Posted by chaos I'll take Tilman's definition of being lost. I therefore have only occassionally been geographically challenged !
on November 1, 2005, 7:14 pm, in reply to "Lists Of Munros "
139.92.214.12
Chris,
you pose an interesting philosophical question as the easiest hills to navigate often require a greater level of mountaineering skills that most of the more technical mountains. I would like to explore this idea by looking at examples. If we consider a ridge walk, defined on either side by steep and danger sides ie the AE ridge in Glen Coe or Skye Ridge, the technical difficulties outweigh the problems of navigation. Ie you start at one end and finish at the other, this remains true even in cloud as you can vary you wandering only where the ridge allows you. The antithesis to this linear traverse can be found on rounded featureless plateau tops, such as you might find in the Cairngorms. Given conditions were navigation using map and compass is necessary, the problems of navigation outweigh the technical difficulties that may be encountered. Ie it is easy to get 'lost' as you have ample opportunity to do so.
So to ask which are the easiest hills to navigate is not a 'sensible' question as many other factors can influence interpretation.
If I may offer advice though I would suggest that you start to use your map and compass! Perhaps take time on good days or on familiar trips to take and follow bearings, work out distances and learn to pace, practice. In this way when you actually need to follow a bearing you will have the confidence to do so. It also means that foul weather days no longer preclude a hill top or two.
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