June 7, 2008

LOST

“So, this is a compass, ladies … and this is how you use it not to get lost  …”

Honestly, I’m not sure I’m any the wiser. Navigation is a complex art. But at least I will now know how to mantrack my prints back to where I started

And I did learn how to use sticks and the sun to find north.

1. On June 7th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
   spyscribbler Says:
   

   With sticks and a sun? Will you tell us how? That’s cool!

2. On June 8th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   Let’s see if I get this right — you plant a stick upright into the earth, and mark the end of its shadow with another. Then you wait a while for the sun to move. The changed direction of the sun will cast a new shadow in another direction. Take a stick and line the end of that new shadow up with the end of the previous one, and that stick on the ground is now your West/East line. Stand with your heels against the stick, facing away, and you will be looking directly north.

   Does that make sense?

3. On June 8th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
   spyscribbler Says:
   

   That is COOL. Oh, man, can I use that?

   But couldn’t you just as easy face South as North?

4. On June 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   Good question, Spy.

   The thing to remember is the sun arcs east to west, so the swing of the shadow from the centre (original stick) will reflect that movement. (it will swing in the opposite direction from the sun’s arc)

   But it shouldn’t matter, I don’t think, if you don’t wait too long for the sun to move. The shortest distance between the shadows (an acute angle in other words)will be the one between which you lay your marker stick. Then you stand heels against that stick with your back to the center(orginal) stick, and you will looking north.

   LOL .. I’m not sure I’m making any sense. I shall try and articulate better …

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