Solar Compass

Here is another way of finding direction. You will need a thin straight stick, the current time and month, the sun, and a compass rosette template that you can print out here.

First, print out a copy of the compass rosette. You can print it on regular paper, but card stock paper makes a better tool.

If there is enough sun to cast a shadow, place the rosette compass paper on a flat piece of ground. It must be as very near to horizontal as possible.

Now note the current time and push your stick though the corresponding position on the ring of dots labeled 4 through 20. 

For example, if the current time is 3:30 in the afternoon that will translate to 15:30 on a 24-hour clock. Place your stick through the ring of dots halfway between the numbers 15 and 16. Be sure that the stick is as vertically straight up and down as possible.

Now rotate the compass rosette around, keeping the stick in place, until the shadow of the stick crosses the middle line at a point corresponding with the current month.

Your compass rosette is now oriented to north - South.

Although in an emergency survival situation you are unlikely to have this compass rosette handy, it does illustrate there are many ways to accomplish the same goals.

Make several of these rosettes and put them in your survival kits, bug-out bags, vehicle, boat, etc. Print them about 5" x 5". You can go smaller, but it makes it harder to line up the shadow.

Click compass rosette to download a printable version.

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie