Hi doses anyone know were I can get hold of one of the little white (I think they only do them in white) pace counters that goes up to 9 and you can stick stick on your compass? I think there by silva
really want one but I cant seem to find out were to get them from.
I'm trying to get myself in a position that I can go for my ML training the start of next year. If anyone wants to help by giving me one, out the kindness of there heart I would appreciate it. If someone wants to offer me one at a good price I will think about it, or if you know were I can buy one from pleases let me know.
In reply to Irishonthewirral: I find that using fingers is easier ie: 1 finger is 100 metres. Keep your nav legs as small as possible. The only purpose i can see for 9 position counters is either 90 metres or 900.
90 metres you should be able to keep track of without a counter and 900 is longer than any leg i would navigate.
In reply to mitchellbowen1990: I got one somewhere, they're fairly pants, beads or such like is much easier, and you can feel how many you've done in the dark!
Try five spring toggles with stainless steel springs on your compass cord (move up one-by-one to count 500m, back for the next 500m, and both robust and intuitive).
Re. fingers/in your head etc... never worked for me if distracted (I'd know the paces, but forget the 100) + it's hard to count to 10 with only nine fingers!
In reply to petestack: Thanks for all your advice guys, I would still like to try and get my hands on a counter to rule it out for myself (so mountain machine if you want to get rid of your's pleases let me know).
I have already got a few toggles I think I need something like this I can move to see visually and do practically to keep track as im sure I would loses my focus if I just counted or used my fingers if i stop to relate to the map.
Thanks
MB
m0unt41n19 Dec 2010
In reply to mitchellbowen1990: The toggles you slide up and down are much better. Got mine from Cotswold years ago. In night nav you can feel how many which you can't with the counter. Anyhow you really dont want any leg to be more than 500m, otherwise accuracy goes way off.
In reply to m0unt41n: Ive just ordered myself some toggles so ill have 5 in total. I have been thinking about what everyone has said. I agree I cant Imagen myself walking for any longer than 500 meter without referring to the map. so have decided to go with togles but would still like a clicker to play with to see what there like if anyone has one.
I have used them in winter, covered in rime ice at night in a whitout/blizzard and they worked fine. Though it does go without saying they are much easier to use without gloves on.
I prefer 5 beads on a string on my rucsac strap. One for very 500m. Being a bear of very little brain, I tend to lose count if I've got a walking pole in each hand. If I'm still counting at 2500, I restart the beads, and reckon that I can remember that I've been counting for miles and am therefore on the second set
In reply to mitchellbowen1990: I had a couple of friends who bought toggles and some cord to help with their ML consolidation period before assessment - in the end they never used them because the legs (as described above) were always planned so that the pacing was no more than 300m max.
In reply to JIMBO: I used them a fair bit when I was doing my ML. It means you can chat/interact and count at the same time (to a certain degree)instead of having to concentrate too hard on counting.
In reply to trish1968: Totally Trish, cause everyone tends to forget that even on your night nav that your looking out for your group, helping them cross streams etc, and generally having some chat. Not a spooky march in silence.. although bear in mind others are trying to pace, take bearings on your back etc too.
In reply to mitchellbowen1990:
I too have one of those counters on one of my compasses. They are not for counting paces but counting totals of 100m/yds covered.
Mine was a Silva one. I'd be suprised if a retailer couldn't get one if still made.
Only problem with this, is it's hard to turn in with gloves on, use it in the dark, read it in the dark. I got one to try out and didn't suit me. Can't find my silva one.. toggles are the way to go.
Fri Night Vid Finding Focus - Life Behind The Lens of a Climbing Photographer
This week's Friday Night Video is a portrait of a prolific climbing photographer from Wedge Climbing. Sam Pratt is well known in both the outdoor and competition scene but if you haven't heard of him, you've likely seen...