Session 7: Navigation Issues

Forty miles north of Bethesda and the leaves had almost all fallen from the trees, especially up on the hills of Gambrill State Park.  I was late for training because Google maps had given me directions using a road which did not exist. I had to phone Bob, who was in charge of the day's training, otherwise I would never have found the place, so I was already feeling bad about my navigational skills. It was only going to get worse, unfortunately.

I missed the obedience part of the day, so Cino had to stay in the car. I was eager to make up for being late, so when Bob gave me directions as to where to go to be a subject, I did not listen as well as I should have done. This was the first time that I was to make my own way to a particular location without either being placed, or having walked the area with somebody else first.  I did not want to make Bob repeat the directions for a third time, so loaded up with all my gear, off I went. It seemed pretty simple: walk about five minutes down a clear path, following the electric transmission lines, then turn left (east), away from the road for about five minutes.  The instruction I took most note of was not to go too far east, where it would go downhill fairly steeply and be in a densely wooded area.  I assumed that five minutes was at Bob's walking speed, and since he is about a foot taller than me, I thought I should walk for about 7 minutes. Off I went, and after about five minutes the transmission lines themselves took a sharp bend to the east, but I did not think I had gone far enough, so I kept on walking. I then turned east and walked for another 7 minutes or so, until the ground started sloping downwards. The trees were not very dense, so it took a while to find somewhere I could be hidden on at least one side. I found a downed tree and put my ground mat down parallel to it. I used my bag as a pillow and covered myself from toe to head with the camouflage netting. It was quite comfortable, but very chilly. Alan had once again lent me some clothing, not because I needed something warmer (I'd got that covered) but because it was hunting season and we were supposed to wear blaze orange, something I did not have. So I had his overlarge fleece jacket, which kept me very warm.  I was tired, so I settled down to have a nap, and dozed on and off. I'm getting used to this!  Chris and Xenon were to find me first, then I was to stay in place for Alan and Zed to find me. After about an hour and a half I heard on the radio that Chris and Xenon were heading back to base, having not found me. I started wondering - was I in the right place? Bob called me on the radio, and asked whether I was on the right side of the transmission lines - as far as I could tell, I was on the RIGHT side, i.e., not the LEFT side. But what he meant was not that: he wanted to know if I was on the CORRECT side, which was the north, not the south. Actually, I was on the south side...  So then Alan and Zed set off to find me. Time passed and passed and passed. Eventually, they headed back to base too. By now, I had been in position for over three hours.  So Bob decided that Harry and Soho should come and find me, and Bob asked me to be specific about where I was. Well, I tried, but by this time I was pretty sure I was in the wrong place, so how could I explain where I was? Needless to say, Soho did not smell me out, and Harry asked me to come to the transmission lines.  Which I arrived at very quickly.  I knew where they were, I knew where I was, it was just not where I thought I was on the map.  I had gone more than twice as far south as I should have done.  I tried to remember exactly what Bob had said. Eventually I remembered that he had said the transmission lines were the boundary of the sector. Why did I not remember that during the four hours I was lying there?  I had effectively messed up the searches for two members that day, and I felt very bad about it. Even though everyone was very kind, and everyone said they had all placed themselves, or others, out of the correct sector, I still felt very embarrassed. I had been given several opportunities to correct my mistake, but I felt so sure I was in the right place. I really, really need to work on my navigational skills.

 By the time we got back to base, some people had already left, but those who were still there insisted it was time for Cino to do some work. I would not have minded just slinking off with my own tail between my legs, but there they were, thinking of my dog.  I passed out hot dog and other tasty treats to the five members there, and they each called to Cino, getting further and further away from him, and in Fiona's case, hiding partially in the woods. Thankfully Cino did a better job than me that day, and happily ran between each of them getting food and praise. He seemed happiest when going to Fiona, the only woman there, than the guys, but maybe that was because she called him more enthusiastically? Anyway, I think he felt he had a worthwhile time, even if he was stuck in the back of the car for four hours.

Just to top off my navigational failings of the day, I had to ask Fiona how to get back to the I270:  I really no idea where I was. I need to do better! 

Bob had mentioned that the outdoors store REI offered a variety of courses in navigation, so as soon as I got home, I logged onto the computer and found myself a course: the Fundamentals of Map & Compass.  I am hoping for a miracle.