Welcome to the Wilderness Survival page! Specifically designed for the Blazer Team member, this notebook will periodically be updated with interesting wilderness survival facts, comments, and stories for reading pleasure. Stay tuned! Hoo-ah!!

NAVIGATION

I. FINDING THE DIRECTION OF TRUE NORTH (without using a compass)

Navigation Tip # 1. (The Shadow Tip Method) Objective--Find NORTH! When the sun is casting shadows, place a three foot stick vertically (straight up and down) into flat ground. Clear the area around it of debris. Mark the tip of the shadow with a small rock/stone/pebble. This is point A. Next, wait approximetely 15 minutes and mark the end of the next shadow tip with a small rock/stone/pebble. This is point B. Draw a straight line from point A to point B. Point A is roughly WEST and point B is roughly EAST. A line drawn perpendicular to this line through the stick indicates the North-South line (i.e. the stick will be SOUTH and NORTH will be at the opposite end of the stick). Try it! However, it only works when the sun is out!

Navigation Tip # 2. (The Clock Face) Objective--Find NORTH! Hold an analog watch (a watch that has a hour hand and a minute hand--not a digital one) flat, with the hour hand aimed at the sun. SOUTH will be halfway between the hour hand and 12 noon on the watch. NORTH is 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Adjust for daylight savings time by using 1:00 instead of 12/noon. This technique works for North America below Alaska, but it should only be used for emergency situations. Always bring a compass and a map of your route!

Navigation Tip # 3. (Lunar method) Objective--Obtain a cardinal direction (i.e. North, South, East ,and West). If the crescent moon rises BEFORE the sun goes down ( a first quarter moon), its illuminated side ( the moon) will face WEST. If the moon rises after midnight ( a last quarter moon), the bright side of the moon will face EAST.

Estimating the amount of Daylight until sundown. Sometimes while wandering in the wilderness you may want to know how much daylight you have left. Approximately four fingers of your outstretched hand between the SUN and the HORIZON indicate 1 hour of sunlight remaining. Each additional finger represents 15 more minutes of daylight.

II. Estimation of Distance Traveled.

Estimating Distance Traveled. Tip#1. The average footstep is 30 inches (from heel to heel). Tip # 2. A fit person can walk 3mph over flat ground. Tip # 3. Before heading out on a cross country hike, obtain your pace count. For example: measure a straight line for 100 meters. Next, begin walking and counting every time you left foot strikes the round (1,2,3 etc.). When you have reached 100 meters that will be your pace count for 100 meters (approximately!). For a 5ft. 8 in. tall person it comes out to approximately 67 left foot steps. Keep in mind this is for level/flat ground. Going up or down hill will be slightly different so adjust accordingly. To keep track of your count, bring along a shoelace and tie a knot in it every 100 meters to let you know how far you have approximately gone.

III. Determining difference between Map North (Grid/Geographic) and Compass North (Magnetic).

Compensating for the difference (declination) between a map (Geographic) north and a compass (magnetic north). As of 2006 in Louisianna the magnetic difference between true north (map) and magnetic north (compass) is approximately 2.5 degrees Easterly. Therefore you MUST compensate for this difference (G-M angle; i.e. Grid to Magnetic) by either subtracting or adding the 2.5 degrees from your map bearing (azimuth) to apply on your compass bearing (azimuth). A simple way to remember whether to add or subtract your G-M (Grid to Magnetic) angle is by this phrase: "EAST is LEAST and WEST is BEST". Meaning, if Easterly, then it is LEAST or less, meaning you must SUBTRACT the 2.5 degrees FROM your map bearing and apply the result to your compass bearing! If you were using a WESTERLY declination (say east of Jackson, Mississippi) you would apply WEST is BEST, or better, meaning you would ADD the 2.5 degrees from your map bearing TO your compass bearing. How significant is the difference if you do not apply or compensate for map north and magnetic north? Being ONE degree off at a distance of 1,000 meters could mean your being off course approximately 17 meters. Hence, being off 2.5 degrees (by not compensating) at a distance of 1,000 meters equals approximately 42 meters in error.