I bring this up today because this topic has started to pop up in my land navigation classes.
Recently, one of my students told me about a Ray Mears' video on http://www.youtube.com/. It's called the "Path Finder." To watch the video go here. The student asked my my opinion of Mears' methods.
He brings up some interesting topics and demonstrates determining direction;
- By looking at the growth of tree limbs (larger limbs on the south side)
- Finding a cut tree stump and determining directions based on the growth rings
- Using the hour hand of a watch to determine direction, and;
- Using the sun, stick and shadow method to determine direction.
My survival class tested the tree limb theory on the campus of a college in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Though there were several deciduous trees, most were fairly young and none convincingly pointed south.
Number 2, I've got to find a tree stump to check that out. Still, if you are on a north facing slope will you get that clear direction determination?
So, in my region of the Northwest, method 1 & 2 are not working for me.
Methods 3 & 4 have been illustrated in books for years. Do they work, sure. But I'd ask you to consider just how accurate these methods are. Rather than a specific heading such as 180 degrees (that is south) you will get a trend of direction; as in you are heading in a southerly direction. That may be all you need.
It might be hard to test out method 3 with a digital watch.
For more information about methods 3 & 4 take a look at the following references:
- Staying Found by June Fleming, Chapter 7
- Camping & Wilderness Survival by Paul Tawrell, start on page 175
As an aside, I have enjoyed the few Ray Mears' videos that I have seen. If you are looking for a good video on backcountry survival in winter watch his BBC documentary, the Real Hero's of Telemark; here. It's is outstanding.
Update: June 20. I was able to link up with a friend (who has a doctorate in Forestry.) His sense was that trying to depend on the growth rings of a tree was risky and depended on too many variables to be of use.
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