This story was originally published on OFFGRID. Words by Patrick McCarthy. The sun is essential to survival, and not just because its presence keeps the Earth from turning into a frozen wasteland. Brief interruptions of sunlight like the recent solar eclipse remind us of how much we take it for granted in our daily lives. In a survival scenario, the sun can be used to cook food, purify water or even navigate to safety.
Use the sun and your wristwatch to get you headed in the right direction. Photo: OFFGRID If you’re wearing a watch that doesn’t have a built-in compass, you should take some time (no pun intended) to learn how to use it as an improvised compass. This technique requires an analog watch and a clear view of the sun. For those who wear digital watches or rely on cell phones to tell time, you can still use this technique, but it’ll require a little extra work to visualize a watch’s hands. This can be done using sticks on the ground, a pen and paper or even mentally (if you’re really good at visualization). For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume you’re in the northern hemisphere; if you’re in the southern hemisphere, the technique changes (more on that later). If you’re in the tropics (i.e., near the equator), this technique may not be accurate, so you’ll need to find another method, such as celestial navigation. Also, we’ll assume you’re not affected by daylight savings time. If DST is currently in effect in your region, you’ll need to remember this and compensate by subtracting one hour from the hour hand’s position. The following video from AlfieAesthetics on YouTube shows how to find true north using your watch and the sun. Warning: The video contains some mild profanity.
The basic steps can be summarized as follows: — Place your watch horizontally with the hour hand pointed in the direction of the sun. — Note the angle between the hour hand and the 12:00 mark. Mentally split this angle in half. (For example, if the sun is at 4, envision a line across the face from 2 through 8.) — This angle is your north-south line. North is the point farthest from the sun. (In our previous example, north would be at the 8 position.) — Now that you know where north and south are, it’s easy to plot an azimuth based on the marks on your watch face, or using a dive watch bezel.
Pay attention. This is how it’s done. Photo: AlfieAesthetics/OFFGRID If it’s exactly 6:00 as seen in this graphic, and you know the sun will be setting in the west, you can use this approximation to navigate or wait a while for the hour hand to move and create a sufficient angle for the method above. If it’s exactly 12:00, the sun will typically be approximately due south. Now, if you’re in the southern hemisphere, this all changes. Alfie explains: “In the southern hemisphere, point the twelve o’clock mark towards the sun. The midpoint between the 12 o’clock mark and the hour hand will be your north-south line. North will be the direction furthest away from the sun.” More from OFFGRID Infographic: The art of hydroponic gardening Backwoods Brewing: How do you make your coffee? Short film: Making Anasazi-style pottery
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This story was originally published on OFFGRID. Words by Patrick McCarthy.
The sun is essential to survival, and not just because its presence keeps the Earth from turning into a frozen wasteland. Brief interruptions of sunlight like the recent solar eclipse remind us of how much we take it for granted in our daily lives.
In a survival scenario, the sun can be used to cook food, purify water or even navigate to safety.
If you’re wearing a watch that doesn’t have a built-in compass, you should take some time (no pun intended) to learn how to use it as an improvised compass.
This technique requires an analog watch and a clear view of the sun. For those who wear digital watches or rely on cell phones to tell time, you can still use this technique, but it’ll require a little extra work to visualize a watch’s hands. This can be done using sticks on the ground, a pen and paper or even mentally (if you’re really good at visualization).
For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume you’re in the northern hemisphere; if you’re in the southern hemisphere, the technique changes (more on that later).
If you’re in the tropics (i.e., near the equator), this technique may not be accurate, so you’ll need to find another method, such as celestial navigation.
Also, we’ll assume you’re not affected by daylight savings time. If DST is currently in effect in your region, you’ll need to remember this and compensate by subtracting one hour from the hour hand’s position.
The following video from AlfieAesthetics on YouTube shows how to find true north using your watch and the sun.
Warning: The video contains some mild profanity.
The basic steps can be summarized as follows:
— Place your watch horizontally with the hour hand pointed in the direction of the sun. — Note the angle between the hour hand and the 12:00 mark. Mentally split this angle in half. (For example, if the sun is at 4, envision a line across the face from 2 through 8.) — This angle is your north-south line. North is the point farthest from the sun. (In our previous example, north would be at the 8 position.) — Now that you know where north and south are, it’s easy to plot an azimuth based on the marks on your watch face, or using a dive watch bezel.
If it’s exactly 6:00 as seen in this graphic, and you know the sun will be setting in the west, you can use this approximation to navigate or wait a while for the hour hand to move and create a sufficient angle for the method above. If it’s exactly 12:00, the sun will typically be approximately due south.
Now, if you’re in the southern hemisphere, this all changes. Alfie explains: “In the southern hemisphere, point the twelve o’clock mark towards the sun. The midpoint between the 12 o’clock mark and the hour hand will be your north-south line. North will be the direction furthest away from the sun.”
More from OFFGRID
Infographic: The art of hydroponic gardening
Backwoods Brewing: How do you make your coffee?
Short film: Making Anasazi-style pottery
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
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Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior Podcast Episode 35: Shaun White
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