How do I know what way is north when Im lost in the mountains?

Show all answers

Heathery Lane

The transit of the sun is from East to west. You can note shadows to mark it's path, or just watch and gauge. Knowing East to West, It will be easy to determine North.

pillabrut

Lost in the mountains with an internet connection. nice:)

blueyes2001

If you do not have a compass then look to the sky. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west and go from there.

seilygirl

mold forms on north side of trees

Barbados Chick

During the course of the day you should be able to follow the path of the sun.... east to west.
However, you should not have gotten lost without a compass!!!

fed up with stupid questions

the moss growing on the tree trunks is on the south side

ladsmrt

Why don't you buy a little compass?? Car parts stores sell them for dashboards-- they're cheap, and in Colorado it's so high and dry that there's no mold on trees, or anything else

Spud55

Forget the moss on the north side of trees crap. If you've spent any time in the woods you know it can grow all the way around a tree. That's probably why so many people get lost. If yo're going to the mountains for a short time and are worried about finding your way, just buy a cheap compass. You can get one for less than $20. A compass without a map, though, is no good if you're trying to navigate. If you're going for a longer period of time, you can put a stick in the ground and mark where the stick's shadow first appears (in the morning) and where it's last seen in the evening. Your stick will be in the middle and using those three points you can determine north and south. If the sun sets to your left, north will be ahead of you.

Bugs Bunny

Point your hour hand at the sun. Half way between the hour hand and twelve is approximately North

not a bad guy

look for the position of the sun. if it is am it will be in the east. so if you put your right shouldered it and your left shoulder away from it you will be facing north. and Ianthe pm hrs if you do the same thing you will be facing south.

nilechnylasor

follow the north star the other way.

hopetohelpyou

Look at the direction of the sun, but smartest to take a compass with you!

- L -

simple.. don't go into the mountains without a compass.

dicanus1

mold and the sun sets in the west

cha92107

If you are in a cooler climate, Moss only grows on the North Side of things.

larry n

mold grows on the north side of trees in the northern hemisphere
if very far north, can use the sun to tell direction, it will be due south (give or take) at noon
look for the north star at night

whoop a ranger and make him tell you

David S

Did you bring a compass with you? No?

The sun usually rises in an easterly direction, and it sets most of the time in a westerly direction. If you're facing the sunrise, north should be on your left. If you're facing the sunset, north should be on your right.

A shadow from a vertical pole will point north at noon. The north star usually shines above the north part of the horizon. (You do know how to find the North Star, don't you?) If you know the sky, you can find the constellations around the celestial equator, and the meridian that bisects the celestial equator will intersect the horizon at north and south.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: