The Bushwalker's Guide to the Galaxy

[sheeny]

About 10 years ago, I wrote a small webpage called "The Bushwalker's Guide to the Galaxy" (with all due respect to Douglas Adams!;) ) as a resource for teaching bushwalkers improvised navigation. As a map reading and navigation instructor I found there was little or nothing on the web at the time, and much of what was in literature was poor if not plainly wrong.

A combination of engineering and astronomy skills helped me to sort out the worthwhile methods from the rubbish, and develop some of them. Over some years and a lot of positive feedback, I worked a fairly basic web page up into a book. My intention was to publish it as a field guide so people could carry it with them fishing or bushwalking. I haven't succeeded in getting it published, and I don't know enough about it to go about it myself... so I've put the lot back up on the web so hopefully people can use it, learn from it and ultimately avoid becoming a search subject.

There's a good quantity of astro type stuff in there, like finding directions from the constellations, and from rise and set azimuths of stars, etc so I thought the people on this forum may have an interest.

Please feel free to browse and give me your feedback - especially any mistakes. Just working through it, converting it to a web site again, has given me a lot of ideas I want to add and change... all in good time. There are lots of little tidy up things to do as well I've noticed!:rolleyes:

http://alsworld.topcities.com/bwgg/index.html

Thanks for looking!

Al.

[jjjnettie]

Thank you Mr Sheehan.
I'll pass the link onto my bushwalking nephews.

[beren]

:) Very interesting , congrats :thumbsup:

[Astroman]

Thats a great little booklet that many bushwalkers around the country could use in times of help. We have all seen on the news bushwalkers who get lost on what would be easy marked trails. I think you should really push on to get this booklet published there is a wealth of information there that every bush walker should know. Not all areas have internet access and not all bushwalkers can carry a laptop and satellite dish :) My suggestion would be talking to some of the publishers of books etc... and since its also to do with a bit of Astronomy you could speak with William-bell (Astronomy book publisher) too. It may take a bit of rearranging of the text but I am sure it would be very worthwhile, not only fro you and your wallet, but also to the many bushwalkers out there that wish they had more than a GPS with flat batteries. Good luck.

[sheeny]

Thanks guys,

Hope it's useful or at least interesting.



Yes Andrew. That's why I thought a small book would be best. I'll try to track down William-Bell and see what they say. I've tried a few publishers without success so far.

As for re-arranging the text, I'm sure there'll be some, but hopefully not as much as reconstructing it from the web page - I split up the book manuscipt to suit the website. Just massaging the manuscript will hopefully be easier!

Al.