As a Forest Ranger for over 50 years I always carry a compass, works at night and when rain and overcast is occurring ,like when searching for a lost hunter, I remember, as a 12 year old,my Dad telling me ,if confused, to go down hill until you find a stream and follow the water,it will lead to a road or the ocean and you can drink out of the stream!
@@brucebannerman6848 You don't know how to use a compass. Obviously. Compasses hardly ever indicate true North and are off many degrees. ALL compasses are inaccurate.
Another thing is humans not used to being lost somewhere tend to panic and end up travelling in circles. If lost in the wilderness it’s a good idea to sit down for 10 minutes and contemplate your predicament and rationally think of the best solutions.
This is absolutely true. Has helped me many times out in the woods and became a great life lesson that helped me in other circumstances. And in the same vein, I was taught to always look behind me as I was traveling because thevsame route looks completely different on the way back than it did on the way out.
My dad always told us that the easiest way to find north is to remember that the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, All you really have to do is sit down and watch the sun for a few minutes Due to the rotation of the Earth the sun will track from east to west. After that a litle common sense should tell you which way is north.
@mellocello187 , Yeah, even on an overcast day. You can usually see an “imprint” of the sun (a circular spot that is lighter than the rest of the sky) on all but the cloudiest of days.
@@scotty3114 What nonsense. The only difference between the two is that in the southern hemisphere, you would be detecting true north with the watch, not true south.
That is roughly true. But remember that we have seasons because the Earth tilts from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south throughout the year. Also, our viewing of the sun is affected by what latitude we are at. The further from the equator, the more the sun is rising in the southeast, not east, for example. Extreme case: at the North Pole, every direction is due south! -- So, 23.5 degrees north is roughly 1/3 of the distance north from Havana, Cuba to Key West, FL. If you are in a boat at that location on the day of the summer solstice, as the sun comes up it is exactly due east of you. Anything north of that, and it is never actually due east, always a little bit or a lot south, depending on your latitude. -- The watch method is either more or less accurate depending on the time of year. But for navigational purposes, it is generally good enough.
I exaggerate but I agree with you all on this one. In some VIDS for some reason the presenter feels bound and determined to give us an history lesson first concerning the material he wants to bring to our attention.
I once had to figure out which direction was north when I had gotten separated from my group while hunting and then wounded a deer which I pursued all day. It was near nightfall when I decided to abandon my search and find my way back. I was 14. It was November in northern New Mexico and the night temperatures were into the single digits so it was clear I was in for a cold night if I could not find my way back. I remembered from looking at a map that a road running east west was located to the north of me and that if I could travel north long enough I would cross that road. So I placed the setting sun on my left and traveled trying to hold the sun on my left. The thing was that after going around obstacles, several times I would find that the setting sun had moved over onto my right. So I re-oriented the sun back to my left and continued. It was disconcerting to be sure but I kept re-orienting the sun onto my left until I eventually found the road that I remembered seeing on the map.
For the first measurement the shadow moved to the left which would imply the sun casting the shadow moved to the right, and if the sun sets in the west, in this case the right, wouldn’t what you drew as true north actually be the south? You never really mentioned how to determine which point was east or west.
The watch instruction you gave works in the northern hemisphere. The way you use your watch is slightly different in the southern hemisphere. South of the equator point the watch 12:00 mark (not the hour hand) at the sun. Half way between the 12:00 mark and the hour hand will be approximately North. Also, spiders tend to make their webs on the leeward side of trees, so if you know the direction of your prevailing winds, you can use spider webs to help determine direction. The shadow stick method you used is a very accurate method. On bright nights far away from light pollution, you can do the same with the moon.
Both good strategies to know. However, they both rely on you being able to see the sun and/or shadows. If you're in a dense forest or jungle, or if it is very foggy, cloudy or getting dark, it's a different story.
In the northern hemisphere the sun rise and set is only directly east and west during equinox other times of the year its N.E or S.E sunrise depending if it's summer or fall same applies to sunset. But you can sill rely on it for general direction.......or use the compass that you should have with your knife and fire starter ANYTIME you're in the bush
During the two equinoxes every year, the sun is rising and setting at the equator. Unless you are on the equator yourself, the sun is not due east of you when it rises. At 45 degrees north, for example in Minneapolis, the sun is exactly southeast when it rises on the equinox. At the North Pole (90 degrees north), the sun is due south of you because every direction away from the pole is due south.
@@tominmo8865Yeah, thousands die annually because they got lost at tha north pole. Probably trying to find Santa ... Draw a diagram and you'll see why the sticks will work everywhere. On land I trust them more than a compass, too much magnetic interference sometimes. And I say this as one who has actually done night marches using a compass, so I know how to use one properly.
One caveat to using the wristwatch to find north: Daylight Savings time! If it's set for DST, you have to use the "1" instead of the "12". Otherwise, you're introducing an error of 15 degrees, and that can add up over distance. The video didn't mention that.
That stick is called a gnomon. Native Puebloan people have been using those in the US Southwest for centuries to align their buildings with the movements of the sun and moon.
@@robertjosan To track time. Especially the time if year. See if you can find "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon" narrated by Robert Redford. Amazing the technology these people developed.
Inuit have always used their knowledge of the shapes of ice to work out directions. The younger Inuit have partly disowned their folklore relying on GPS to find their way and there’s been a few close shaves where young Inuit became lost and nearly died after GPS devices stopped working.
