Walking, hiking and especially in remote areas is a great experience if approached, taking into account fitness, safety and skill.
One of the groups most important skills is the ability, with or without a compass and map navigation. In theory, no one should head off the beaten track without map or compass damage, but what if you are in this situation, or you lose or compass?
Here are some basic skills "that will one day be useful to you.
Finding directionnext to the clock ...
If you have a clock that is set to local time, you can determine more quickly, a good approximation of the points of the compass, so long as the position of the sun visible.
The method used depends on the pass hemisphere (north or south) you live in. That The following methods are described with an analog clock (which is a watch with hour and minute hand), but can only be used and if you have a digital clock- Use your imagination to superimpose just the 12 numbers corresponding time and location of the "hour hand" on the face of your digital clock.
Northern Hemisphere
Keep your watch horizontally, shows the "hand time" clock to the sun.
Note the direction that lies exactly halfway between the "hour hand" and the twelve digit on your watch. This will be south.
Having established this, it will be easy for other destination pointsCompass.
Southern Hemisphere
Keep your watch horizontally, shows the number twelve on your watch to the sun.
Note the direction that lies exactly halfway between twelve and the hour hand. "
This will be North.
These methods are not intended to replace the accuracy of the compass, but they give you a good approximation of a true north or south. The closest to the equator you are, the less accurate.
If your watch happened to be adjustedfor the summer, then "remove" the summer for more precision.
Another method for determining the compass can be used if you are not on a clock. This method takes longer and also requires enough sunlight to cast a shadow ...
To find North without a watch
Before noon, on level ground, the position of a stick about 3 feet vertically into the ground.
Mark the tip of its shadow with a peg or stone.
With the tip of the shadow as RADIUS, drawan arc around the stick.
The shadow is reduced when it approaches noon, pulling from the arc. It extends even - where the afternoon shadow once again touches the arc, place another peg or stone.
Now draw a straight line between the two pegs / stones - is a line from east to west, with the first rung in a westerly direction.
You can now have a design north-south line at right angles to the east-west line.
The following (less accurate) method can alsobe used at any time of day, without drawing a bow ...
Peg top of the first shade, then after about 20min the tip of PEG moving shadows. Draw a straight line between two cones, and this line is about an east / west, with the first pole again as the most western one.
A typical error when he lost the tendency to wander from what you might think, is a straight line, sometimes slowly turning on itself.
To avoid this, consider an object(Tree, rock, soil characteristics), located in front of you to travel in any direction, then aim for them. When you reach, take a different influence on the direction you want the head, the eyes of another object in front of you, and repeat the process.
In areas with limited visibility from a distance, you need to repeat often over short 'legs' to ensure that your current residence.
Take a course from the clouds ...
That if there is a cloudy day, withoutSun made a field, or get the canopy prevents Bush always a clear "shot" in the sun?
Well, if you're lucky, it can be windy with clouds moving in a constant direction - note the flow direction of the clouds, and set the course for their direction.
For example, if the clouds are on your front moving from right to left shoulder for no change at the same time, to view an object directly in front of you and head for that.
To track your stepsin the same general direction, not just a U-turn, then keep the clouds from behind and now moves to the right on the left shoulder and repeat process.
As an example of "cloud Navigation ', as you move inland through dense bush away from a beach on the coast, and finally decided to retrace my steps to where I left my kayak, I realized that I have not been have an idea in which direction lay the coast.
Before going into the tree line, it appeared that the cloudsMovement in direct line from the trees on the coast - it was just a simple thing, then try and allow management of the clouds, I in the right direction and overall head back to the beach.
Be aware of your surroundings often pay, so try to cultivate the habit.
Tell the time without a clock ...
Determine North, South, East and West with the previously described.
Place the stick onIntersection of your East-West, North / South lines.
The eastern point of the arc will stick around 18.00 clock, the western point will be 0600hrs, whilst the north or south (depending on which hemisphere you) the center of the arc will clock 12.00.
The approximate time of day can be turned off to display the window with the moving shadows.
