Rick said:
I remember being disoriented as we landed at a flat marshy area somewhere between Scott's Pond and Wallface Pond
The rangers consulted their map - I looked at mine, but they were much quicker figuring out where we were. I remember at one point when we got to the top, looking East and seeing Algonquin with Iroquois in front of it and becoming totally disoriented, thinking Algonquin should have been to the North with Iroquois below it. Boy, that was confusing.I often thought back to that day wondering how I could have been so disoriented and I think it was because I was always trying to play catch-up with what the rangers were doing and thinking (IIRC, One was from the Catskills area and the other was local) and never had time to really get my bearings or consult map and compass. Even lunch was standing for a minute eating, before we continued searching.
Hello Rick,
Please understand that this is
not a criticism but just an observation that hopefully might be of use to others as well. I am speaking to your experience, not your specific actions. Actually I am speaking to their actions. They should have made sure that everyone in the group knew were they where at all times and showed them on the map.
Never trust that the other person knows more than you do. I understand that they were 100% correct in this instance but I personally want all my team members to agree on where we are and what our route of travel is
before we start. I want independent thinkers who know their craft and can spot if I make an error. I want them to all know where we are and how we are getting there and to independently confirm my assumptions are correct. Anyone can make a mistake. I am not saying that you have to scream, “I think your wrong”
but an approach of “I am not sure where we are on the map, would you show me” or “I thought that we where here” or pointing out that the map does not orient properly with the surrounding terrain, could help the team do a re-think. I have no problem playing the part of the “helpful idiot” who “doesn’t know where he is” if it forces the team leader to show me where we are on the map and what bearing we are taking so that he proves to me that my suspicions are incorrect. Usually, this rethink, will allow the leader to realize on his own that something about his plan isn’t right. This is how I teach land navigation. I taught it in the army that way and I still teach orienteering and land navigation this way. If that doesn't work then a more forceful, but tactful approach may be required. It is never my intention to embarrass the team leader, no more than it is the copilots function to embarrass the pilot. It
is the copilots function to make sure the pilot doesn’t drive the aircraft into a mountain because of a silly mistake or a misinterpreted reading of the instruments while he is sitting in the seat next to him. If everything is correct then no harm, no foul. If there was a problem you may have prevented, at a minimum, a far more embarrassing situation for the team and at worse serious injuries to the team or the team actually becoming lost. In addition, it is dangerous for you personally and the group as a whole. If you were separated from the group, or because of the team leaders or group injuries you had to take over the team it would be more difficult for you to get yourself and the rest of the team out of difficulty or to tell people where you were.
I understand that broaching this subject is even more difficult with a group that you were just thrown in with but, being that I have no personal history with them, that makes their navigation skills even more suspect to me.
Usually a good team leader will be happy to share his knowledge. The people that worry me the most are the secretive ones. Again, I am not talking about the group you were a member. They obviously were competent but they still should have made sure everyone in the group had this critical information.
By the way. If you do your map checking subtlety, 99% of the time the rest of the group won't even know that you are checking on them.
Just my $.02,
Keith
