Where am I?

There are many ways to determine direction of travel within the 4 cardinal points (North, South, East, West). Direction can be found from the sky in the form of stars like the Sun during the day, or all the other stars visible at night. With the Sun, we use its shadow to show us direction. Other methods for determining direction are by observation of plant life, migratory patterns (Canadian Geese), as well as from insects, as many of them use the Sun to navigate. Learning navigation is about reading the signs all around us. Even with a map & compass, you need to check everything on the map with ground features to confirm your perceived direction of travel. Checking these signs can help a great deal, and by using them you can become a competent navigator.

Today, many people who navigate in the wilderness use a GPS locator to confirm their location. This is a great way to determine direction and some feel that the days of needing a compass are in the past. However, GPS systems are a great tool but can malfunction, and should not be used exclusively for wilderness navigation. GPS locators are completely dependant on batteries, which in turn, are dependant on various factors for power level. For example, at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius), alkaline batteries can loose up to 80-90% of their charge where NiCads (Nickel-Cadmium) loose only 30%. That doesn't leave you with much time to home in on a few satellites to get your position. What happens when your batteries fail and you are out of replacements? The answer is, you take out your compass, triangulate your position and you're back in business. No batteries necessary.

Back To Top