How to tell direction without a compass

[TNap]

Casio Pathfinder watch!...Enough said! Never need batteries...always correct time and compass works great! LOL - anyway, thanks for all the great info. Going to try some of them next time I'm in the woods.


TNap

[jdeefus]

my watch is digital?!?!? :p

[petersonsman]

Very good info. The way I tell direction in a shtf situation is, if I see or hear a large group of people I do not know or hear gun fire or explosions, I go the opposite direction.

It may not set you off in a cardinal direction but it would probably be the best direction...

[RICHFL]

If you do not have a magnetic compass make one with a sewing needle, a piece of cork and a glass of water. Rub the needle on your shirt for about 1 minute, Stick it through the cork so both ends are outside the cork. Place it in the glass of water. the needle will swing until it settles on magnetic north/south.

Use the big dipper to point to the little dipper and find the north star. In the southern part of the world look for the southern cross to point south.

At day break place a stick in the ground in the direction the sun came up. At noon place a stick at the location of the sun, do the same at night fall. It will give you all general directions, North South East and West.

[survivalguy]

Here is a pic of the shadow method

[Arak Zantara]

These are not 100% accurate but I didn't want to be repetitious and no one has mentioned these yet

1) moss will generally grow faster on the NORTH side of trees
2)ants "tend" to build on the south sides of trees

The stick...shadow... watch...stars are much more accurate. I just thought these were fun and good to know.

Please God! Dont let anyone mention needles/wire and silk :)

[no1woodwizar]

Very good info. The way I tell direction in a shtf situation is, if I see or hear a large group of people I do not know or hear gun fire or explosions, I go the opposite direction.

[Badger]

Anyone else looking at the trees? Never been lost so long as I'm not blind. ;)

[TaToganta]

Sego:

New member here.

I found one I didi not know about; the cresent moon if a line drawn from rim point to rim point it then points downward to the south in the northen hem.

[Iron mike]

Just an Update I was out side on the ship pushing a broom around (its a regular thing out to sea) and the stick trick works out to sea also if my GPS is to be belived

[Lazlo]

I've tried the watch trick, the stick trick and using the stars before.
They all work really well. The only thing I had to do was mark the direction shown by the stars for morning and repeat the other methods every hour or so to maintain s steady course. This also gives you a new reference point to head for. And chance to rehydrate.
All great methods.

[Flipdog1]

The watch thing in daylight is simple,if the sun is out.
Point the hour hand at the sun,half way between 12 and the hour hand is South.Close enough for government work.

[Snow Walker]

Either one would work. If you know the geography around you and know where nearby towns are located that should be a general direction identifier. The railroad tracks not so much for direction, but they will eventually lead you to a populated area. I have gone hiking in the dark and couldn't see the stars, but I could see the city lights. There are very distinct land marks in my AO that I generally use for navigation.
When I was stationed @ 2/5 one of the company commanders was given the nickname "Capt Wrongway". We were following a road in the Phillipines to the rifle range. There was a huge billboard with an arrow pointing which road to take. I think everyone except him saw it. Then hearing him say over & over at 29 Palms on a night op "I have no idea where we are".

LMAO, that's a good one I wouldn't expect anything less from an officer!

[Stitch]

Are you checking for road signs once on a road or stopping someone who is passing by?

Either one would work. If you know the geography around you and know where nearby towns are located that should be a general direction identifier. The railroad tracks not so much for direction, but they will eventually lead you to a populated area. I have gone hiking in the dark and couldn't see the stars, but I could see the city lights. There are very distinct land marks in my AO that I generally use for navigation.

When I was stationed @ 2/5 one of the company commanders was given the nickname "Capt Wrongway". We were following a road in the Phillipines to the rifle range. There was a huge billboard with an arrow pointing which road to take. I think everyone except him saw it. Then hearing him say over & over at 29 Palms on a night op "I have no idea where we are".

[Snow Walker]

During the cold months we have snow on the south and north slopes, but it tends to be covered with deer beds on the south slopes and a little less snow. Stars at night if you have a clear sky, rivers and streams I'll give you that one, but roads and railroads? I'm a little confused on that one.

In this area the winds are out of the Nortwest 90% of the time in turn pushing trees into a leaning south-southeast direction. You can also tell by the tree growth during the summer months, they will grow out in more of a southerly direction.

Are you checking for road signs once on a road or stopping someone who is passing by?