The end of paper maps?

[spyboy]

Yeah, we're so far north you're either going to hit Canada or the ocean..eventually

[Brad]

We just don't ask directions. We have other ways of figuring it out - eventually.

[Trekker]

You guys have way more electronic gadgets then I'm even aware of . . .
I've never gone anywhere without my trusty paper map.
And probably never will -
A GPS? If you know how to read the paper maps correctly and use your compass, you would never NEED your GPS . . .

[Brad]

You guys have way more electronic gadgets then I'm even aware of . . .
I've never gone anywhere without my trusty paper map.
And probably never will -
A GPS? If you know how to read the paper maps correctly and use your compass, you would never NEED your GPS . . .

If you have an analog watch you don't need your compass either - as long as the sun is visible.

[Brad]

And just to be clear - there is no way one can have too many electronic gadgets.

[spyboy]

you don't even need a watch if you have sun.

when you're going to take lunch, put a long stick in the ground, and take a smaller stick and mark the tip of the shadow of the long stick.

have lunch (or wait 10-15 minutes)

take another stick and mark the new tip of the long stick's shadow.

draw a straight line between the 2 shadow tip marks. (this is your rough east/west line)

draw a line from the big stick perpendicular through the e/w line and you have north

If you have an analog watch you don't need your compass either
- as long as the sun is visible.

[Charlie]

maybe you should be the survivor man

[Brad]

If you have a watch - hold it flat - point the hour hand (the little one) towards the sun - half way between the hour hand and "12" on the shorter arc is south.

The reverse can be done. If you have a compass you can tell what time it is.

I used to use this when canoeing on a winding river. Using a watch I could determine where I was on the river.

[KD Talbot]

Sorry, I'm with Trekker on this one. Just curious, how well does that stick method work above treeline? Assuming I carry the sticks up from the forest, do I still need to bring a rock drill?

I guess the watch method would have merit except that the last thing I'm worried about on the trail is time, so I don't wear one. If I really need to know the time I can check it on my only gizmo, my camera.

Just call me "Old School". Happy trails!
KDT

[spyboy]

If you don't have sticks you can use other items, like a pile of rocks, or your hiking poles, or any natural item that's casting a shadow. The key is the item casting the shadow can't move because it will affect the shadows (if it falls over you might not be able to get it back to the same position).

Of course this only works above the equator. (well, maybe it would work below the equator and be the opposite? But on the equator you're out of luck).

It's not very high tech, but I learned it in a wilderness survival class.

Of course, take your compass, maps and gps if you have them, unless you want to be purist

K

Sorry, I'm with Trekker on this one. Just curious, how well does that stick method work above treeline? Assuming I carry the sticks up from the forest, do I still need to bring a rock drill?

I guess the watch method would have merit except that the last thing I'm worried about on the trail is time, so I don't wear one. If I really need to know the time I can check it on my only gizmo, my camera.

Just call me "Old School". Happy trails!
KDT