“Us” old school army dudes refer to the 1st example as the “shadow tip method”. If you are lost at night in the woods, start by finding a clearing so you can observe the night sky, next locate the Big Dipper use your right thumb to cover the last star in the cup, next extend your right pinkie finger outward, next slightly moving your hand your right pinkie finger will cover “Polaris”(North Star)this star does not move and the Big Dipper rotates around it) once you have located this star drop your hand straight down with your arm extended from your body and now you are pointed north. Note using your right thumb to cover the last star in the cup is going to change as the dipper moves.
You can also stop and take a deep breath. If you smell shit, that is the direction of NJ. If you smell tacos, that direction is south. You take those 2 LOP’s, lines of positions, and plot them on the ground and where they cross is your location. Looking at that point, you will find your foot prints. Follow the round edge of the shoe print back to your car. At this point, it is fairly easy to find a DQ and enjoy a heath bar blizzard.
My father taught me that one when I was but a child. I remember all I needed was that timex to get back to camp. Harder to tell from 10 am to 2 pm. They dropped me off different spots on a pine island two cypress heads north of camp. And knowing the center link on each of the swamp buggy tire chains had their own sign to read. W - for ours ,the Weezee. F- for the Frog. G - for the Gould. You could tell who's buggy and what direction it last traveled, for a10 year old to return to camp. Mid to late 60's deep in the Everglades south of the Miccosukee Indian reservation south of alligator alley. For a week every year. Trying to shoot Bambis big brother. Or a turkey or two. Got that 8 point at 13. Thankful. For all I learned from a father that loved to fish and hunt our once plentiful state.
The watch method is an approximation. It's correct only when you are on the meridian that is referred to by your actual full hour time (number is a multiple of 15). For instance, our summer daylight saving time is 22 or 23 degrees behind the meridian referred to. Besides that, the variation between real and medium sun position makes time vary for around 16-17 minutes back and forth. I think that stick-and-shadow trick is the best, provided the ground is flat and even.
In morning your shadow always points west. Then at noon shadow always points north. At sunset shadow always points east. If it is morning it is somewhere pointing some version of northwest. Same in pm only northeast. Very good for general direction.
If it's completely cloudy you have to read the moss happen to me about 10 years old about mile in woods it got back 1/4 mile from my house but it got me to the road
There is a more mathematically complicated method for those with a digital watch, but knowing the approx time of sunrise, the time, which hemisphere you are in and the fact that the sun moves 15 degrees per hour, you can get rough compass bearings and south or north as required. An outstretched arm with fingers spread is 15 degrees or 1 hour and a closed fist is 5 degrees or 20 mins.
Thanks for the video. These are interesting tips, but they have caveats. As another person has already commented, you didn't specifically say that the first shadow tip location will be further to the west, but because the sun moves from east to west, the shadow tip is going to move from west to east. A simple point is to write a "W" next to the first shadow tip location and then an "E" next to the second shadow tip location. One doesn't need an analog watch to use the watch trick. If one's digital watch shows three o'clock, one can stand with one's right shoulder pointing at the sun. The twelve o'clock position would be directly ahead. If one needed to go south, one could turn forty-five degrees to the right to go south. If one needs to go north, one can look at where south is and just turn around. Of course, none of this is useful on a cloudy day when one can't see the sun and a stick poked into the ground doesn't cast a distinct shadow. None of this does any good at night. These are still great tips for sunny days, but if I don't have a compass, I'm absolutely certain that I'll be lost at night or on a cloudy day. If I remember correctly, finding north at night in the northern hemisphere can be done by finding the North Star. I'm not horrible but not great at finding the North Star. To be honest, I'm usually in a place where I know where north is, so I look north to find the North Star. Again, I fully expect the night to be too cloudy to see stars if I ever get lost.
You could use your shadow. If before 12:00 or after the way you’re shadow show west or east. Before 12:00-west.after12:00-east . Now you’re position your right hand to the east the left to the west your north is forward
What I've never understood is what to do once I know where North is. Surely I need to know something about my own position in relation to my destination and my (presumably unrecognized) surroundings before knowing the directions would be of any use, right?
Very handy! I hope I can remember. Of course, you can try it out when you aren't lost and double check with a compass, even though a compass shows magnetic north.
What about if there is no sun at all? I knew about the stick/stones. And moss in the north, that frankly is not precise but does not need sun. And the North star at night yet depending on latitude....
I do know the way with the Stick in the Sun since my youth, but dose it works even in the south side of our Planet where the Sun gets the hingestellt point in the north? Got you with the Statement could not live in a greater City, love my african deserts like Namib or Khalahari, greetings, Thomaa
Okay, you place your feet at the two sticks....how do you know you are facing north and not south? How do you determine the east point of your east-west line?
I only look at the time if its 06.00 the sun is in the east is it 09.00 then the sun is east,south and 12.00 its in the south and if its 15.00 its in the south west and is it 18.00 its in the west if you are in the north side of the eart.Its not precise but you going in the right direction.
In your first method, depending which way you're facing will determine the East-West direction. So how can you tell? You need to determine which side of the sticks to stand on.
@@LIK64 thx, but what if you don’t know where north is? Assuming the sticks follow an east to west trajectory, could you say the first stick is easy and the second west?
