Sense of direction?
- Thread starter Rugdoc
- Start date
I don't have a great sense of direction, in that I often get distracted when hiking in the bush, when I should be paying better attention to landmarks and my back trail. I recognized this at a very early age and took steps to ensure I wouldn't get too lost too often. So I used a compass and topo map until GPS came out. THen I carried a compass for 10 years "in case the GPS dies" but it never did, so I leave the compass at home now. GPS has plenty of other uses other than just getting you back to your truck, too. I seem to be able to navigate my way through the mountains without much trouble not using any aids, but I often get back to a road or trail and not sure if truck is around the corner or 10km away 
I've been lost lots of times, in that I had no idea where I was except what mountain I was on, but have always managed to get myself back home.
This schit doesn't bother me. i'm pretty comfortable in the bush.
I've been lost lots of times, in that I had no idea where I was except what mountain I was on, but have always managed to get myself back home.
This schit doesn't bother me. i'm pretty comfortable in the bush.
I have always had a good sense of direction.. Been turned around a few times, but figured it out without the help of a GPS, or compass... The one time was late evening that did convince me to carry a compass..
Do you live in an area where there is zero magnetic variation, that is an area where magnetic north is exactly the same as true north?
If not, I wonder why you have your compass set at zero magnetic variation?
I think I have a good sens \e of direction in the bush, but I always take a reading on my compass as I leave the road. I set the dial to point back to the road, before is tart out, so i don't have to remember it. usually, but not always, I also have a topo map or at least a sketch of the land.
One time I found a good place to still hunt, Just before dark I decided to head back, but when I looked at my compass, the suggested bearing did not agree with my sense of direction. I decided to back track my footprints in the snow, fore safety. I found that my sense of direction was fine, except I forgot the little dink donk I did to find a good place to sit. At that point, I got turned around. The compass, of course, was right.
One time I found a good place to still hunt, Just before dark I decided to head back, but when I looked at my compass, the suggested bearing did not agree with my sense of direction. I decided to back track my footprints in the snow, fore safety. I found that my sense of direction was fine, except I forgot the little dink donk I did to find a good place to sit. At that point, I got turned around. The compass, of course, was right.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I use a compass for basic direction, and carry a GPS for new areas. The ball type is fine for quick navigation, but I was trained years ago on a Sylva Ranger with the declination properly set. {gps gives me that for my location, so I set it annually}
As to the OP question, I think a hell of a lot of "hunters" are lost the minute they lose sight of the trail. I have been dumb enough to forget all navigational aids on several occasions over the years. If you know how to read the ground, and the other signs, you do Ok. Never had an issue.
Things like knowing the direction that all the ridges in your area run. Yes, they to tend to all run one way. Were you walking with the sun on your left shoulder when you started out? Should you keep it there? Know how to figure compass direction with two sticks? Use an analog watch?
One of the biggest helps is simply to learn the area. Know where water bodies are, and where they run, same for roads, or cell towers, or any other large high prominences.
Run across an unfamiliar trail? STOP! Think! it's probably one of yours, you just don't recognize it!
Oh, and moss grows on the north side? Maybe, but not in my bush, grows on every damned side! The big white pines on the ridge tops do tend to have their longest branches on the east side though.
I have even walked out of the bush under star light when I could read neither compass nor GPS. (forgot glasses) I shot a moose, by the time I got it gutted it was dark, discovered I had no light, but I knew where the ridge ran, and with the aid of star light I found my way to the main trail, and returned with help and lights to get my moose.
As to the OP question, I think a hell of a lot of "hunters" are lost the minute they lose sight of the trail. I have been dumb enough to forget all navigational aids on several occasions over the years. If you know how to read the ground, and the other signs, you do Ok. Never had an issue.
Things like knowing the direction that all the ridges in your area run. Yes, they to tend to all run one way. Were you walking with the sun on your left shoulder when you started out? Should you keep it there? Know how to figure compass direction with two sticks? Use an analog watch?
One of the biggest helps is simply to learn the area. Know where water bodies are, and where they run, same for roads, or cell towers, or any other large high prominences.
Run across an unfamiliar trail? STOP! Think! it's probably one of yours, you just don't recognize it!
