The Stick and Shadow Technique

Another technique that is easy to use and will give a more accurate sense of direction is the stick and shadow technique. All you need is a stick that is approximately one meter in length.

1. Find a level surface clear of debris and place the stick vertically in the ground.
2. Mark the tip of the shadow it casts on the ground. This will be west.
3. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and mark the tip of the shadow again. This will be east.
4. Draw a line between the two marks. This will be your east-west line.
5. Bisect that line in the center creating four right angles to determine all four directions.

This technique works anywhere on earth.

The Moon Technique

The previous two techniques were daytime techniques. The following can be used to determine direction at night. The moon has been used to determine direction since the early days of man, and it still works today. The moon reflects light from the sun, and depending on where it is in its 28-day circuit, the shapes of the reflected light vary. As night falls, look for the moon. If it rises before the sun has set, the illuminated side will be west. If it rises after midnight, the illuminated side will be east. Using this technique we can get a general idea of direction.