Thank you! One problem is when it's not sunny. I got lost in the woods one time when it was snowing, overcast and getting dark. Scary for a little while there! Fortunately, I wasn't that far from known landmarks (not far away) in all directions, so I walked. If I got truly lost, I'd probably look around me for a clearing visible to aircraft, or stay put as long as I could and stay awake. Suggestions for an affordable, reliable gps if cell service fails?
I must be dumb .. on the stick test, you had three sticks. Then you had two sticks and drew and east/west line. I assume you ONLY used the sticks -- first was west and second tip (after lunch) was due east?
Hello, your instructions on finding north using the watch is correct if you’re on the northern hemisphere. If a person is on the southern hemisphere, dividing the hour hand on the watch and 12 gives the north (not south).
Oh, ok, Great, as I wipe my brow, WHEW, You mentioned devices but you are allowing and giving us permission to use a wristwatch with hands to determine direction! That would be my most favorite method. As a novelty I have a medallion that is a sun dial So in order to use it I would need to determine which way is North. The Name of the one I purchased is "Shepherds Watch" But I have discovered another called ,"Explorer Sundial " same configuration.
Polaris Lyra Arcturus..Polaris is north Arcturus is west and Lyra is east at dark until midnight then u have pleadies in east before sunrise ..now that changes on season .but they give u a general direction at night day time u do what was shown I the video ...I was always told mushrooms grow on west side and ginseng on east side In more
Lost my compass at 3000ft. No trees but lots of stones covered in lichen green on the north side purple on the south. It was blowing a blizzard and visibility was very poor but the stones got me home.
I was beginning to think that it was me and I missed the point, I agree with the others comments that it needs more explaining for all of us simple minded people.
I've lived in the country and a truck driver most of my life. I'm great with directions. But, In 1988, I went bow hunting with some friends in Oklahoma in country I didn't know. We were out walking before the sun came up, when it got light it was heavy overcast. We split up and I was told to hit a fence line then make a right and we would meet up. But I veered to far left and hit the wrong fence. I was lost, couldn't get my bearing because it was so cloudy and dark. Thankfully they found me before lunch. 😢
@@traildust5977 Strange but true, most people when trying to walk a straight line in the woods will curve to higher ground, like on a side hill ,before I read this and tried myself I assumed down hill would be the more likely error but found myself to be part of the most.
The easiest way is to take your watch off, hold it by the end of the strap, spin it round and round, then let go, and whichever way it goes, it's gone west, face that directionand turn 90 degrees to the right, hence you are facing north.
Unless it's pissing down raining and you can't see the sun, you might use that time to reflect on your situation like this,,,,,, if you can remember where the sun came up you know that is east you can work out the suns tracectory tracking west and given the direction of the incoming rain you can find out that its established position will be either north or south ,another way of finding your position is by following a water course rivers ,creeks and streams flow downhill following this course of action does two things it provides food and water for nourishment and two it allows search parties visibility of your awareness ,,,,,easy peasy
At night, to find the North Star, imagine a line thru the 2 stars that form the outer edge (away from the handle) of the cup of the Big Dipper and it points to the north star.
Well as soon as you start leaving those two sticks, you will start drifting. Our Scoutmaster showed us this in scouts. Won't be long before you are lost again. Best way to find North is to . . . . "Be prepared" and take a compass with you. And a whistle. True story - I was a scout leader for a short while. At a leader meeting, another leader and I decided to go to the top of the mountain after the meeting. This was a BSA Camp Daniel Boone in NC. After a couple of hours, we did reach the top. Unfortunately, we did not notice from which side of the mountain we had come up on . . . . so down we went and it wasn't long before we were completely lost. We broke ALL the rules - didn't tell anyone of our plans. did not take any matches, flashlights, fresh water, protective clothing . . . . . we of course got thirsty and the other leader decided to drink right out of a stream. I said "I'll wait". We finally came across a road and I decided that we would follow it . . . it had to lead to somewhere! we finally saw a house and decided to go up to it. out came about four LARGE dogs that did not look friendly at all but turned out to be ok. The owner of the house said he had lived there all of his life. he also said somehow had wound up quite near the camp. finally go back . . . but too late for dinner. As it was, I had left a borrowed jacket on the mountain, figuring I'd pick it back up on the way back down. the owner insisted I go back and get it the next day. This time I took a compass. I did find the jacket - it was fortunately a bright yellow and easily spotted. Coming back, I repeatedly used that compass and I wound up not too far from the camp. Scouting is some of my best memories - ever! thanks to ALL the leaders of Troop 487, Forest Park, Georgia who gave of their time, their finances and patience as I was very immature and sure caused a lot of them a lot of grief. David Adams, Mobile, AL
Just walk up hill. Since the earth is round you'll end up at the equator and when you do you'll know it because it'll be really warm and everything from there on will be down hill. You're welcome,
I've always had a good sense of direction, even as a kid. In Boy Scouts my troop was being directed by the "Senior Patrol Leader", a 14yo jerk/bully of a kid. We were all 12 or younger and we were lost at his direction in the woods by Lake Thunderbird, Norman OK. I kept telling the 14yo we were going the wrong way as it became pitch black. Finally, I asked who wanted to follow me and most readily fell in line. The jerk and 2 kids kept going and when we emerged from the woods, I directed the deputy to the trail the ignorant were following. To this day, I can tell which way is East and so on. Weird
Good tips, concisely explained, but I live in the UK. Yes, we do have sunny days but cloud cover can be a common feature in our weather patterns so a compass is a must, especially in the changeable conditions of the mountains.
