People today are more reliant on technology to get from one place to another, but what happens when that GPS dies or worse yet, the satellites that drive the positioning technology stop working?
We’ve talked about how to navigate with a map and compass, but what if your compass is broken or worse yet, you don’t even have a map? There are some tried and true methods for navigating without a compass that we’re going to go over below. Have a favorite we didn’t mention here? Leave it in the comments.
1. Stick and Shadow Method
Also known as the shadow-tip method, this technique for figuring out the compass points is a great way to get your bearings when you don’t have a compass. The idea is fairly simple and the more time you have to devote to it, the more accurate it is.
First, insert a stick into the ground so that it stands as straight as possible. This needs to be done somewhere mostly flat and clear as to see the sun. The stick should cast a shadow. Using a stone or other marker, mark off where the tip of the shadow lies.
Next, wait 10 to 15 minutes until the shadow moves a couple of inches past the first marker. Place a second marker where the shadow’s tip lies now.
With these two points on the ground, draw a straight line through them. This is now your east/west line. East is in the direction of the newest point marker, and as such west in towards your first marker. Remember, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so the shadow thrown will go in the opposite direction.
To get north and south just draw a second line at a 90* angle to the first line and you’re all set. Now you can orient your map if you have one and get to safety.
2. Landmark Orienteering
If you have a map but no compass, you can get a pretty good idea where you are on the map simply by using landmarks to orient yourself. Unless you’re in a flat, featureless desert you can usually get a pretty good idea where you are on a map with a little walking and a lot of paying attention.
This method works best if you have a map that shows elevation, since you can judge landmarks like forests and bodies of water, as well as elevation. The biggest mistake most people make when trying to find themselves on a map is not taking enough time to correctly determine their location. Taking some extra time and a few extra steps now can save you being miles off course later.
Look around you and try to find some landmark that would stand out on the map. That could be a large hill that’s higher than everything around it, a river, lake, or a valley; something that stands out from the rest of the map. Once you find this landmark, find a second landmark that is visible from the first one. This will probably take some walking but with both landmarks visible, you can now determine with at least some accuracy where on the map you are, and by proxy, which direction is north.
Using this information, orient your map with north and decide on a way out. Use the same method as following a bearing with a compass and start your way home. Make sure to refer back to the map and the landmarks around you every so often to make sure you were correct in your initial decision. If a rogue hill or river comes up, it’s time to rethink your initial determination.
3. Using a Watch
Surprisingly, a simple analog watch can actually help you find north, but if you have a digital watch, you’re not totally out of luck. Many digital watches made for survival and outdoor activities have a moveable bezel. You can move the bezel to where the hour hand would be as closely as you can. You can also draw a rudimentary clock on a piece of paper, placing the hour hand where it should be.
This method actually varies depending on where you are in the world, and is less effective the closer you are to the equator.
Northern Hemisphere:
For people in the northern hemisphere, hold the watch horizontally and point the hour hand at the sun. Looking at the watch, note the direction that lies directly between the hour hand and the number 12. This point is south.
To determine the other cardinal points, it’s best to lay a stick on the ground pointing at the newly found southern point. The opposite end will obviously be north, and by laying another stick down at a 90* angle, you’ll get east and west.
Southern Hemisphere:
If you find yourself in the southern hemisphere, hold your watch horizontally and point the numeral 12 at the sun. Take note of the point that lies directly between 12 and the hour hand. This point is north. You can determine the remaining cardinal points by using sticks at right angles.
If your watch happens to be in daylight savings, remove that from the equation to get a much more accurate reading. This method is accurate as long as you take the time to make sure your watch is as aligned as possible. The more error you include in your reading, the farther off you’ll be. A good idea is to take this reading again after some travel time to make sure you’re on the right path.
Wrap-Up
Being able to navigate without a compass is a very important skill to have, since many of us don’t regularly carry a compass with us, but the need to navigate in an emergency is a very real one. What’s more, a compass can easily become broken so even if you’re prepared, it’s good to have a backup plan.