subject: Before The Holiday Rental, Navigate The Stars [print this page] While you are planning for your package holidays and holiday rental, realize that you also need to plan for your success under the sun. As a hiking tourist, you really do need to have the skills to hike when things go wrong. You may have a GPS unit, but it is likely to lose its batteries sooner or later, or perhaps you will lose the maps that you have brought. In some cases, GPS units simply do not work due to a lost signal. The fact is, you need to be prepared.
Get The Knowledge
You should have the ability to navigate using nothing more than your eyes and your skills. The good news is that you can be this prepared because that information you need is easily found. You likely know that the sun rises in the east and then sets in the evening in the west. This is basically true, though with some slight differences. If you are away from the equator, it can be harder to judge, especially if it is midday.
If you are in the Northern Hemisphere perhaps in Tuscany, the sun at noon will be located south of where you are. If you wait for an hour to pass, the sun's location has changed enough to see the difference. It is very important for you to use multiple directions when determining where you are. For example, use landmarks around you to help you learn what time it is. Look at where the sun is every half hour and keep a bit of a graph in your mind as it moves. This allows you to determine where the natural east west line is located.
North South
Now that you know where the east west line is, you can then begin to work on the North South lines. North is 90 degrees from west (going towards the right) while south is 90 degrees from the east (going towards the left.) When it is nighttime, you may run into problems. Without the sun, you will need to use the stars to help you get around. People have done this for centuries and you can do.
In some cases, you will need to wait for the rain or fog to clear to get a good view. While hiking far from cities is helpful because the stars are brighter, it should be easier for you to find starts and constellations to help you to guide yourself to safety. You can spot the Big Dipper up there. You can also find the North Start by locating the Big Dipper and the two starts on the end of the scoop. They form a line that points to the North Start.
When you are planning for hiking trips that you are taking, it pays to bring along the right gear such as a GPS unit and compass. Yet, even these things can fail and having a basic ability to navigate can help you to protect yourself and eventually to get yourself back home. Plan ahead!
by: Troy Isgen
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