Mountains? i am not being a smart ass and unfortunately, I have never visited the UK. Are your mountains in the Northern UK? Best wishes from Central Arkansas.
@@Phil-y8cYes, there are several mountainous areas in the UK in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and although they're not as high as the Alps (for example) they are known for their beauty, variety and in many cases the challenges they can pose. Often conditions are very changeable and mountain rescue teams are kept busy. Most are in the more Northern areas. Scotland has the Cairngorms, Grampian, Central Highlands and on the isle of Skye (a beautiful place) the Cuillins amongst others. In Wales there is Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, Black mountains etc. Incidentally Sir Edmund Hillary's team used Snowdonia as a training ground before the first successful ascent of Everest. England includes the Lake District with it's 'fells', the Pennines and the Peak District. Northern Ireland has the Mourne Mountains. Hope you get the chance to visit.
Concisely explained? Surely you jest. It doesn't start until 2.15 in the video and then he completely forgets that it's the opposite for those viewers in the southern hemisphere and also to adjust for daylight saving time etc it that is applicable.
I went on a boat tour of a bayou in Louisiana, and quickly found out that there are NO identifying landmarks out there, unless you're close enough to I-10 (east-west). It was really disorienting, although obviously you could get a general idea from the sun's path, or the watch trick.
As a Forest Ranger for over 50 years I always carry a compass, works at night and when rain and overcast is occurring ,like when searching for a lost hunter, I remember, as a 12 year old,my Dad telling me ,if confused, to go down hill until you find a stream and follow the water,it will lead to a road or the ocean and you can drink out of the stream!
A compass is totally inaccurate in almost every instance and will get you hopelessly lost.
@@terryparker1694 My guess is you don't know how to use a compass, I never got loss but I confess to being confused a few times!
@@brucebannerman6848 I was a navigator in the military numps. You're outing yourself.
@@brucebannerman6848 You don't know how to use a compass. Obviously. Compasses hardly ever indicate true North and are off many degrees. ALL compasses are inaccurate.
@@terryparker1694 Through my career I spent considerably time in small aircraft,
Any method of finding true north using the sun will only work on two days in the year in Ireland.
Muslims come from the east
Wrong, its only 1.5 days. 😂😂😂😂
Another thing is humans not used to being lost somewhere tend to panic and end up travelling in circles. If lost in the wilderness it’s a good idea to sit down for 10 minutes and contemplate your predicament and rationally think of the best solutions.
This is absolutely true. Has helped me many times out in the woods and became a great life lesson that helped me in other circumstances.
And in the same vein, I was taught to always look behind me as I was traveling because thevsame route looks completely different on the way back than it did on the way out.
My dad always told us that the easiest way to find north is to remember that the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, All you really have to do is sit down and watch the sun for a few minutes Due to the rotation of the Earth the sun will track from east to west. After that a litle common sense should tell you which way is north.
@mellocello187 ,
Yeah, even on an overcast day. You can usually see an “imprint” of the sun (a circular spot that is lighter than the rest of the sky) on all but the cloudiest of days.
@@brentbraten6680fog
The watch method only works in the northern hemisphere.
@@scotty3114 What nonsense. The only difference between the two is that in the southern hemisphere, you would be detecting true north with the watch, not true south.
That is roughly true. But remember that we have seasons because the Earth tilts from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south throughout the year. Also, our viewing of the sun is affected by what latitude we are at. The further from the equator, the more the sun is rising in the southeast, not east, for example.
Extreme case: at the North Pole, every direction is due south!
-- So, 23.5 degrees north is roughly 1/3 of the distance north from Havana, Cuba to Key West, FL. If you are in a boat at that location on the day of the summer solstice, as the sun comes up it is exactly due east of you. Anything north of that, and it is never actually due east, always a little bit or a lot south, depending on your latitude.
-- The watch method is either more or less accurate depending on the time of year. But for navigational purposes, it is generally good enough.
Very great info. and you got right to the point, i didn't have to watch it for about an hour.
I exaggerate but I agree with you all on this one. In some VIDS for some reason the presenter feels bound and determined to give us an history lesson first concerning the material he wants to bring to our attention.
I once had to figure out which direction was north when I had gotten separated from my group while hunting and then wounded a deer which I pursued all day. It was near nightfall when I decided to abandon my search and find my way back. I was 14. It was November in northern New Mexico and the night temperatures were into the single digits so it was clear I was in for a cold night if I could not find my way back. I remembered from looking at a map that a road running east west was located to the north of me and that if I could travel north long enough I would cross that road. So I placed the setting sun on my left and traveled trying to hold the sun on my left. The thing was that after going around obstacles, several times I would find that the setting sun had moved over onto my right. So I re-oriented the sun back to my left and continued. It was disconcerting to be sure but I kept re-orienting the sun onto my left until I eventually found the road that I remembered seeing on the map.
The sun confuses me in winter. It tracks along the southern sky.
❤ the watch method, learned that one in Army basic training
Good video.
