To locate a primary source, your best bet is to study the topography
of your surroundings. You need to understand the different indicators of
water around you and react to them.
Look at the water source you have found. Scan the shoreline or check
upstream for contaminants such as dead animals. The higher the altitude
of your source (such as a mountain stream), the purer the water. Remember
that even the sweetestsmelling and freshestlooking mountain streams
may have an upstream contaminant you can’t see.
Walk Downhill: There are subtle differences among regions, but walking
downhill is usually an effective strategy for locating water because it is a
sucker for gravity. Valley bottoms are great places to find water.
Observe Changes in Vegetation: Be on the lookout for changes in
vegetation, which may indicate availability of water. If you see a place
where vegetation is darker or denser than in the surrounding area, there’s
a good chance you’ll find water there, even if you have to dig for it.
Watch the Sky: Another small trick that I’ve often used in survival situations
(but it takes a seasoned eye) is to look for subtle changes in the color of the
sky. Typically, the sky directly over a source of water will look bluer than the
rest of the sky, reflecting the water source. And early in the morning, due
to moisture content and temperature differences, lowlying clouds and fog
tend to congregate directly over a body of water.
Follow Animal Trails: Animals need water too, and their trails may lead
you to a lifegiving source. If you see numerous game trails, they may even
make a formation, much like a series of veins (or like a river system on a
topographical map). Where the sections join and create a V, the point of the
V will indicate the direction of water. But be warned that following animal
trails can sometimes lead you nowhere.
Follow Birds: Birds congregate near water, and the direction of bird flight
in the early morning or late afternoon might indicate a source. Grain
eating birds are never too far from water; when they fly straight and low
Water (^) | 75