I got a taste of backcountry navigating this past weekend in the Red River Gorge in KY. I am comfortable with a compass and topo map but would like to be more confident. With more backcountry trips and adventure races on the horizon,I would like to take my navigation and orienteering skills to the next level. Can anyone suggest good resources (i.e. books, websites, forums, etc) with decent information. I can't seem to find anything that takes a more advanced approach other than a few books. I'd love to get a book, but would like a recommendation before I drop the bucks.

Try this http://www.survivaliq.com/navigation/navigation-equipment-and-methods.htm

looks very promising, is this a resource you've used ken?

The Seattle Mountaineers use "Wilderness Navigation" by Bob and Mike Burns in their navigation course. It is an excellent book. I am on the Mountaineers navigation committee and have probably taught the course about 30 times, and I still re-read the book once a year as a refresher.

Which leads me to another suggestion - check your local area for courses. I don't know anything about orienteering, but they might be a good source for more instruction than just book-learning. When our students finish the all-day fieldtrip, they are usually starry-eyed at the new skills they've just learned and practiced. Nothing can replace hands-on fieldwork!

If anyone in the SF Bay area is interested: I have taught map and compass navigation for the past 21 years and would be willing to put on a workshop if there's enough interest.

I envision a 6 or 8 hour class at the Point Reyes National Seashore. Entrants would be required to bring their own topo map and a compass with adjustable declination and sighting mirror, such as a Silva Ranger 15CL or a Suunto MC2. Any compass should be of the Azimuth type, NOT QUADRANT. The cost would be free.

PM me and we'll see what happens.