For the first measurement the shadow moved to the left which would imply the sun casting the shadow moved to the right, and if the sun sets in the west, in this case the right, wouldn’t what you drew as true north actually be the south? You never really mentioned how to determine which point was east or west.
i also noticed that he failed to explain method one properly
@@kamnovak5268 The Camera View on the final view is from the opposite direction, judging by the marks in the sand. He did not explain it well.
That's right, you pulled the original stick out before you marked N
in the sand. If you had left it in, we could have figured it out.
In the northern hemisphere the sun circles east to west in the southerly sky, so with the sun to your back you would determine north.
Yes it seems to me that he marked South as North? Could someone clarify please?
The watch instruction you gave works in the northern hemisphere. The way you use your watch is slightly different in the southern hemisphere. South of the equator point the watch 12:00 mark (not the hour hand) at the sun. Half way between the 12:00 mark and the hour hand will be approximately North. Also, spiders tend to make their webs on the leeward side of trees, so if you know the direction of your prevailing winds, you can use spider webs to help determine direction. The shadow stick method you used is a very accurate method. On bright nights far away from light pollution, you can do the same with the moon.
what is the leeward side
Both good strategies to know. However, they both rely on you being able to see the sun and/or shadows. If you're in a dense forest or jungle, or if it is very foggy, cloudy or getting dark, it's a different story.
If I was lost and it was getting dark, I wouldn't be going anywhere till the next day.
In the northern hemisphere the sun rise and set is only directly east and west during equinox other times of the year its N.E or S.E sunrise depending if it's summer or fall same applies to sunset. But you can sill rely on it for general direction.......or use the compass that you should have with your knife and fire starter ANYTIME you're in the bush
During the two equinoxes every year, the sun is rising and setting at the equator. Unless you are on the equator yourself, the sun is not due east of you when it rises. At 45 degrees north, for example in Minneapolis, the sun is exactly southeast when it rises on the equinox. At the North Pole (90 degrees north), the sun is due south of you because every direction away from the pole is due south.
@@tominmo8865Yeah, thousands die annually because they got lost at tha north pole. Probably trying to find Santa ... Draw a diagram and you'll see why the sticks will work everywhere. On land I trust them more than a compass, too much magnetic interference sometimes. And I say this as one who has actually done night marches using a compass, so I know how to use one properly.
Bha ha you clown😂😂😂
One caveat to using the wristwatch to find north: Daylight Savings time! If it's set for DST, you have to use the "1" instead of the "12". Otherwise, you're introducing an error of 15 degrees, and that can add up over distance. The video didn't mention that.
And the noon according to standard time may be a little off from true local solar noon.
That stick is called a gnomon. Native Puebloan people have been using those in the US Southwest for centuries to align their buildings with the movements of the sun and moon.
Why did the native people want to align their building according to the sun and moon?
@@robertjosan To track time. Especially the time if year. See if you can find "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon" narrated by Robert Redford. Amazing the technology these people developed.
What stick is "that" stick?
@@lanierosenberg The one he sharpened and stuck in the ground.
Of course, in Australia, we would call this excellent video, "2 Easy Ways to find SOUTH"
In Australia, for environmental reasons, the government does not allow humans to travel let alone stick objects in the soil
@@williamf3988 unless you are Qantas or Rio Tinto
Up side down there where toilet water spins backwards
@@cnone3785does your pee spin the opposite direction then?
@@MarkSmith-js2pu sure does after a few to many room spins 1 way & pee the other
Inuit have always used their knowledge of the shapes of ice to work out directions. The younger Inuit have partly disowned their folklore relying on GPS to find their way and there’s been a few close shaves where young Inuit became lost and nearly died after GPS devices stopped working.
We have lots of poplar trees where I live. The south side of the tree will have a white powder on it. It's crude, but it works in a pinch.
Just bring a compass when hiking in the woods.
Lol
Just bring your phone.
@@franksullivan1873....and if the battery craps out?
Or a wristwatch...
Or driving in a city where you want to stay safe, (Phone forgotten at home).
“Us” old school army dudes refer to the 1st example as the “shadow tip method”. If you are lost at night in the woods, start by finding a clearing so you can observe the night sky, next locate the Big Dipper use your right thumb to cover the last star in the cup, next extend your right pinkie finger outward, next slightly moving your hand your right pinkie finger will cover “Polaris”(North Star)this star does not move and the Big Dipper rotates around it) once you have located this star drop your hand straight down with your arm extended from your body and now you are pointed north. Note using your right thumb to cover the last star in the cup is going to change as the dipper moves.
You can also stop and take a deep breath. If you smell shit, that is the direction of NJ. If you smell tacos, that direction is south. You take those 2 LOP’s, lines of positions, and plot them on the ground and where they cross is your location. Looking at that point, you will find your foot prints. Follow the round edge of the shoe print back to your car. At this point, it is fairly easy to find a DQ and enjoy a heath bar blizzard.
too funny
Not so fast my dear … DQ sells a taco basket.
Can confirm. Born and raised in NJ
Guess you have never been to any of the beautiful places in NJ like Sussex or Cape May, or a hundred others. Too bad.
@@kimberlymyers2083 Exit 19 Rt 80 NJ.
Pretty good stuff! I knew about the sticks and shadowing, but the watch trick is new to me ty!
My father taught me that one when I was but a child. I remember all I needed was that timex to get back to camp. Harder to tell from 10 am to 2 pm. They dropped me off different spots on a pine island two cypress heads north of camp.
