Finding Your Way Without a Compass

There are many different ways of finding your way with out a compass, I will tell you just a few of the many methods that can be used. All of these methods involve the sun or moon in some way, big or small.

The Stick Methods
This methods will work well as long as the sun is shining. Another small down side is it may take a while for a shadow to develop.

Go to an open area and push a straight, short stick into the ground. Angle the stick into the sun so there is no shadow from the stick. Now wait until the shadow forms and grows to about six inches. This shadow will be pointing east. Now draw a circle around the stick, so the stick is in the middle of the circle. Draw a line from the center of the circle (starting at the stick), along the shadow to the edge of the circle. This line points east. Now draw a line completely opposite of the shadow. This line will point west. Now draw another line from edge to edge to Finnish the "cross" or "X". You now have North, South, East and West. You also have a place to make more accurate degrees, if you draw in-between North, South, East and West.

The Moss Method
In forest, moss will grow on rocks and trees, but will grow the thickest or most on the north side.

The Snow Method
Snow on mountain peaks and slops will melt faster on all sides but the north. Because the sun shines on the north side the least.

The Star Method
The north star always points north. To find the north star, find the big dipper. The last two stars in the cup point to the north star, which is the last star in the handle of the little dipper.

The Sun Method
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.