{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T19:06:33+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-04-26T18:08:42+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:14:37+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Sports & Recreation","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34001"},"slug":"sports-recreation","categoryId":34001},{"name":"Survival Skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34032"},"slug":"survival-skills","categoryId":34032}],"title":"Improvising Navigation in the Wilderness","strippedTitle":"improvising navigation in the wilderness","slug":"improvising-navigation-in-the-wilderness","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Using the sun, the stars, and a little ingenuity can help you find your way in the wilderness and is easy to do more often than not. Remember, people have been ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Using the sun, the stars, and a little ingenuity can help you find your way in the wilderness and is easy to do more often than not. Remember, people have been using the heavens to navigate for thousands of years. The following techniques can be used anywhere on Earth and are sometimes incredibly accurate, but give you only general direction:\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Stick and shadow</h2>\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plant a long stick in the ground and mark the tip of its shadow.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wait 15 minutes and mark new spot. This is the east-west line.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Put your left foot on the first mark and your right on the second. You’re facing due north.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/301679.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"466\" height=\"468\" /></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >The North Star</h2>\r\n<p class=\"recipe_ingredient_last\">The North Star is located between the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. This method for finding North is always exact. When you’re facing the North Star, west is directly to your left, east, to your right, and south behind you.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/301680.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"273\" />\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >The Southern Cross</h2>\r\nThe Southern Cross lies between the two Pointer Stars and The False Cross. The Southern Cross points perfectly south only when it’s standing straight up. Otherwise, use an imaginary point to estimate due south, as the figure shows:\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/301681.image2.jpg\" alt=\"image2.jpg\" width=\"408\" height=\"272\" />","description":"Using the sun, the stars, and a little ingenuity can help you find your way in the wilderness and is easy to do more often than not. Remember, people have been using the heavens to navigate for thousands of years. The following techniques can be used anywhere on Earth and are sometimes incredibly accurate, but give you only general direction:\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Stick and shadow</h2>\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plant a long stick in the ground and mark the tip of its shadow.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wait 15 minutes and mark new spot. This is the east-west line.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Put your left foot on the first mark and your right on the second. You’re facing due north.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/301679.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"466\" height=\"468\" /></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >The North Star</h2>\r\n<p class=\"recipe_ingredient_last\">The North Star is located between the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. This method for finding North is always exact. When you’re facing the North Star, west is directly to your left, east, to your right, and south behind you.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/301680.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"273\" />\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >The Southern Cross</h2>\r\nThe Southern Cross lies between the two Pointer Stars and The False Cross. The Southern Cross points perfectly south only when it’s standing straight up. Otherwise, use an imaginary point to estimate due south, as the figure shows:\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/301681.image2.jpg\" alt=\"image2.jpg\" width=\"408\" height=\"272\" />","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10053,"name":"Cameron M. Smith","slug":"cameron-m-smith","description":" <p><b>Dr. Cameron M. Smith</b> has searched for early human fossils in East Africa, studied traditional hunting methods in Arctic Alaska, and more. His research has been published in <i>The American Journal of Physical Anthropology</i> and <i>The Journal of Field Archaeology</i>, and he is the author of <i>An Atlas of Human Prehistory</i>.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10053"}},{"authorId":10054,"name":"John F. Haslett","slug":"john-f-haslett","description":" \t <p><b>John Haslett</b> is a veteran expedition leader and adventure writer whose articles have been featured in <i>National Geographic Adventure.</i> <b>Cameron M. Smith</b> is an archaeologist at Portland State University. He has traveled the world's wildernesses in some of the most unreasonable ways imaginable. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10054"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34032,"title":"Survival Skills","slug":"survival-skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34032"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":175788,"title":"Trig Identities for Pre-Calculus","slug":"trig-identities-for-pre-calculus","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","pre-calculus"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/175788"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":232914,"title":"The Flop, Turn, and River Cards in Texas Hold'em","slug":"flop-turn-river-cards-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/232914"}},{"articleId":193770,"title":"How to Play Rummy: All You Need to Know","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/193770"}}],"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Stick and shadow","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"The North Star","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"The Southern Cross","target":"#tab3"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":208418,"title":"Wilderness Survival For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"wilderness-survival-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208418"}},{"articleId":181959,"title":"Worldwide Distress Frequencies and Phone Numbers","slug":"worldwide-distress-frequencies-and-phone-numbers","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/181959"}},{"articleId":181888,"title":"Methods for Signaling Search-and-Rescue Teams","slug":"methods-for-signaling-search-and-rescue-teams","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/181888"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":208418,"title":"Wilderness Survival For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"wilderness-survival-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208418"}},{"articleId":181959,"title":"Worldwide Distress Frequencies and Phone Numbers","slug":"worldwide-distress-frequencies-and-phone-numbers","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/181959"}},{"articleId":181888,"title":"Methods for Signaling Search-and-Rescue Teams","slug":"methods-for-signaling-search-and-rescue-teams","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/181888"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282672,"slug":"wilderness-survival-for-dummies","isbn":"9780470453063","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470453060/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470453060/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0470453060-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470453060/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0470453060/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/wilderness-survival-for-dummies-cover-9780470453063-165x255.jpg","width":165,"height":255},"title":"Wilderness Survival For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<p><b data-author-id=\"10054\">John Haslett</b> is a veteran expedition leader and adventure writer whose articles have been featured in <i>National Geographic Adventure.</i> <b data-author-id=\"10053\">Cameron M. Smith</b> is an archaeologist at Portland State University. He has traveled the world's wildernesses in some of the most unreasonable ways imaginable. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10053,"name":"Cameron M. Smith","slug":"cameron-m-smith","description":" <p><b>Dr. Cameron M. Smith</b> has searched for early human fossils in East Africa, studied traditional hunting methods in Arctic Alaska, and more. His research has been published in <i>The American Journal of Physical Anthropology</i> and <i>The Journal of Field Archaeology</i>, and he is the author of <i>An Atlas of Human Prehistory</i>.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10053"}},{"authorId":10054,"name":"John F. Haslett","slug":"john-f-haslett","description":" \t <p><b>John Haslett</b> is a veteran expedition leader and adventure writer whose articles have been featured in <i>National Geographic Adventure.</i> <b>Cameron M. Smith</b> is an archaeologist at Portland State University. He has traveled the world's wildernesses in some of the most unreasonable ways imaginable. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10054"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"]},{"key":"isbn","values":["9780470453063"]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221a0d780eb\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["home-auto-hobbies","sports-recreation","survival-skills"]},{"key":"isbn","values":["9780470453063"]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221a0d7861c\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":null,"lifeExpectancySetFrom":null,"dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":181874},"articleLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{},"objectTitle":"","status":"initial","pageType":null,"objectId":null,"page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"initial","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2024-10-21T10:50:01+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();</script><noscript><img src=\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\" /></noscript>\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<script type='text/javascript'>\r\n(function(){var g=function(e,h,f,g){\r\nthis.get=function(a){for(var a=a+\"=\",c=document.cookie.split(\";\"),b=0,e=c.length;b<e;b++){for(var d=c[b];\" \"==d.charAt(0);)d=d.substring(1,d.length);if(0==d.indexOf(a))return d.substring(a.length,d.length)}return null};\r\nthis.set=function(a,c){var b=\"\",b=new Date;b.setTime(b.getTime()+6048E5);b=\"; expires=\"+b.toGMTString();document.cookie=a+\"=\"+c+b+\"; path=/; \"};\r\nthis.check=function(){var a=this.get(f);if(a)a=a.split(\":\");else if(100!=e)\"v\"==h&&(e=Math.random()>=e/100?0:100),a=[h,e,0],this.set(f,a.join(\":\"));else return!0;var c=a[1];if(100==c)return!0;switch(a[0]){case \"v\":return!1;case \"r\":return c=a[2]%Math.floor(100/c),a[2]++,this.set(f,a.join(\":\")),!c}return!0};\r\nthis.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement(\"script\");a.type=\"text/javascript\";a.src=g;document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}};\r\nthis.start=function(){var t=this;\"complete\"!==document.readyState?window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener(\"load\",function(){t.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent(\"onload\",function(){t.go()}):t.go()};};\r\ntry{(new g(100,\"r\",\"QSI_S_ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\",\"https://zn5o5yqpvmvjgdoun-wiley.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/SIE/?Q_ZID=ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\")).start()}catch(i){}})();\r\n</script><div id='ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN'></div>\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>\r\n (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){\r\n h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};\r\n h._hjSettings={hjid:257151,hjsv:6};\r\n a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];\r\n r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1;\r\n r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv;\r\n a.appendChild(r);\r\n })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv=');\r\n</script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" <script src=\"//get.s-onetag.com/bffe21a1-6bb8-4928-9449-7beadb468dae/tag.min.js\" async defer></script>","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"<meta name=\"facebook-domain-verification\" content=\"irk8y0irxf718trg3uwwuexg6xpva0\" />","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<noscript>\r\n<img height=\"1\" width=\"1\" src=\"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=256338321977984&ev=PageView&noscript=1\"/>\r\n</noscript>\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":299891,"title":"For the College Bound","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-college-bound-299891"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":301547,"title":"For the Game Day Prepper","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/big-game-day-prep-made-easy-301547"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"Article3","path":"/article/home-auto-hobbies/sports-recreation/survival-skills/improvising-navigation-in-the-wilderness-181874/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"home-auto-hobbies","category2":"sports-recreation","category3":"survival-skills","article":"improvising-navigation-in-the-wilderness-181874"},"fullPath":"/article/home-auto-hobbies/sports-recreation/survival-skills/improvising-navigation-in-the-wilderness-181874/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}