And knowing the center link on each of the swamp buggy tire chains had their own sign to read. W - for ours ,the Weezee. F- for the Frog. G - for the Gould. You could tell who's buggy and what direction it last traveled, for a10 year old to return to camp.
Mid to late 60's deep in the Everglades south of the Miccosukee Indian reservation south of alligator alley. For a week every year. Trying to shoot Bambis big brother. Or a turkey or two. Got that 8 point at 13.
Thankful. For all I learned from a father that loved to fish and hunt our once plentiful state.
The watch method is an approximation. It's correct only when you are on the meridian that is referred to by your actual full hour time (number is a multiple of 15). For instance, our summer daylight saving time is 22 or 23 degrees behind the meridian referred to.
Besides that, the variation between real and medium sun position makes time vary for around 16-17 minutes back and forth.
I think that stick-and-shadow trick is the best, provided the ground is flat and even.
Up here in Fairbanks, Alaska the sun at winter solstice rises in the southeast, south at solar noon, sets in southwest.
In morning your shadow always points west. Then at noon shadow always points north. At sunset shadow always points east. If it is morning it is somewhere pointing some version of northwest. Same in pm only northeast. Very good for general direction.
If it's completely cloudy you have to read the moss happen to me about 10 years old about mile in woods it got back 1/4 mile from my house but it got me to the road
Thanks. Really interesting. The first tip is completely new to me.
Wow! Never heard of the 2nd option! Thanks for sharing! (from Ontario, Canada)
It is amazing how many "outdoor" people still don't know how to get unbewildered.
Then Why call them outdoors people?
@@LarryGarcia-p3j Notice the word is in quotes.
No kidding
@@richardwarren7492 English and reading comprehension aren't your strong suits. Got it
There is a more mathematically complicated method for those with a digital watch, but knowing the approx time of sunrise, the time, which hemisphere you are in and the fact that the sun moves 15 degrees per hour, you can get rough compass bearings and south or north as required. An outstretched arm with fingers spread is 15 degrees or 1 hour and a closed fist is 5 degrees or 20 mins.
I was always taught that if I got lost I should ask a policeman for directions.
LOL
Thanks for the video.
These are interesting tips, but they have caveats.
As another person has already commented, you didn't specifically say that the first shadow tip location will be further to the west, but because the sun moves from east to west, the shadow tip is going to move from west to east. A simple point is to write a "W" next to the first shadow tip location and then an "E" next to the second shadow tip location.
One doesn't need an analog watch to use the watch trick. If one's digital watch shows three o'clock, one can stand with one's right shoulder pointing at the sun. The twelve o'clock position would be directly ahead. If one needed to go south, one could turn forty-five degrees to the right to go south. If one needs to go north, one can look at where south is and just turn around.
Of course, none of this is useful on a cloudy day when one can't see the sun and a stick poked into the ground doesn't cast a distinct shadow. None of this does any good at night. These are still great tips for sunny days, but if I don't have a compass, I'm absolutely certain that I'll be lost at night or on a cloudy day.
If I remember correctly, finding north at night in the northern hemisphere can be done by finding the North Star. I'm not horrible but not great at finding the North Star. To be honest, I'm usually in a place where I know where north is, so I look north to find the North Star. Again, I fully expect the night to be too cloudy to see stars if I ever get lost.
I did not know that. I learned something today. Thanks for the video.
Thanks, I knew the stick method but did not know about the watch! 👍
That’s awesome thank you for watching.
You could use your shadow. If before 12:00 or after the way you’re shadow show west or east. Before 12:00-west.after12:00-east . Now you’re position your right hand to the east the left to the west your north is forward
I'm surprised you didn't mention finding the northern star using the plough!
2:07 for the first method. Everything up to that is story telling and a full length feature film of an introduction
😂 IKR I was thinking the same thing.
In Canada, you can tell by bent trees...the consistency of the West wind actually can be seen in the trees!😉
I'll have to check that out here in Ontario.
What I've never understood is what to do once I know where North is. Surely I need to know something about my own position in relation to my destination and my (presumably unrecognized) surroundings before knowing the directions would be of any use, right?
Correct my friend
Knowing which direction is North allows you to go a long distance without traveling in circles.
Just sane... :^) Saint
Very handy! I hope I can remember. Of course, you can try it out when you aren't lost and double check with a compass, even though a compass shows magnetic north.
When you say to take the watch and place it horizontal, you need to be a little more specific here ... do you mean the face of the watch?
The watch trick only works if your time zone is solar. Here in Spain, we're on Central European summer time, 2 hours east of where we should be.
The sun comes up in the East and goes down in the West. North is on your right side when facing West. It is best to always bring a compass.
Does this work on cloudy days ?
At night, Polaris is always fun practice to find (northern hemisphere, at least).
What about if there is no sun at all?
I knew about the stick/stones.
And moss in the north, that frankly is not precise but does not need sun.
And the North star at night yet depending on latitude....
When you draw the line between the short sticks, you say east and west. Is it not west and east as you draw the line
On your example - what if your watch has the time as 12 minutes past 3 ?
If heavy rain or cloudy then what ? Is any trick to do ?
I do know the way with the Stick in the Sun since my youth, but dose it works even in the south side of our Planet where the Sun gets the hingestellt point in the north?
