Orienteering

[clandestine.misfit]

I’m doing this online atv utv course right now and there’s some basic orienteering stuff in it.

And then i read this. Possibly the most interesting tidbit of info in the entire course.

“ You can use an analog watch—the kind with hands—to find south. With the watch on a flat surface, rotate it to point the hour hand at the sun. South is the direction halfway between the hour hand and 12. (If the watch is set to daylight savings time, south is the direction halfway between the hour hand and 1.”

I’m sure it’s not *perfect* but in a pinch this is super super cool.

[dan]

I’m doing this online atv utv course right now and there’s some basic orienteering stuff in it.

And then i read this. Possibly the most interesting tidbit of info in the entire course.

“ You can use an analog watch—the kind with hands—to find south. With the watch on a flat surface, rotate it to point the hour hand at the sun. South is the direction halfway between the hour hand and 12. (If the watch is set to daylight savings time, south is the direction halfway between the hour hand and 1.”

I’m sure it’s not *perfect* but in a pinch this is super super cool.

interesting...

[Bonecrusher101]

I wear a digital watch, but I really like the shadow tip method. It isn’t instant and you need wait half hour or so.

[James Last]

I’m doing this online atv utv course right now and there’s some basic orienteering stuff in it.

And then i read this. Possibly the most interesting tidbit of info in the entire course.

“ You can use an analog watch—the kind with hands—to find south. With the watch on a flat surface, rotate it to point the hour hand at the sun. South is the direction halfway between the hour hand and 12. (If the watch is set to daylight savings time, south is the direction halfway between the hour hand and 1.”

I’m sure it’s not *perfect* but in a pinch this is super super cool.

The disadvantage of all electronic devices is that they are somehow dependent on the power supply. The battery has run out, the accumulator - and that's it, you are lost. I would recommend that you first learn analog terrain orientation, using a banal compass, maps, signs on the ground. In this case, even if your digital clock fails, it will not be a problem for you. There are many videos on YouTube on compasses and orientation using terrain maps.

[Waddams]

I have a magnetic compass with me every time I go in the woods, and a close enough visual picture in my head of map (if not a back up map print folded in a ziplock bag with said compass) that I can find my out with that compass if needed. Boy Scouts taught orienteering skills has gotten me out a few times prior to getting a smart phone with a GPS app too.

I've had occasional times where the phone signal wouldn't connect and it was not much use orienting me directionally as well as dead battery and having it shutdown because it overheated too.

I think anyone that heads into the woods should go learn those skills. It's too easy to learn to not do it.