We live in an age where, without GPS, most of us would be lost. Put in the middle of the woods without a compass, we’d be lucky to survive the night. Nature, however, has provided us with a plethora of tools more reliable than any gadget. Whether you’re an outdoor pro or simply getting your bearings, these navigation techniques will surely help!
The most basic navigation aids at your disposal outdoors are the sun and moon. Both rise in the east and set in the west, though, the positioning can be slightly northeast or southwest. Closer to the summer solstice, they rise and set the farthest northeast they ever will, and closer to winter solstice, they rise and set the farthest southwest they ever will.
You can create a basic compass by putting a stick straight up and down into the ground in an open area. In the mornings, the stick’s shadow will fall to the west. In the afternoon, the shadow will fall to the east. For a reliable method of detecting North regardless of the time of year, leave the stick in the ground all day. In the morning, mark the tip of the stick’s shadow with a rock. Do the same in the afternoon. The point halfway between the two rocks will indicate North.
Even without a stick, you can determine the sun’s path by examining the growth of trees outdoors. In a mostly open area, the branches of trees will be longer and more lush on the southern side of the trees. This is because the southern exposure of plants gets more sun to thrive on. Rocks are more likely to show bleaching on their southern sides, and in snowy conditions, the snow is more likely to melt on the southern side of trees and rocks first for the same reason.
When using observational navigation outdoors, it is always best to look for multiple indicators of direction. Nature is reliable, but other factors can affect tree growth and snow melt. However, with a keen eye and a little logic, you can quickly pick up the art of natural navigation.
Wrapping up our post covering some navigation techniques, you might also like Hiking Safety Tips Everyone Should Follow!
Featured Image from Daniel Peters/Unsplash
