Field navigation

Offline maps, GPS, compass, and backup plan — what to have off-grid

By topic

Offline maps

Organic Maps, OsmAnd, Maps.me — download regions before leaving. Google Maps offline stores roads only, no topo.

GPX tracks

Download the route track beforehand (Wikiloc, local clubs) and keep on two devices. GPX is the standard track-exchange format.

Compass & paper map

Paper map 1:25000–50000 and compass — backup when batteries die. Reading contour lines is a basic skill.

Power bank & charging

Navigation drains battery: 10,000–20,000 mAh minimum, airplane mode, brightness low. Solar panel — for long trips.

Waypoints

Mark camp, water sources, car parking in GPS before leaving — in complex terrain it saves hours.

If lost

STOP rule: stop, think, observe, plan. Don't walk blindly — return to the last known point via track.

Three navigation levels: primary (phone with offline map + GPX), backup (paper map + compass), emergency (route from memory + evacuation points). In mountains and forest there may be no signal for days.