Finding North
Essential to navigation is finding north.
Many different methods have been discovered regarding how to find north without a compass. Here are just a few:
- The majority of moss will grow on the north side of trees. Sometimes careful examination of multiple trees is required to get a good bearing as moss will grow on all sides of the tree, it will just be more promient on the north side.
- The North Star in the northern hemisphere can be found by locating the big dipper and following the two points at the end of the spoon side to the brightest star at the end of the handle on the little dipper. The North Star will give you a good constant during night navigation as long as the sky is clear.
- The sun always moves from east to west…well, unless you are on the poles where it's a little hard to track.
- The Watch method involves using your analog watch and pointing the 12 toward the sun. Halfway between the 12 (or sun) and the hour hand is the north/south line. You’ll have to use another method to confirm which direction is north.
- Wire, leaf and water method works just like a compass. Pool some water in an area shielded from wind (and metal)and place a straight piece of wire on a leaf or small piece of wood floating in the pool. The wire and leaf will slowly swing to your north/south line. Then save the wire, eat the leaf, drink the water and get moving.
