Compass and Map : Page 226

Determination of compass bearings.—A compass bearing is simply the angle between the direction of an object and that of magnetic or true north or south. By determining on the map the bearings of several points of a chosen route, the skier may plot his course of travel. To facilitate accurate readings, north, east, south, and west should be marked on the compass case so that the pivot of the needle can be placed accurately over a particular point on the map. With the compass centered over the point on the map from which the bearing is to be taken, and with the map oriented, the bearing can be read directly from the compass by use of a line from the center of the compass to the object whose bearing is desired. The reading where the line crosses the divisions of the compass is the bearing.