Synopses & Reviews
Immensely useful, highly instructive manual for would-be explorers, hikers, bikers, scouts, sailors, survivalists—anyone who enjoys exploring the outdoors. Today’s adventurers will learn how to find their way in the wilderness, in towns, in the desert, in snow-covered areas—even on the ocean—by observing birds, animals, weather patterns, vegetation, shifting sands, patterns of snow fields, and the positions of the sun, moon and stars. Clearly, precisely and graphically explained by one of the world’s great navigators.
Synopsis
During his remarkable lifetime, Harold Gatty became one of the world's great navigators (in 1931, he and Wiley Post flew around the world in a record-breaking eight days) and, to the benefit of posterity, recorded in this book much of his accumulated knowledge about pathfinding both on land and at sea.
Applying methods used by primitive peoples and early explorers, the author shows how to determine location, study wind directions and reflections in the sky, even how to use the senses of smell and hearing to find your way in the wilderness, in a desert, in snow-covered areas, and on the ocean. By observing birds and other animals, weather patterns, vegetation, shifting sands, patterns of snow fields, and the positions of the sun, moon, and stars, would-be explorers can learn to estimate distances and find their way without having to rely on a map or a compass.
The wealth of valuable data and advice in this volume -- much of it unavailable elsewhere -- makes it indispensable for hikers, bikers, scouts, sailors, and outdoorsmen -- all those who might find themselves stranded or lost in an unfamiliar area. Through careful study of this book and its lessons, pathfinders can learn to interpret signs in the natural world to find their way in almost any kind of terrain.
Synopsis
Useful, instructive manual shows would-be explorers, hikers, bikers, scouts, sailors, and survivalists how to find their way outdoors by observing animals, weather patterns, shifting sands, and other elements of nature.
Synopsis
Today's adventurers will learn how to find their way in the wilderness, in towns, in the desert, in snow-covered areas — even on the ocean — by observing birds, animals, weather patterns, vegetation, shifting sands, patterns of snow fields, and the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 244-249) and index.
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FOREWORD BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAMES H. DOOLITTLE
PREFACE
CHAPTER
1 NATURE IS YOUR GUIDE
2 HOW EARLY MAN FOUND HIS WAY
3 IS THERE A SIXTH SENSE?
4 WALKING IN CIRCLES
5 WALKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE
6 USE OF THE EARS
7 USING YOUR SENSE OF SMELL
8 REFLECTIONS IN THE SKY (WITH SOME NOTES ON STANDING CLOUDS)
9 DIRECTIONS FROM THE WIND
10 SOME SPECIAL EFFECTS OF SUN AND WIND
11 DIRECTIONS FROM TREES AND OTHER PLANTS
12 ANTHILL SIGNPOSTS
13 FINDING YOUR WAY IN THE DESERT
14 FINDING YOUR WAY IN THE POLAR REGIONS
15 DIRECTIONS FROM HILLS AND RIVERS
16 ESTIMATION OF DISTANCE
17 FINDING YOUR WAY IN TOWNS
18 ORIENTING AS A SPORT
19 DIRECTIONS FROM WAVES AND SWELLS
20 THE COLOR OF THE SEA
21 THE HABITS OF SEA BIRDS
22 WHAT THE MOON CAN TELL YOU
23 DIRECTIONS FROM THE SUN
24 DIRECTIONS FROM THE STARS
25 TELLING THE TIME BY THE STARS
SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
SIMPLE TABLES OF DIRECTIONS OF THE SUN
INDEX