Method #1: Using a Stick and Shadow
This method works well in temperate climates, far from the equator and polar circles.
Steps:
1. Find a straight stick about one meter long and stick it vertically into the ground. Choose a spot where the cast shadow will be clear.
2. Mark the point on the ground where the tip of the shadow ends (first mark).
3. Wait 15–20 minutes. The shadow will move. Mark the new position of its tip (second mark).
4. Connect these two points with a straight line. This line will indicate the west-east direction (the first mark is west, the second is east).
5. To find north and south, stand so that the first mark (west) is at your left foot and the second (east) is at your right foot. You are now facing north (in the Northern Hemisphere) or south (in the Southern Hemisphere).
Method #2: Using an Analog Watch
This method is convenient but requires accurate local time (remember to adjust for daylight saving time by setting the clock back).
In the Northern Hemisphere:
1. Hold the watch horizontally with the dial facing up.
2. Point the hour hand directly at the sun (you can use the shadow of a matchstick placed in the center of the dial for accuracy).
3. Mentally bisect the angle between the hour hand and the "12" mark on the dial.
4. The line dividing this angle in half will point south. Before noon, south will be to the right of the sun; after noon, it will be to the left.
In the Southern Hemisphere:
1. Hold the watch so that the "12" mark on the dial points toward the sun.
2. Mentally draw a line that bisects the angle between the direction to "12" and the hour hand.
3. This bisector will point to north.
Important to remember: Both of these methods provide approximate results. Their accuracy decreases around the equinoxes, and the closer you are to the equator, the greater the potential error. Use them as reliable supplementary skills to support your main navigation knowledge.
Next guide: How to Navigate by Weather Conditions on a Hike Previous guide: Celestial Navigation: How to Find Your Way by the Stars You can view the full list here: Survival Guides for the Mountains
