Suunto X10 [64/98] Second hiking day

4.1.3. Second hiking day

Right on time, Mike wakes up to a beeping sound, shuts down the alarm with a press

of a button, and checks the Baro mode. He is happy to notice that the barometric

pressure is on the rise, which augurs good weather.

Before setting off, Mike switches his Suunto X10 to the Alti mode so that he can use

the altimeter as a navigational aid, and of course that he can monitor how far it is to the

top

While waiting for his breakfast to be ready, he calibrates the compass to make sure it

works properly. He also sets the declination to the Auto setting so that he does not

need to look at the map too often.

Mike navigates using the Suunto X10 compass together with the uploaded routes, the

altimeter and the map. Just like with a regular compass, he checks from time to time

that the compass works properly. If the bearing indicator stops moving or the cardinal

points seem to be in weird directions, he calibrates the compass again.

Even though the weather conditions are excellent and there is not a cloud in the sky,

Mike is also prepared for a whiteout, which would reduce visibility drastically and

cause problems to the GPS signal reception. He has practiced taking his bearings

using a map and transferring them to his Suunto X10 on dozens of easier routes

where mistakes do not have as dramatic consequences.