How To Tell Directions Without a Compass

  • August 1, 2008
  • 26,622 Views
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No compass or map? No problem. Figure your way out of the wilderness just by looking around you.

You Will Need

  • A stick
  • Two rocks
  • The ability to locate constellations
How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Use the shadow stick method

Step 1: Use the shadow stick method

During the day, try the shadow stick method. Find a stick about three feet tall and put it in a flat piece of ground with no greenery nearby. Mark the end of its shadow with a rock. Wait 30 minutes, and mark the tip of the new shadow. The connecting line runs from west to east, with the first mark indicating west.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Observe any snow

Step 2: Observe any snow

If there is lingering snow on the ground, gauge where it’s located. In the Northern Hemisphere, there will be more snow on north-facing slopes, which generally get less sun.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Inspect tree bark

Step 3: Inspect tree bark

Inspect older trees. In the Northern Hemisphere, the side of the tree with the thinner bark is usually facing southeast. Also, there tends to be more foliage on that side.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, moss can grow on sides other than north, so this is not an accurate predictor of direction.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Wait until the sun begins setting

Step 4: Wait until the sun begins setting

Wait until the sun begins setting. Whichever direction it’s going down is west.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Look at the moon

Step 5: Look at the moon

If the moon is in a crescent phase, imagine a line running from its top tip to its bottom tip and continuing all the way down to the horizon. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, the point where the imaginary line touches the ground is south.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Find the North Star

Step 6: Find the North Star

If the moon is not in a crescent phase, find the North star by locating the Big Dipper and following the front edge of its cup from bottom to top, extending that line up about five times its length until you see a star.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Walk in a straight line

Step 7: Walk in a straight line

Once you know where you’re going, walk in a straight line. To avoid accidentally veering off course, find landmarks to walk toward, and go around obstacles on alternating sides every time you come to one.

How To Tell Directions Without a Compass: Buy a compass

Step 8: Buy a compass

Buy a compass as soon as you get back to civilization.

The magnetic compass was first used by the Chinese over 2,000 years ago.

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Comments (7)

howtofilm

informational and fun to watch.

over 3 years ago by howtofilm

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WGAC

that's very useful, especially for me, someone rarely go to the wild... ^.^

over 2 years ago by WGAC

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gilbossa

timeless and practicsl info and fun - good

over 2 years ago by gilbossa

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thomascameron

Excellent information.

over 3 years ago by thomascameron

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xuelai3000

看糊涂了!~

over 2 years ago by xuelai3000

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bry9000

Great video, except that the big dipper actually looks like a mirror image of what you've shown here.

over 2 years ago by bry9000

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timelapse123

well in in between winter and spring the sun sets directly west, but in the summer its angled south more. The winter faces north more so if this was inbetween winter and spring, your good!

over 2 years ago by timelapse123

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