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. [click to continue…]
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