That’s the most common story that you are walking through a new place, town or patch of forest on certain path. Suddenly you turn around and find that you are lost. You get panic and everything around you looks unfamiliar. Its getting dark and you needs to find your way now. In such situation takes these steps to find out your way back.
Study the Map
Look at map where you were going, and where are you now. Look anomalies, particularly large ones. The highest peak, a river, a statue or major street will not only help you get your bearings but set you up for the next step to your preparations.
Mark down the directions and locations of these landmarks. A simple tourist map can easily help you to identify boundaries and directions. On map you can easily see names of streets, also peak name, river and such clear signs are given on map which makes it easy for you to locate your position where you are standing. All such important facts and points on map that you see note them down if not then mark them on map.
In the city note or mark major streets and places. This is particularly important in large, old cities like Dublin, where 90-degree intersections are in short supply.
How to Find North at Daytime
One way to use the sun to find direction is through the use of shadows. That shadow following you around for your entire life is carrying a useful secret. Your shadow always knows where it is in relation to you and the sun, and it never fails to point in the right direction if only we know how to use it. Let’s utilize this great direction finding ability of shadows to our advantage.
Although your body casts an excellent shadow when the sun is shining, you probably do not want to stand in one position without moving for ten or twenty minutes. An inanimate object such as a straight stick will work just as well.
The shadow stick method of direction finding requires:
- The bright sun – if it is too cloudy you will not be able to observe a shadow.
- A straight stick about 0.5 meters (1.5 feet) or longer.
- Two pebbles or other means of marking a point on the ground.
The stick method is one of quick way to find east and west. Put the stick in ground straight and mark its tip shadow in dirt. After 10-15 minutes mark again the tip of shadow. A line drawn between those two goes east to west in the northern hemisphere and west to east in southern hemisphere.
Nature also gives indications for directions. Like moss always grows on north side of trees while spider webs tends towards south. The movement of the sun and clouds are very rough indicators that’s why cant rely on them mostly.
In the city look for grid structure. Even well planned cities will be having anomalies, so always be aware of angled streets and curves. Keep attention on such streets, which meet at 90-degree angles, as this will suggest North-South and East-West arrangement. They will also provide a great panic azimuth.
Use intersections as reference points because intersection will favor you more than a vague description.
How to find North at Night
For many thousands of years Polaris has been used as a guiding star and reference point for navigators and astronomers. Through experience and observation wayfarers discovered the North Star lights the way to true north.
In ancient times locating this lodestar was crucial to navigating long distances through the wilderness. The beauty of using the North Star for navigation is that unlike a magnetic compass the North Star always points to true north. There is no magnetic declination to deal with.
By shear luck, the northern axis of the earth points directly toward the North Star. This means that when you are observing this star you are facing true north toward the North Pole. Because of this we also call the North Star the Polestar or Polaris, its astronomic name.
When you are facing the North Star you are looking toward true north. This is because by chance this lodestar lines up with the celestial sphere almost perfectly, so that all other stars appear to rotate around it. Simply by finding the North Star travelers are able to determine all the points of the compass: westward would be on your left, eastward to the right, and southward in back of you.
Tips for Navigating in Urban Environments
In urban environment navigation is dependent on landmarks. In small towns and rural areas street names are ineffective to describe your location while in cities they are savior by using the grid on topographic map intersection will point out your location easily. That’s always important when calling for help. Big cross signs of streets also shows your direction you are traveling.
What is Panic Azimuth?
Panic Azimuth basic concept is that when you are lost totally and walking in unknown direction, which lead you to a landmark from where you can follow to safety. For example if you are on hiking a trip west of “Amazon River” and you are two miles upstream from town, then all you need is to maintain azimuth of 90,East azimuths or read in degrees from north and you will run into the Amazon river by following that you will find way to your home.
It’s the same principle as told above for cities also. You wont get point for finding way back from North-South or East-West streets. Walk towards east that you’ll reach Johnson Street, then walk north till you got the intersection you recognize. Beware of your surroundings especially in night. In such area where you wont see any regular lights or bars on most windows of buildings that indicates you needs to get phone for assistance. The phone should have to near the intersection.
There is a saying prevention is better than cure. So it’s always best to research before about the place where you are going. Because by that you will get all necessary information about that place and you will get so less chances to lose. Most of out door tricks for finding the path can lead you to failure, that’s why its best to have a little compass along you all the time which will help you a lot.
At end best thing is brain never get panic if you lost just relax your mind and with calm mind think which will help you to get back on track.
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