Wilderness and Urban Survival Guide
Wilderness Arena > Environment > Navigation
Navigation
Navigation
Using a Map and Compass
Parts of a Compass Most compasses have markings similar to these: (1) baseplate, (2) glow in the dark pointer, (3) ruler, (4) needle, (5) orienting lines, (6) direction of travel arrow, (7) index line, (8) declination scale, (9) orienting arrow, (10) housing, (11) dial, (12) scales Baseplate: the hard surface that the compass is mounted…
Other Means of Determining Direction
You can use nature to find your general direction. Moss, puddles, snow melt patterns, even rings in a tree stump, can be used to help you determine your north and south direction of travel. Using Moss and Puddles to Find Direction Using moss on a tree to find direction can work in some cases but…
Making Compasses in the Wild
Components and Magnetism A compass acts as a pointer to magnetic north because the magnetized needle aligns itself with the lines of the Earth’ magnetic field. Making a compass in the wild requires a magnetic needle and something to allow it to pivot from. Ferrous metal that is un-magnetized can be used and magnetized later. …
Using the Stars for Navigation
You can determine direction using “markers” in the sky, constellations and key stars, that point the way North or South. The astronomical objects to use are dependent upon your location – Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere. The Northern Sky (Northern Hemisphere) The main constellations that will assist you in navigation are Ursa Major (the Big…
Using the Moon for Navigation
Because the moon has no light of its own, we can only see it when it reflects the sun’s light. As it orbits the earth on its 28-day circuit, the shape of the reflected light varies according to its position. We say there is a new moon or no moon when it is on the…
Using the Sun and Shadows for Navigation
The earth’s relationship to the sun can help you to determine direction (celestial navigation). The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, but not exactly due east or due west. There is some seasonal variation in the exact direction that the sun sets – the sun rises due east only two…
Latest Comments