Oh, and moss grows on the north side? Maybe, but not in my bush, grows on every damned side! The big white pines on the ridge tops do tend to have their longest branches on the east side though.
I have even walked out of the bush under star light when I could read neither compass nor GPS. (forgot glasses) I shot a moose, by the time I got it gutted it was dark, discovered I had no light, but I knew where the ridge ran, and with the aid of star light I found my way to the main trail, and returned with help and lights to get my moose.
You should read about Louis L'Amour. I have his bio here and he was a guy who had his ears and eyes open, not to mention his mind. That's how he picked up the material for his stories: real life.
Never have read one of his books though; why bother with fiction when reality is much more interesting?
I will. Once for a whole day. Never worried, though, I'd just make a camp.
i once had a bunch of recruits out on a night nav a dozen years ago. Usually, I'd just let them go and I keep up pretty good. But one guy had me so turned around once I had to sit them all down and resection the area to find out where we were.
I have read all things Louis L'Amour... including his biography and autobiography, including "Yondering..."
The reason his writing is so good is that Louis lived life large and wide... he was not a pasty-face sitting in a closed room with a typewriter.
Based on 3 decades wandering around in the bush, jungle, desert, steppe, tundra, taiga, alpine etc. the one thing that I have learned about my sense of direction is that on a cloudy, sunless day BELIEVE YOUR COMPASS.
There are naturally occurring rocks that will cause your magnetic compass to deviate but generally they are rare (unless you live in parts of northern Ontario).
There are naturally occurring rocks that will cause your magnetic compass to deviate but generally they are rare (unless you live in parts of northern Ontario).
Many, many people lived large and wide in those days. Most of them never wrote so much as a diary. L'Amour had the perception and observational skills to collect the material he used later. He also did a lot of plain old book readin' IIRC. These days we call it "research".
I have been lost, flying in deteriorating wx, and lost on a hunting trip, preparing to spend the night under a tree. No comparison in the level of angst.
Last time I got lost flying I needed military ground radar to find me and guide me to Chapleau. I did an instrument approach from 11,000 feet, VFR on top, and after I landed the plane took 199 liters of gas in a 200 liter tank. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Yep. If you can't find that lone tree or the bend in the river, you're screwed!Famous last words
Anywhoooo...when it happens and it will (sure pal whatever) it scares/embarasses you something fierce.
I have been out a couple times and got a bit turned around and became quit discombobulated after realizing that night was right around the corner and I was kilometers away from my truck and in virgin territory. Of course you don't want to just turn around and follow the easy path back but take a shortcut that will have you back in no time at all. Of course I have my map, compass and Gps with me but hell, you dont' need that; you know where you are, why check? Just right over there, behind that hill..........or the next one past that lake (lake?) .........yep just across this golf course........
Lo and behold, all is not what it seems. Pull out the map/gps and my gosh! You over here and not over there! You have that nice internal conversation with yourself that you really goofed or that your gps is obviously running on low batteries and hence the wrong grid.
Too get truly lost try some map/compass in Wainwright/Suffield/Sarcee training areas during a nice cold cloudy wet night. Makes you pay attention right quick.
After a couple of quoted replies, I have now read all of this thread.
I am a true lover of Louis L'Amour. I have most of his written works. Although I enjoy the wartime and sea faring novels, I am truly taken with his westerns.
Boomer, I see being lost as not knowing where I am, not knowing how to get back, and then panic setting in and you get stupid.
That being said I have been turned around. Many times necessitating walks after dark has set in. But only have I panicked once, and it was a terrifying experience. Then I taught myself how to be in the woods. Taught myself how to use a map and a compass, and then used them!
I was so good at it, when I was on my ISCC in '99 that my DS bet the others (unknown to me) that I could do the 5 clicks to the objective, get the intel, and be back before any of the other sections on the course. WITHOUT a compass.
I gave my O Grp, map model, the works. Stepped into the OP, shot my bearing, was closing the compass and he said, "Got your bearing?"
"Yes", I replied.
"Good, let me see your compass." I handed it over. "You have just dropped your compass in the rocks and broke it. What are you going to do now?" I told him I would simply use my backup compass in my buttpack. He laughed and asked if I really had one so I took it out. Then he said, "Put it away, that one just fell in the river. Now what?"
