# Triangulating your position with a map and compass **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553 "2012-11-19T23:19:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/1 "2012-11-19T23:19:03Z")
Is it possible to triangulate your position using a map and compass if you have no prominent features? My guess would be no, but another board that I frequent is hinting that there might be. Would it involve climbing trees? Thanks, Rob ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/2 "2012-11-19T23:30:43Z")
Well if you can ID two points on the map (eg Mt peaks) you could. Trvial example: If Mount Alpha is due north, and Mount Beta is due East, the n draw a line from Mt Alpha on the map heading south, and a line from Mt Beta going west. Where they intersect is wher you are. OOh, just read the “no Prominent features”. Well you could get your appriximate Latitude by using the compass to get the angle of Polaris (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere) Brian ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/3 "2012-11-19T23:52:46Z")
Triangulate: No, I don’t believe there is a way. It’s part of the definition. Locate your position: You could use one point and a bunch of other clues like slopes and ridgelines and the stream you saw a couple hundred feet back, or you could use zero points and just find yourself by features, but neither one would be triangulation and depending on what kind of country you’re in they could be good or bad. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/4 "2012-11-20T00:40:44Z")
I’ve done it on nearly featureless Nebraska grassland. On a truly featureless plain like Antarctica or at sea, you’d be hosed. ---
**Author:** ![Oukile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@Oukile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oukile)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/5 "2012-11-20T00:47:42Z")
If you have (1) one prominent feature and (2) the ability to move and estimate your direction and displacement, then you can measure the same feature twice (before and after moving), do some appropriate calculations and get a the equivalent of a “2 points” triangulation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/6 "2012-11-20T03:44:53Z")
If you truly have no features at all, then what information could the map possibly give you? It’d be a blank piece of paper. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/7 "2012-11-20T16:03:30Z")
The real world problem is this: I was taking a hiking trail to a primitive campground. Other than taking a pace count on the way in, as I don’t have any idea what distance I cover over rough ground once fatigue starts setting in (is there a rule of thumb?), is there a way to calculate my position accurately? The map I have is crude and the only feature on it besides the roads is the lake whose course changes. On the trail, I am generally surrounded by trees. Thanks, Rob ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/8 "2012-11-21T05:35:43Z")
> [@Oukile](#): > > If you have (1) one prominent feature and (2) the ability to move and estimate your direction and displacement, then you can measure the same feature twice (before and after moving), do some appropriate calculations and get a the equivalent of a “2 points” triangulation. However, even if you do this, all you have is an approximate map of the local area and it doesn’t immediately help you figure out where you are. You could use this technique to build a bigger and bigger map and eventually try to map it (no pun intended) to a known map that indicates absolute position. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/9 "2012-11-21T16:21:26Z")
I was able to see a topo map of the area in question. The only features are the river and the nearby roads. From the trail, you can’t see the roads, at most points. Thanks, Rob ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/10 "2012-11-21T16:24:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If you truly have no features at all, then what information could the map possibly give you? It’d be a blank piece of paper. I was wondering this myself. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/11 "2012-11-21T17:18:42Z")
Well at night, you could use the stars and a sextant to get an approximate fix, but short of that, I’d say you’re screwed. My recommendation is to bring a GPS receiver. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triangulating-your-position-with-a-map-and-compass/641553/12 "2012-11-21T17:41:43Z")
> [@Yarster](#): > > Well at night, you could use the stars and a sextant to get an approximate fix, but short of that, I’d say you’re screwed. My recommendation is to bring a GPS receiver. A sextant will get you latitude if you have a clear horizon, otherwise you need a good level (built into aviation sextants) You will need an accurate clock (or access to one via radio reciever) to get longitude.