Hiking Navigation - Finding North

If you are lost or disorientated then a good first step would be to determine where north is. Once you know where north is you will be able to determine at least in what general direction you should be moving in. There are many ways to determine the Northern Direction using both man-made means and tools that nature provides. In this section, we will look at some of the ways to determine where North is while you are outdoors:

• Use a Compass or GPS Device. Perhaps a bit corny to list this here but of course it is the simplest and most reliable way of Finding North. Whenever you plan on going Hiking, make sure to take a Compass or Gps Device.
• Use the sun. It rises roughly in the east and sets roughly in the west. If you are in the northern hemisphere, the sun will be due south at noon. If you are in the southern hemisphere, the sun will be due north at noon.
• Use the night sky. In the northern hemisphere, you can use the North Star (or Pole Star). It is a clear star at the end of the big dipper. In the southern hemisphere, you can use the Southern Cross by creating an imaginary point that extends about five times as far as the distance from the two cross points.
• Use the prevailing wind direction. If you know the prevailing wind direction in the area that you are in then you can look at the shape of trees, plants, and dunes to determine where the wind is generally blowing from and determine where north is.

There are many ways of finding where the North is. Aside from several devices such as Compass and GPS Device, other elements can also help you in determining your location. Make sure to get familiar with these methods so you will know what to do should you get lost or if you want to determine your location.

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