• Welcome to The Bushcraft Forum

    You are currently viewing the site as a guest and some content may not be available to you.

    Registration is quick and easy and will give you full access to the site and allow you to ask questions or make comments and join in on the conversation. If you would like to join then please Register

Natural Navigation.

One thing I always find is helpful; a fist width at arm's length spans approx 15 degrees which is how far the earth rotates (or apparently the sun moves) in 1 hour so you can estimate how much daylight you have left by measuring in an arc down from the sun's position to where it should set.

In the same way, if you mark where the sun was at noon at your camp you can estimate the time from that point to the sun's current point.
 
It's the sort of thing that's always interested me, G1ZmO reading nature's signs and folklore.

ETA. thanks for the Utube link.:thumbsup:
 
Oh! I agree Harry, it's just me skylarking, I've got very good reason to be thankful for Gizmos I can assure you. :D It's just that I tend to do things back to front compared to many people. I use old methods for virtually everything outside, backed up with modern technology if required, For instance, rather than scratch around trying to remember where I left my compass if the batteries in the GPS die, I use the compass as first choice. Just a different precedence of operating, that's all.
 
Age has slowed me down somewhat so these days I tend to go for a ramble. Some time ago I watched a TV series called Natural Navigation and it starred a few actor types being taught how to navigate without the use of a compass by Tristan Gooley. Recently I found his website and throught the summer I thought I might try some of his methods while I'm out and about. I think it could be a handy skill to have and be fun learning.:)

Natural Navigation | The Natural Navigator




Love this stuff :thumbsup: anyway of making you take notice of your surroundings is a pulse. Increasing your awareness. Must have skill in my book. And as you said before mike good game to play with the kids. When I have the chance to do that a will post the results on this thread :thumbsup: must learn them first or there’s a strong possibility my little angels with rip the pee out me :rofl:
 
Very possible :D
Very possible :D
A simple navigation aid is your seedling plants, in a greenhouse the seedlings will follow the sun so if you check them early morning they will be leaning to the east. Yep you aint go no greenhouse in the wild but you do have plants, find east you can find all the compass points
 
It’s interesting. I have dabbled a little in this with tree stumps. The heart of the tree is closer to the southern side. It’s not100% as is moss is not 100% but it’s better than a guess. Good skill to have and one that’s going on my list :thumbsup:
 
I know I've said this above but I think it's worth repeating :)

I've been following this guy on YouTube - Natural Navigation | Tristan Gooley

Small clip:

TedTalk:
"How do we keep alive a navigational tradition and set of skills that helps to define us as humans, and which gives us the capability to explore our natural environments more confidently? Tristan Gooley takes us on a journey to see the world around us a little differently, and to emerge from the experience with a new view of what it means to take more control of our adventures in nature. Before there was the compass and GPS, there was the art and craft of navigating by the sun, stars, water, and wind. Based in the UK, Tristan is “The Natural Navigator” and has led expeditions on five continents, helping to inspire new generations to retain this timeless set of navigational skills and natural understanding."

 
I know I've said this above but I think it's worth repeating :)

I've been following this guy on YouTube - Natural Navigation | Tristan Gooley

Small clip:

TedTalk:
"How do we keep alive a navigational tradition and set of skills that helps to define us as humans, and which gives us the capability to explore our natural environments more confidently? Tristan Gooley takes us on a journey to see the world around us a little differently, and to emerge from the experience with a new view of what it means to take more control of our adventures in nature. Before there was the compass and GPS, there was the art and craft of navigating by the sun, stars, water, and wind. Based in the UK, Tristan is “The Natural Navigator” and has led expeditions on five continents, helping to inspire new generations to retain this timeless set of navigational skills and natural understanding."









Will give it a watch tomorrow Paul :thumbsup: this kind of thing is right up my alley
 
My sis posted the following 2 pics today and I decided to challenge the family group to the following questions:
Picture 1 (the tree). Which compass direction is the photographer looking?
Picture 2 (my sis) and which direction is she facing when sitting by the tree?

Sad to say that even the university educated folks were stumped.

Answers on a postcard folks?

pic1 tree.jpg Pic2 val.jpg
 
My sis posted the following 2 pics today and I decided to challenge the family group to the following questions:
Picture 1 (the tree). Which compass direction is the photographer looking?
Picture 2 (my sis) and which direction is she facing when sitting by the tree?

Sad to say that even the university educated folks were stumped.

Answers on a postcard folks?

View attachment 156609View attachment 156610
Morning Paul looking at photo 1 and the way the tree is formed I would hazard a guess and say she was facing North East because our weather comes predominantly from the South West
 
Yes, that was my assumption too Joe. :thumbsup:

The sun is fairly low which would make it later in the day and therefore getting towards the west. There's also a bit of green on the tree trunk at the top right of the pic which would indicate a Northerly face. The upper branches exhibit some of the 'tick' shape feature which Gooley mentions where sun facing branches are more generally horizontal while the other side are more vertical.

I really enjoy working out stuff like this. :)
 
Yes, that was my assumption too Joe. :thumbsup:

The sun is fairly low which would make it later in the day and therefore getting towards the west. There's also a bit of green on the tree trunk at the top right of the pic which would indicate a Northerly face. The upper branches exhibit some of the 'tick' shape feature which Gooley mentions where sun facing branches are more generally horizontal while the other side are more vertical.

I really enjoy working out stuff like this. :)
I'm looking forward to what conclusions some of our other stalwart members might come up with
 
In picture one I think the photographer is facing North West. The shadow of the tree will be generally on the North side of the tree all day. As has been said the sun is low in the sky (so assuming late afternoon/evening), with the sun roughly in the South West this means the shadow should be pointing North Easterly. The shadow is roughly parallel to the horizon so the photographer must be facing 90 degrees from North East, this can't be South East so he must be facing North West-ish.
 
Eastish looking at the shadows of the tree on the ground (assuming Northern Hemisphere)
And sis is looking Northish.
Probably boolics as I'm no good at thus...🤣🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Slightly on subject, but at night.
Sprog was watching a Disney film few days ago, Moana.
Native people were using an open hand with extended thumb to navigate the stars. I don't know which constellations they were using as Polynesia, but was out late walking the dog the night after when I tried out of curiosity with Ursa Major (The Plough/big dipper/7 Squadron) constellation.
Turns out that if you line up your extended thumb and side of forefinger with the cup shape of Ursa Major, tip of middle finger is just under Polaris (North Star). I can only guess it depends on the person's hand size and shape, but it worked for me.
Maybe not everything in these kids films is nonsense after all 🤔
 
Back
Top