How to use a rock, the sun and a stick to find your way home

Leave a CommentHow to use a rock, the sun and a stick to find your way homeEvergreen, Outdoors, Way of Life

Here’s how!

To create a compass using the sun, a stick, and a couple of rocks, follow these steps:

  1. Find a Sunny Spot: Choose a flat, open area with direct sunlight and no significant obstructions casting shadows.
  2. Set Up the Stick: Push the stick vertically into the ground so it stands upright. Ensure it’s stable and casts a clear shadow. The stick should be about 1–2 feet tall for a visible shadow.
  3. Mark the Shadow’s Tip: Place a small rock at the exact tip of the stick’s shadow. This marks your first point.
  4. Wait for the Shadow to Move: Wait 15–30 minutes for the sun to move, causing the stick’s shadow to shift. The longer you wait, the more accurate your compass will be, but 15 minutes is usually sufficient.
  5. Mark the New Shadow’s Tip: Place a second rock at the new tip of the stick’s shadow.
  6. Draw the East-West Line: Draw a straight line in the dirt between the two rocks. The first rock (from the earlier shadow) indicates west, and the second rock (from the later shadow) indicates east. This is because the sun moves from east to west, so shadows move in the opposite direction.
  7. Determine North-South: Stand with the first rock (west) to your left and the second rock (east) to your right. Draw a line perpendicular to the east-west line through the base of the stick. The direction in front of you is north, and behind you is south.
  8. Verify and Use: You now have a compass with north, south, east, and west marked. Use it to orient yourself or navigate.

Notes:

  • This method works best around midday when shadows are shorter and move more consistently. Early morning or late afternoon shadows can be less reliable due to the sun’s low angle.
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, the shadow points roughly north at solar noon (when the sun is highest). In the Southern Hemisphere, it points roughly south.
  • If you’re near the equator, this method is less accurate because shadows may not shift much.
  • For better accuracy, use a longer stick or wait longer between marking shadows.

This technique relies on the sun’s movement, so it’s a simple and effective way to find cardinal directions without modern tools.