Staying Found: The Complete Map and Compass Handbook

I agree, the method of drawing lines on maps is egregiously flawed. For one, you must keep drawing lines on your map every year to change with declination. For every degree of error in calculating declination you can expext to miss your target by 1/60 of your distance travelled. Having said this, Fleming presents the material in an easy to understand format. She will help you to become a more confident backcountry traveller. Better to know what you are doing instead of drawing lines.

Fleming's objective is to provide a way of using a map & compass that is easy to remember as well as being not intimidating, and she achieves these results remarkably well in her book Staying Found. I have been out in the woods backpacking off-trail and have been able to use these techniques successfully, not only "staying found" but also navigating to small hidden lakes. Carol in California is lucky - in MY area, the declination is currently 19 degrees. Considering this value drifts back & forth, and that being even one degree off when you're taking your compass bearing can get you seriously lost, I think I'll stick with June's method rather than draw lines on my map that change from year to year.