"Now," I said, "I kick myself in the ass for being so butter-fingered stupid and losing 2 compasses. I guess I'll have to borrow one from the check-navigator."
" Nope, his is broke, too."
"What are you trying to tell me, Sgt."
"That you have to do this without a compass."
Using only a map, covering ground I had never seen, we went 5 clicks through the bush and came out 50m from where I set my RV in my orders. The Sgt didn't even stay with us after that, but returned to the hide with the demo team. When we got back, we had to wait for him to de-brief us. He told us then that he had taken $20 from every staff member who had not been on a recce with me leading. He made $170 bucks because the WO told him that if I actually did it, he'd pay $50.
Daniel Boone was once asked in an interview if he had ever been lost. His response, "Can't says I ever been lost, but I was powerful turned around once for about 3 days"
I am a true lover of Louis L'Amour. I have most of his written works. Although I enjoy the wartime and sea faring novels, I am truly taken with his westerns.
Boomer, I see being lost as not knowing where I am, not knowing how to get back, and then panic setting in and you get stupid.
That being said I have been turned around. Many times necessitating walks after dark has set in. But only have I panicked once, and it was a terrifying experience. Then I taught myself how to be in the woods. Taught myself how to use a map and a compass, and then used them!
I was so good at it, when I was on my ISCC in '99 that my DS bet the others (unknown to me) that I could do the 5 clicks to the objective, get the intel, and be back before any of the other sections on the course. WITHOUT a compass.
I gave my O Grp, map model, the works. Stepped into the OP, shot my bearing, was closing the compass and he said, "Got your bearing?"
"Yes", I replied.
"Good, let me see your compass." I handed it over. "You have just dropped your compass in the rocks and broke it. What are you going to do now?" I told him I would simply use my backup compass in my buttpack. He laughed and asked if I really had one so I took it out. Then he said, "Put it away, that one just fell in the river. Now what?"
"Now," I said, "I kick myself in the ass for being so butter-fingered stupid and losing 2 compasses. I guess I'll have to borrow one from the check-navigator."
" Nope, his is broke, too."
"What are you trying to tell me, Sgt."
"That you have to do this without a compass."
Using only a map, covering ground I had never seen, we went 5 clicks through the bush and came out 50m from where I set my RV in my orders. The Sgt didn't even stay with us after that, but returned to the hide with the demo team. When we got back, we had to wait for him to de-brief us. He told us then that he had taken $20 from every staff member who had not been on a recce with me leading. He made $170 bucks because the WO told him that if I actually did it, he'd pay $50.
Daniel Boone was once asked in an interview if he had ever been lost. His response, "Can't says I ever been lost, but I was powerful turned around once for about 3 days"
Even with that down, I have still gotten turned around many times. I believe my compass. I use a map and air photos (now google earth, what a blessing THAT is). I am on my second GPS. The first I didn't trust, because I didn't know how to use it. However, on a river trip through the Waterhen river system (153km start to finish) a friend taught me the value of a GPS. You can't see nothing from the water in places that go forever and you can wind up in shallows where the water just stops. Nothing but reeds all around. I had to "paddle" 200m through grass and reeds with no water under me to get back to an open channel. Where he was. After that I just followed his GPS. I was sold on a real-time satellite map even if it was tiny and black and white (E-Trex Legend).
So, I Took a course, found out why my GPS was always ~200m off. Now, I'm good. I replaced the E-Trex (the internal bios battery died) with a 64S and haven't stopped learning with it. Learning how to put my tracks on a topo map and then print it off for the next trip was pretty cool, too.
I carry a map, a compass, and my GPS now when quadding, hiking, hunting, canoeing, etc. however, most times they don't get used. Learning to be observant is the best way to get by in the woods. It gets to be unconscious after awhile.
I really suck at some stuff, but this ain't one of them.
So, I Took a course, found out why my GPS was always ~200m off. Now, I'm good. I replaced the E-Trex (the internal bios battery died) with a 64S and haven't stopped learning with it. Learning how to put my tracks on a topo map and then print it off for the next trip was pretty cool, too.
I carry a map, a compass, and my GPS now when quadding, hiking, hunting, canoeing, etc. however, most times they don't get used. Learning to be observant is the best way to get by in the woods. It gets to be unconscious after awhile.
I really suck at some stuff, but this ain't one of them.
