How to Use Terrain Features for Navigation in Whiteouts?

Identifying Landmarks

When navigating in a whiteout, it’s essential to rely on your memory of the terrain and use visual cues to identify landmarks. Look for features like ridges, which can be 20-50 feet high, and follow them to gain a better sense of direction. Valleys and gullies are also useful landmarks, often 10-30 feet deep and 100-500 feet wide, and can help you maintain a consistent heading.

Using Snow-Covered Slopes

Snow-covered slopes can be challenging to navigate in a whiteout, but they can also provide useful information for navigation. Look for changes in slope angle and elevation to determine your direction of travel. In general, slopes with a steeper angle (greater than 30 degrees) are more likely to be downhill, while gentler slopes (less than 20 degrees) are more likely to be uphill. Use these visual cues to adjust your course and avoid getting lost.

Combining Visual Cues with GPS and Compass

While visual cues are essential in a whiteout, it’s still crucial to use a GPS and compass to aid in navigation. Set your GPS to show your current location and the direction of travel, and use your compass to take regular bearings. This will help you stay on course and maintain a sense of direction, even when visual cues are limited. By combining visual cues with GPS and compass information, you can navigate safely and efficiently in a whiteout.