Finally I have in my hands a definitive guide to the art of
navigation with examples throughout. This is the book that many in the outdoor industry
have been threatening to write for years. Well, Andrew Friedemann has
quietly gone and done it. Knowing Andrew to be meticulous, my
expectations were high and I was not disappointed.
The book is described as a "training workbook" and each section ends
with a "Test Your Knowledge" quiz. The questions are well thought out,
and model answers are to found at the back of the book. This feature
alone, culminating in "The Final Task" at the end, will make this book
an invaluable teaching aid for outdoor instructors and Geography
teachers.
The different sections are presented in a logical progression, beginning
with basic route planning, and moving through an introduction to
direction, navigational tools and skills, and navigating in poor
visibility. Important points or facts are clearly highlighted in boxes.
Each section is dealt with thoroughly and I found myself paging through
the book eagerly looking for the little nuggets of information that
Andrew has so painstakingly compiled. For example, I found his
explanation of azimuths versus bearings fascinating. I had always been
under the impression that azimuths were used specifically in astronomy
but that misconception has been cleared up and I find myself already
thinking in terms of azimuths, and not bearings. Also, I had always
wondered what the 6400 referred to on my protractor. I now know that it
refers to Milradian!
On the equipment side I was pleased to see his recommendation of the
optical sighting compass as being probably the best for mountain
navigation. That has always been my belief. I also liked the fact that
he emphasises that a GPS is merely a supplement to traditional
navigational skills.
The chapters on Navigational Skills are probably going to be the most
often referred to sections, and they are handled clearly and concisely,
surpassing my usual reference book, Mountain Navigation Techniques by
Kevin Walker.
On the whole, I feel that this book is an excellent product, condensing
virtually everything one would want to know about navigation in our
mountains, into one, user friendly, volume, and I, for one, will refer
to this book often in the future.