Got you with the Statement could not live in a greater City, love my african deserts like Namib or Khalahari,
greetings,
Thomaa
Okay, you place your feet at the two sticks....how do you know you are facing north and not south? How do you determine the east point of your east-west line?
I only look at the time if its 06.00 the sun is in the east is it 09.00 then the sun is east,south and 12.00 its in the south and if its 15.00 its in the south west and is it 18.00 its in the west if you are in the north side of the eart.Its not precise but you going in the right direction.
What if there is no sun it’s cloudy out then what do u do
But what if there is no sun?
In your first method, depending which way you're facing will determine the East-West direction. So how can you tell? You need to determine which side of the sticks to stand on.
Very correct , it is mainly the feeling of the line East-West that decides all
Using the stick method, is the first stick east and the second stick west? Or is the first stick west and the other east? Still confused…
Use it just like a compass if north is in front of you the 1st stick ( left foot) is WEST, 2nd stick ( right foot) EAST. hope that helps
@@LIK64 thx, but what if you don’t know where north is? Assuming the sticks follow an east to west trajectory, could you say the first stick is easy and the second west?
Thank you! One problem is when it's not sunny. I got lost in the woods one time when it was snowing, overcast and getting dark. Scary for a little while there! Fortunately, I wasn't that far from known landmarks (not far away) in all directions, so I walked. If I got truly lost, I'd probably look around me for a clearing visible to aircraft, or stay put as long as I could and stay awake. Suggestions for an affordable, reliable gps if cell service fails?
I must be dumb .. on the stick test, you had three sticks. Then you had two sticks and drew and east/west line. I assume you ONLY used the sticks -- first was west and second tip (after lunch) was due east?
I also noticed that the stick method also showed the time to mid day!
Thanks from an old boy scout
Hello, your instructions on finding north using the watch is correct if you’re on the northern hemisphere. If a person is on the southern hemisphere, dividing the hour hand on the watch and 12 gives the north (not south).
That's a great point, thank you for sharing
Oh, ok, Great, as I wipe my brow, WHEW, You mentioned devices but you are allowing and giving us permission to use a wristwatch with hands to determine direction! That would be my most favorite method. As a novelty I have a medallion that is a sun dial So in order to use it I would need to determine which way is North. The Name of the one I purchased is "Shepherds Watch" But I have discovered another called ,"Explorer Sundial " same configuration.
Interesting. I live in Australia, can I use your method here? Thanks.
Yes mate, but you need to reverse the North and South directions because we are in the southern hemisphere.
Devils Advocate says what if it is a cloudy day with no shadows...what then?
Polaris Lyra Arcturus..Polaris is north Arcturus is west and Lyra is east at dark until midnight then u have pleadies in east before sunrise ..now that changes on season .but they give u a general direction at night day time u do what was shown I the video ...I was always told mushrooms grow on west side and ginseng on east side In more
Yep, armature astronomer here for over 60 years.
I remember the analog watch thing from Lloyd Bridges on Sea Hunt!
Now you're aging yourself, yep remember that episode.
@@richardwarren7492 Lloyd Bridges (aka Mike Nelson) would give various tips on the show.
Lost my compass at 3000ft. No trees but lots of stones covered in lichen green on the north side purple on the south. It was blowing a blizzard and visibility was very poor but the stones got me home.
informative nice job
Thank you, my brother
Thank you Cap Obvious, any tips to when its over cast or maybe sun is not available?
I was beginning to think that it was me and I missed the point, I agree with the others comments that it needs more explaining for all of us simple minded people.
I've lived in the country and a truck driver most of my life. I'm great with directions. But, In 1988, I went bow hunting with some friends in Oklahoma in country I didn't know. We were out walking before the sun came up, when it got light it was heavy overcast. We split up and I was told to hit a fence line then make a right and we would meet up. But I veered to far left and hit the wrong fence. I was lost, couldn't get my bearing because it was so cloudy and dark. Thankfully they found me before lunch. 😢
@@traildust5977 Strange but true, most people when trying to walk a straight line in the woods will curve to higher ground, like on a side hill ,before I read this and tried myself I assumed down hill would be the more likely error but found myself to be part of the most.
Oftentimes, before I go on a trip, I look up what time solar noon will be for my location. Solar noon is the time the Sun is precisely due South.
And if it’ not suny?
I am okay if it is sunny. Cloudy in the woods is tough.
A rainy or cloudy day might be a problem.
great tips, thanks. I subscribed !!
Thanks for the sub!
This all assumes you can see the sun. In many think cloud and foggy coastal rainforests it is impossible to tell the direction to the sun.
The easiest way is to take your watch off, hold it by the end of the strap, spin it round and round, then let go, and whichever way it goes, it's gone west, face that directionand turn 90 degrees to the right, hence you are facing north.
Are one or both...only for the Northern Hemisphere, or not? Thank you.
Gets to the point at 2:05
Thank you. Jesus....
@@DJL0455 My sentiments exactly.
The sun dial is great, but what if you got the east and west muddled up, you could be heading south not north! is the first reading always east??
You just got you another thimbs up and a subsriber.
Also if you are fortunate enough to find a piece of Lodestone, or Magnetite, which can be naturally magnetic, you may be able to make a crude compass.