Improvising Navigation in the Wilderness

By: Cameron M. Smith and John F. Haslett and

Updated: 04-26-2016

From The Book: Wilderness Survival For Dummies

Wilderness Survival For Dummies

Book image

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Using the sun, the stars, and a little ingenuity can help you find your way in the wilderness and is easy to do more often than not. Remember, people have been using the heavens to navigate for thousands of years. The following techniques can be used anywhere on Earth and are sometimes incredibly accurate, but give you only general direction:

Stick and shadow

Plant a long stick in the ground and mark the tip of its shadow.
Wait 15 minutes and mark new spot. This is the east-west line.
Put your left foot on the first mark and your right on the second. You’re facing due north.

The North Star

The North Star is located between the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. This method for finding North is always exact. When you’re facing the North Star, west is directly to your left, east, to your right, and south behind you.

The Southern Cross

The Southern Cross lies between the two Pointer Stars and The False Cross. The Southern Cross points perfectly south only when it’s standing straight up. Otherwise, use an imaginary point to estimate due south, as the figure shows:

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Wilderness Survival For Dummies ,

About the book authors:

John Haslett is a veteran expedition leader and adventure writer whose articles have been featured in National Geographic Adventure. Cameron M. Smith is an archaeologist at Portland State University. He has traveled the world's wildernesses in some of the most unreasonable ways imaginable.

This article can be found in the category:

Survival Skills ,