (270°) and walk the exact same number of paces (80 paces).
5. Turn 90° right back onto your original bearing (000°). You are now on your exact original travel line on the other side of the obstacle!