15 questions · Nature
Getting lost happens faster than pride allows and the two arts that matter then are knowing where you are and showing where you are. For the first art, the sky keeps a duty roster: in the northern hemisphere the sun stands due south at midday, and an analogue watch turns that into a compass: point the hour hand at the sun and the line halfway to twelve points south. That the sun "rises in the east", by the way, is strictly true only at the equinoxes. At night the Pole Star takes over; find it by extending the back edge of the Big Dipper five times: it marks north all year round. If the sky is hidden, drive a stick into the ground: the line between two marked shadow tips always runs west to east. Only the moss deserves no trust: it grows wherever it is damp, and by no means only on the north side of trees. The comforting "just follow the stream downhill" has a catch too: in the mountains, streams love gorges and waterfalls, and often the wisest route is back to the last point you knew for certain. For the second art, the world speaks the language of three: three whistle blasts, three fires, three flashes mean emergency and in Morse, three short, three long, three short spell the famous SOS. A whistle carries farther than any voice and never tires, a signal mirror reaches aircraft many kilometres away in sunshine, thick smoke from green leaves draws eyes by day, and a large V trodden into the ground asks for help in the international ground-to-air code.
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Three times
Three identical signals in a row are the universal distress sign: three blasts, three fires in a triangle, three torch flashes. Single signals drown in everyday noise: threes do not.
Three short, three long, three short
Three short, three long, three short can be whistled, knocked or flashed. SOS was chosen in 1906 for being unmistakable: not as an abbreviation: "save our souls" was invented afterwards.
It carries farther and never tires
A voice goes hoarse in minutes and reaches a few hundred metres; a whistle blast cuts through wind and forest for kilometres: all day long. Belongs on every backpack strap.
A signal mirror
A well-aimed sun flash is by far the most conspicuous signal from the air: a phone screen, CD or polished metal works too. Aim across the sighting hole or two raised fingers.
Thick smoke from green leaves
By day, flames are nearly invisible: smoke shows for kilometres. Fresh greenery, moss or wet leaves on the embers send up dense white columns.
A V
The international ground-to-air code: V means "require assistance", X means "require medical assistance". Made of rocks, branches or trodden into snow: just big and high-contrast.
Hour hand at the sun: halfway to 12 points south
Works in the northern hemisphere (standard time; use 1 o'clock during daylight saving). With only a phone, draw the dial on paper.
In the south
North of the tropics the sun travels east (south) west: the shortest shadow of the day points north.
Only at the equinoxes
In summer it rises well north of east at our latitudes, in winter south of east: June and December sunrise points lie more than 60 degrees apart. As a rough bearing, "east" still serves.
By extending the back edge of the Big Dipper
Extend the two rear stars of the Big Dipper's bowl about five times: there stands Polaris. It is not especially bright, but it is the only star that never moves all night.
North
It stands almost exactly above the North Pole: walk towards it and you walk north, all night, all year. In the southern hemisphere the Southern Cross takes over.
The west-east line
Stick in the ground, mark the shadow tip, wait 15 minutes, mark again: the connecting line runs west to east; the first mark is west. Works worldwide.
No: that is a myth
Moss grows wherever it is damp and shady: all around near streams, on south faces of slopes too. As a compass it is useless: sun, watch and stars are reliable.
Streams there lead into gorges and over waterfalls
In flat country watercourses do often lead to settlements: in the mountains they lead through impassable terrain. There the rule is: stay on paths or return to the last known point.
Backtrack to the last point you knew for certain
Pushing on "by feel" compounds the error. Your own back trail is the only route you truly know: follow your own tracks if need be.
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