3 Tips for Outdoor Orientation Without Technical Aids

There are countries in this world that are so gigantic and unimaginable in size that it is hard to imagine what it would be like to have to return to the nearest civilized place without technical aids. Although the huge areas of Russia, Canada, the United States, etc. are always in front of your eyes, you can only really appreciate the size once you have spent a certain amount of time in such a country yourself. " Big " seems a hundred times bigger in that moment.

Although Germany is very densely populated compared to the countries mentioned above, we also have situations where we misjudge the size of a region or area. If you get lost during an outdoor adventure , you know that even in the landscape you thought was so safe and familiar, there can be a certain potential for disorientation. If your cell phone, GPS and other technical aids fail, or you didn't even bring them with you, a real emergency situation can quickly arise.

No matter in which part of the world such a problem may arise – WOLFGANGS shows you how to ensure good orientation without technical aids .

The natural compass - the sun

When the sky is clear, it is highly recommended to use the sun as a guide!

Over the past millennia, many different peoples have used the position of the sun in the sky to get a rough basis for orientation. Even in the age of tablets, smartphones, laptops and 5G internet, this great benefit has not changed, except that most people today simply don't want to use such " old school methods ". Since orientation with the help of the sun takes place independently of a cell phone network, rechargeable battery or battery, it is highly recommended to acquire the knowledge about it even today. This way you are independent at all times and go out into nature a lot safer.

It takes 24 hours for the Earth to rotate completely on its own axis. This rotation takes place in an anti-clockwise direction. This means that every hour, the Earth moves westward by 15°.

These facts mean that the sun is positioned south at its highest point of the day. This is at least the case for us in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, you have to think the other way round, which would result in a northern position.

This knowledge can be worth its weight in gold in an emergency, because it enables you to find the approximate route to civilization . You know that there should be a city to the north? Great! You have now regained the orientation you need to head for the city that will save you.

The wind, the wind, the orientation begins

Sometimes it can be helpful to orient yourself by the rushing and whistling of the wind, because the wind actually knows which way it is going most of the time! Often classified as annoying and cold, the wind can be seen as something very positive in this respect. In a phase of disorientation, it can help us to find the right direction in the terrain again, provided that we know which way it is blowing most of the time.

In Germany, for example, the wind often blows from west to east. You can see this in many trees and plants during your next walk in the woods or a longer stay in nature . In some cases you can see that they have a slight incline towards the east because the wind has pushed them in this direction during the numerous growth phases. What has now given the normally straight growth direction of the trees a slight visual bend towards the east is an advantageous orientation method for you in an emergency, with which you can roughly see where you need to go next.

Oh yes – the moss on the tree trunk can also be very revealing. Usually the side that is exposed to the wind has more moss than the side that is sheltered from the wind.

In other countries, the wind direction can of course be completely different. If in doubt, find out in advance of your trip which wind direction is typical for the region you are planning to visit . This little piece of information can be extremely important in an emergency. If you don't have to use the knowledge - all the better! But having it ready doesn't do any harm. While unnecessary equipment in your backpack puts a strain on your back and shoulders, unused knowledge in your head doesn't mean any effort.

Orientation without technical aids - Keeping an eye on rivers

Humans need water to survive, so it's no surprise that people have always preferred to live near water. If you find a river, it can be highly recommended under certain circumstances to simply follow it in the direction of flow until you see the first signs of civilization . This trick is extremely helpful and can be used in almost any situation. So you should always keep this knowledge in mind before setting off on an outdoor trip.

Of course, this strategy also depends on individual local influences. In some countries, the cool water attracts not only people, but also dangerous animals that need to cool down or are looking for water. This approach is therefore not advisable, especially in bear regions.

In the desert, you should also deviate from the usual strategy. Following a river in the direction of flow could prove fatal, as many of the rivers eventually literally run into the sand. In this threatening and dry atmosphere, going in the opposite direction is a much better decision and you don't risk making your situation even worse.