Stepped box

This technique is used if the obstacle is particularly large and irregular in shape.

1 Stop at a safe distance from the obstacle. The detour starts at right angles to the obstacle by choosing east or west on your compass.

2 As you’ve been walking on a bearing, the needle of your compass will currently be pointing north. Rotate your body until the red north of the compass needle points to either east or west on the compass bezel.

3 Do not touch the compass bezel! Pace the new bearing (along the ‘direction-oftravel’ indicator on your compass), counting your steps until reaching an area where it is safe to walk forward again.

4 Turn so that the needle of your compass is once again pointing north, and begin walking on your original bearing until reaching another area where you need to detour.

5 Repeat steps 2-4 until you have cleared the obstacle, making a note of your accumulated paces from each leg. 6 On reaching the far edge of the obstacle, stop and rotate your body until the red north of the compass needle points either east or west on the compass bezel (whichever is the opposite of that selected at the start of your detour).

7 Walk on this bearing for the pace count that you have accumulated in your outward journey. 8 If your progress is blocked by the obstacle, however, repeat steps 2-4 in the opposite direction, deducting steps from your pace count as you travel.

9 You should now be back on your original line. Turn so that your compass needle is pointing north once more, and continue on your original bearing.

The golden rule is ‘Do not move your compass bezel’