NavList:

Greg,

I taught myself to use a sextant inland, not a lot of water about the shop where I was.

I also did a fair amount of prospecting and marked out some leases in the process. These were usually done via some sort of natural datum. IE "The datum peg being so many paces, metres, kilometres from such and such on a heading of." Written on the claim.The size and boundary of the lease being marked from this datum peg. That it was approximate there was no doubt and when it came down to the crunch the lease was where the pegs were.

I never heard of anyone using a sextant during this time. The advent of GPS changed all this as the exact location of the lease, or close enough, became quite easy.

I can recall marking out some large leases for somebody back aways, when this group went out to look at their country they could not find any pegs at all. I suspect I was not within a bulls roar of where I thought I was. Not lost but somewhat adrift. I was often both on reflection.

I took a sextant on a trip I did last week and took a few sunshots but have not sat down to work out just how accurate I was. Sights checked with a GPS.

I do think, as suggested by others, that simple inland Cel Nav should be encouraged amongst hikers, scouts and similar recreactional groups. It adds another dimension to wandering about the countryside. A celnav comp being verified by GPS could provide an interesting day trip as well as some savage amusement.

Take it easy.

Frank A.

33.53S 121.53 E Thur 0825 local or there abouts.