Scouts Victoria - Bushwalking Team

The UN just changed the world map! What do we do now?

Nothing. At least not with our topo maps.

This week the UN General Assembly backed the Equal Earth projection as a better way of representing the world than the familiar Mercator projection.

The problem is simple: you can’t flatten a globe without distorting something.

Mercator greatly exaggerates the size of places towards the poles. Australia would look much bigger if it was moved to Greenland’s location on a Mercator map.

Equal Earth is an equal-area projection, so countries and continents appear in their correct relative sizes.

But what about our topo maps?

No change.

For bushwalking in Australia, we commonly use the Map Grid of Australia (MGA), based on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system.

Instead of trying to flatten the entire world onto one map, UTM divides it into 60 narrow zones, each 6° of longitude wide. Each zone gets its own projection and grid.

That’s what gives us the eastings and northings measured in metres that we use for grid references. Most of Victoria sits in UTM Zone 55.

ACTIVITY
Find a Mercator world map.
Ask your scouts:
Which is bigger – Greenland or Australia?
Which is bigger – Greenland or Africa?
Compare it with an Equal Earth map or a globe.
Why are they different?

Then pull out your local topo map and find the UTM zone, eastings, northings and grid squares.

Remember, there is no perfect flat map of the Earth.

Different maps are designed for different jobs. Equal Earth preserves relative area. Mercator preserves angles and makes compass bearings easy to plot. UTM minimises distortion within each zone, making it ideal for local navigation.

OAS Bushwalking 6 asks us to research 5 types of maps and use 3 different types of maps in an activity. You could use this announcement to start a discussion about the different kinds of maps we use for different purposes and their pros and cons.

OAS Bushwalking 1: "I can identify the main parts of a compass"

Regular practice is important when learning a skill we only sometimes use. Before embarking on a nav activity, take a quick moment to review the parts of a compass:

- Direction of travel arrow — the direction the compass should point when following a bearing.
- Baseplate — the clear body of the compass, often marked with rulers and map scales.
- Index line — where you read the bearing you’ve set.
- Orienting arrow — the “shed” where we line up the red end of the magnetic needle. "Put red in the shed".
- Orienting lines — used to line the compass up with the eastings (lines that run north-south) on your map.
- Magnetic needle — the red end points towards magnetic north.
- Rotating bezel — marked from 0–360° and used to set a bearing.

Knowing the names isn’t the important bit. Understanding what each part does is what makes the next steps in navigation much easier.

A good quick activity is to hand everyone a compass and call out a part at random. Can they point to it — and explain what it’s for?

Some Groups have a really big demonstration compass that can make it easier for everyone to see.

Once everyone knows the main parts, it's time to take some bearings!

Do you have a standard go-to hike meal? Maybe it’s time to mix it up a little!

Use the these scout discount codes to get some great prices on some tasty lightweight hike food.

We always love to see Australian (and NZ) businesses that support scouts. Try something new and let us know your favourite!

The Venturer OAS 6 course is designed to cover as many Bushwalking Level 6 "I can" statements as possible. Navigation, party management, risk management, weather and equipment care are all included.

Congratulations to everyone who completed our most recent course at Lal Lal!

If you too would like to put a big dent in your Bushwalking Level 6, keep an eye on our events page for courses in 2027:

https://scoutsvictoria.com.au/activities-events/activity-teams/bushwalking/

Should we create a one-day navigation refresher course for Leaders?

Topics might include:
Map features
Grid references
Compass parts & use
Magnetic declination
Taking bearings
Route planning
Estimating distance

Vote now!
React 👍 for "Yes"
React 😢 for "No"
React ❤️ for "Maybe"

Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Does your Group have a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) that you can borrow when hiking? If you’re taking a PLB out for the first time there are a few things to know.

Once activated, a PLB broadcasts an emergency signal which can be detected by satellite.

Satellites can’t “see” through mountains, dense tree cover or buildings. If your beacon is obstructed, geostationary satellites may not detect it. Instead, you’ll need to wait for a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite to pass overhead, which can sometimes take several hours.

📍 Give your beacon the best chance of being detected

* Place it in a clear, open area.
* Keep the antenna fully extended and pointing straight up.
* Aim for as much open sky as possible.
* Keep it away from trees, cliffs, buildings and vehicles.
* If you’re in a steep gully or ravine, move it to the highest safe point you can reach.

🛰️ Keep it up-to-date

Most newly purchased PLBs will be GPS-enabled, meaning it can transmit your location with high accuracy, helping rescuers get to the right place faster.

Older, non-GPS beacons are still ok to use, (provided they’re in date and registered). But if your Group has one of these older devices, it could be time to consider replacing it.

PLB batteries last years, but it’s important to regularly check your device using the self-test button. This will ensure your battery and electronics are working correctly, without triggering a rescue. Plan to service or replace your device before the battery expiration date.

Ensure your Group’s registration details are up to date. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Joint Rescue Coordination Centre will ring the emergency contacts registered to your beacon. If that’s a Leader who’s stepped down and no longer with your Group, they won’t be much help.

Your emergency contact should have a copy of your trip plan and be available to take a call (not away somewhere on their own trip!). Some Groups have a form that must be completed detailing key trip information before anyone can borrow the PLB.

Remember, you can also upload trip details to the AMSA portal so rescuers can immediately access your trip plan and party details.

Understanding how your PLB works, and using it correctly, gives rescuers the best possible chance of finding you quickly.

If you would like to learn about the on-the-ground aspects of Search and Rescue, our next course will be held October 24-25 at Lal Lal.

https://tockify.com/scoutsvic/detail/825/1792760400000

Incredible weather on the Extremely Difficult Untracked Alpine course at Mt Stirling last weekend. Well done to all our participants! If you are interested in building your off-track nav skills, trying your hand at snow-shoeing or building an emergency shelter this course is for you! Dates for next year's course will be announced before end of year.