Using Natural Features to Navigate
WEATHER CAN BE A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL when navigating through the wilder
ness, but remember: don’t ever rely on just one sign. Rather, use as many as
you can in combination to reduce the risk that you’ll make a mistake.
If your trip preparation and planning has told you the direction of the
prevailing wind, you can use that knowledge to help guide you, since wind
has pronounced effects on vegetation and land forms. The growth of certain
trees, called flag trees, is largely affected by wind patterns. The branches of
these trees (such as white pine) will not grow into the wind but rather in the
same direction as the prevailing wind. Flag trees generally point either east
or west, but this is subject to regional variation.
Moss tends to grow on the north side of trees because there’s less
sunlight. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find moss on the south side of
a tree or even all around the trunk. Again, it’s best to look for such signs
in combination. The meltoff around boulders is usually on the south to
southwest side.
In the northern temperate climate, many flowers will face either south or east to maximize
their exposure to the sun. The barrel cactus in the Sonoran Desert does the same.
Survival Travel and Navigation (^) | 239