Map and Compass Basics: Orienting a Map and Taking a Bearing
Phones and GPS units are useful, but batteries run out and screens break. A paper map and a baseplate compass work without power, and the basic skills take an afternoon of practice in a local park to learn.
Orienting the map
Orienting means turning the map so its features line up with the land around you. Hold the compass flat on the map, align the map's north with the compass needle after accounting for declination, and the map now matches what you see.
Check by identifying a few obvious features, such as a lake or a distinct peak, in both places.
Taking a bearing from the map
Place the edge of the baseplate along a line from where you are to where you want to go, with the direction arrow pointing toward the destination. Rotate the housing until its orienting lines match the map's north-south lines, then read the bearing at the index line.
Adjust the bearing for declination if your compass does not do it for you.
Following the bearing
Hold the compass level in front of you and turn your body until the needle sits inside the orienting arrow. The direction arrow now points along your bearing. Pick a landmark in that direction, walk to it and repeat.
Practice in familiar terrain first, where mistakes are easy to notice and correct.