What does contouring involve in navigation?

Contouring in navigation refers specifically to the practice of traveling around the contours or features of the terrain, which is often essential for effective route planning in outdoor activities like hiking or military operations. By following the natural curves of the landscape, a navigator can avoid steep climbs or descents that would otherwise slow down progress or increase effort. This technique allows individuals to maintain a relatively constant elevation while traversing the land, making navigation more efficient and less physically demanding.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of contouring in navigation. Climbing over hills focuses on elevation gain rather than the strategy of navigating around features. Map orientation is about aligning a map with the physical world to aid navigation, while estimating distances pertains to calculating how far one must travel rather than the method of following land features. Thus, going around a feature is the correct understanding of how contouring is applied in navigation.