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Bearing Sections: More Than Just a Line


Bearing Sections: More Than Just a Line

Lately, I haven’t had much free time to analyse courses and legs in detail. I’ve been fully immersed in finishing  Confident Orienteering Book 2, the continuation of the Practical Guide "Confident Orienteering", and I want to make sure it’s done to a high standard and on schedule (October 2025).

But I’m sure there will be more in-depth analyses here once I wrap up work on the Practical Guide  "Confident Orienteering" project.

Right now, I’m in the middle of making adjustments based on feedback from test readers. At the very start of Chapter 5 (one of 9 chapters in this book), “Planning Bearing Sections”, I received a comment from Klas Karlsson:

“This is a good chapter, I like it! Good examples as well. Not many comments from my side :)”

My response?
“I’m really happy about it.”

Why? Because bearing sections can be approached in very different ways, and in this chapter I’ve tried to explain how I see these options. I’ve also used more diagrams without maps this time, to encourage readers to think strategically when they look at a specific leg and consider going “straight.”

Running “straight” should always be based on a solid foundation — it’s not just about taking the shortest line between two points, but also about ensuring reliability.

Have you ever thought about how differently we execute bearing sections in different circumstances? 

They differ not only in terms of technique, but also in the types of target features we use and the concepts we rely on to check our progress along those sections. 

Here’s a quick sketch of an example from the book.
(I’m not including the full explanation here — that will be in the book.)

By the way, my approach to designing these illustrations is simple: they should be understandable even without additional text.

Does this one make sense to you?
I hope so.



Klas Karlsson’s review of my Confident Orienteering Book 1: Fundamentals

or Also here: 

I really like this review — and not just because it’s positive, but mostly because it very clearly highlights the main ideas behind Book 1.

I’m looking forward to realise  Book 2: Planning Reliable Routes once it’s ready!

Confisent Orienteerng Book 1:Fundamentals is here


July 21, 2025, Aleksandr Alekseyonok.










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