Unless it's pissing down raining and you can't see the sun, you might use that time to reflect on your situation like this,,,,,, if you can remember where the sun came up you know that is east you can work out the suns tracectory tracking west and given the direction of the incoming rain you can find out that its established position will be either north or south ,another way of finding your position is by following a water course rivers ,creeks and streams flow downhill following this course of action does two things it provides food and water for nourishment and two it allows search parties visibility of your awareness ,,,,,easy peasy
At night, to find the North Star, imagine a line thru the 2 stars that form the outer edge (away from the handle) of the cup of the Big Dipper and it points to the north star.
Yes, what about a cloudy day ?
Well as soon as you start leaving those two sticks, you will start drifting. Our Scoutmaster showed us this in scouts. Won't be long before you are lost again. Best way to find North is to . . . . "Be prepared" and take a compass with you. And a whistle. True story - I was a scout leader for a short while. At a leader meeting, another leader and I decided to go to the top of the mountain after the meeting. This was a BSA Camp Daniel Boone in NC. After a couple of hours, we did reach the top. Unfortunately, we did not notice from which side of the mountain we had come up on . . . . so down we went and it wasn't long before we were completely lost. We broke ALL the rules - didn't tell anyone of our plans. did not take any matches, flashlights, fresh water, protective clothing . . . . . we of course got thirsty and the other leader decided to drink right out of a stream. I said "I'll wait". We finally came across a road and I decided that we would follow it . . . it had to lead to somewhere! we finally saw a house and decided to go up to it. out came about four LARGE dogs that did not look friendly at all but turned out to be ok. The owner of the house said he had lived there all of his life. he also said somehow had wound up quite near the camp. finally go back . . . but too late for dinner. As it was, I had left a borrowed jacket on the mountain, figuring I'd pick it back up on the way back down. the owner insisted I go back and get it the next day. This time I took a compass. I did find the jacket - it was fortunately a bright yellow and easily spotted. Coming back, I repeatedly used that compass and I wound up not too far from the camp. Scouting is some of my best memories - ever! thanks to ALL the leaders of Troop 487, Forest Park, Georgia who gave of their time, their finances and patience as I was very immature and sure caused a lot of them a lot of grief. David Adams, Mobile, AL
Just walk up hill.
Since the earth is round you'll end up at the equator and when you do you'll know it because it'll be really warm and everything from there on will be down hill.
You're welcome,
That makes sense and it seems simple…. Thank you for watching my friend.
I've always had a good sense of direction, even as a kid. In Boy Scouts my troop was being directed by the "Senior Patrol Leader", a 14yo jerk/bully of a kid. We were all 12 or younger and we were lost at his direction in the woods by Lake Thunderbird, Norman OK. I kept telling the 14yo we were going the wrong way as it became pitch black. Finally, I asked who wanted to follow me and most readily fell in line. The jerk and 2 kids kept going and when we emerged from the woods, I directed the deputy to the trail the ignorant were following. To this day, I can tell which way is East and so on. Weird
Thank you. Very interesting!
The watch thing can be done with a digital watch too. Just draw the watch face in the dirt, and draw in the numbers and hour hand.
Good tips, concisely explained, but I live in the UK. Yes, we do have sunny days but cloud cover can be a common feature in our weather patterns so a compass is a must, especially in the changeable conditions of the mountains.
Mountains? i am not being a smart ass and unfortunately, I have never visited the UK. Are your mountains in the Northern UK? Best wishes from Central Arkansas.
@@Phil-y8cYes, there are several mountainous areas in the UK in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and although they're not as high as the Alps (for example) they are known for their beauty, variety and in many cases the challenges they can pose. Often conditions are very changeable and mountain rescue teams are kept busy.
Most are in the more Northern areas. Scotland has the Cairngorms, Grampian, Central Highlands and on the isle of Skye (a beautiful place) the Cuillins amongst others.
In Wales there is Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, Black mountains etc. Incidentally Sir Edmund Hillary's team used Snowdonia as a training ground before the first successful ascent of Everest.
England includes the Lake District with it's 'fells', the Pennines and the Peak District.
Northern Ireland has the Mourne Mountains.
Hope you get the chance to visit.
Concisely explained? Surely you jest. It doesn't start until 2.15 in the video and then he completely forgets that it's the opposite for those viewers in the southern hemisphere and also to adjust for daylight saving time etc it that is applicable.
Not great methods in the UK where we spend so much time under a blanket of grey cloud wondering where the sun is....
If the sun is out ya can use the stick and shadow method or if you run with an analog watch ya can use the hour method.
Where I am the part on tree trunks where lichen (fungus) grows is South. The parts of the tree trunk facing N, E and W are bare.
Branches of trees, especially deciduous trees standing alone, tend to be more horizontal on the south side and more vertical on the north side
i can't see how the watch method works when the hour hand is pointing at 12?
A bit over simplicitally confusing. I live in Ireland. What sun?
But how do u determine north or south if there’s no sun, like on a rainy or cloudy day?
What he is explaining is true, if you find yourself in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere it's the opposite. Am I wrong?
I went on a boat tour of a bayou in Louisiana, and quickly found out that there are NO identifying landmarks out there, unless you're close enough to I-10 (east-west). It was really disorienting, although obviously you could get a general idea from the sun's path, or the watch trick.
Whow that’s very well explained thank you. But if there is no sunlight?