How to navigate in the mountains. Sports orienteering on the terrain
libre 29
Mountains usually form clusters, systems, having the form of more or less regular or in disorder scattered rows, often very similar in shape. Therefore, orienteering in mountains, especially forested ones, is extremely difficult. 
About mountain vegetation
In some mountainous areas, in addition to the general signs of orientation, you can use features that are characteristic of the area. These can be easily discovered by carefully examining the vegetation of mountain slopes. Often the southern slopes of mountains are covered with grass, while on the northern slopes, which are less exposed to winds and warmth, are birch forests.
Pine grows on the southern slopes of the Western Caucasus, while the northern slopes are favorable for deciduous species, spruce and fir. In the wooded Carpathians, the southern slopes, which are little or completely unsuitable for farming, are covered with beech, oak and hornbeam, while the northern slopes are covered with spruce. In many mountainous areas, grass cover prevails on the southern slopes and forests on the northern slopes.
When traveling in the mountains it is advisable to use artificial landmarks When traveling in mountainous terrain it is important to determine the relief of different areas and the direction of flow of rivers and streams in advance on the map or route diagram. So, traveling along the northern slope of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, you should remember: all the streams and rivers of the northern slope flow from the south-east and south to the west and north-west, in the same direction are located all the gullies and gorges.
On the southern slope of the Main Ridge it is easy to orientate, because here you can see the sea all the time, all the rivers and streams flow to it, in the same direction are located beams and gorges. When orienting on the mountain slopes, one should take into account the direction of the key, by which one can go under the pass or descend into the valley.
In many areas the southern mountain slopes are flatter and the northern slopes are steeper, the snow zone on the northern slopes is lower than on the southern slopes. When hiking, you should always memorize local objects that stand out, such as a tree split by lightning, a large stone with an unusual shape, etc. Once you have passed them, look back and see what they look like from the opposite direction.
This will make it easier if you have to return along the same route. Do not neglect details such as horse tracks on mountain trails, etc., but look at the slope.
What slope?
The general direction of movement in the mountains is maintained by compass. Before starting the journey, the magnetic declination value is fixed, which should be periodically checked against the celestial luminaries and planned landmarks to ensure that the compass arrow readings are correct. This will also eliminate the possible influence of local magnetic anomalies.
When using a large-scale topographic map, an additional means of orienteering in the mountains are pre-made horizontal and vertical profiles of the route with plotted on them ascents, descents with their steepness, turns of roads and positions relative to the slopes (eg, downhill to the left, uphill to the right), as well as distances between them.
Glacier tables
If you don't have a large-scale map or a scheme of the mountainous terrain, and if a local magnetic anomaly is detected and you can't use a compass, and there are few objects that stand out, you should carefully study the terrain to determine if there are any glacial tables - specific formations - nearby. 
Over time, the rock appears to be standing on a glacial column. This is the glacial table. The part of the table facing the sunny side (south in the northern hemisphere) thaws more quickly than the shaded part, and the stone tilts in this direction. You can tell the sides of the horizon by the tilt. When traveling on snow-covered peaks, use the rules of ski tourism.
