In our modern world, we’ve become utterly dependent on GPS technology and smartphone maps to navigate even the most basic journeys. Many of us can barely find our way to a new restaurant without consulting our phones, let alone navigate through wilderness or unfamiliar territory. But what happens when that technology suddenly vanishes? In my novel “The Other Side of the Sun,” this isn’t just a hypothetical question – it’s a stark reality that my characters must face. Today, I want to share essential navigation skills that could mean the difference between being hopelessly lost and finding your way home in a world without technology.
The Lost Art of Map Reading
Before we dive into compasses and celestial navigation, let’s start with something that should be simple but has become surprisingly foreign to many: reading a physical map. In the world I’ve imagined in my novel, old paper maps become precious resources. But having a map is useless if you can’t interpret it.
The first step in map reading is understanding scale. Every proper map has a scale bar, usually shown as a line marked with distances. This tells you how distance on the map translates to real-world distance. One inch on your map might represent one mile in the real world, or it could represent twenty miles – knowing this difference is crucial for planning your journey.
Next, you need to understand topographic lines. These curved lines on maps show elevation changes. When lines are close together, they indicate steep terrain; when they’re far apart, the land is relatively flat. This knowledge isn’t just academic – it can help you choose routes that avoid exhausting climbs or dangerous terrain.
Map symbols are another crucial element. Roads, rivers, buildings, and other landmarks are represented by standardized symbols. In a crisis situation, knowing these symbols can help you identify potential resources, safe havens, or dangerous areas to avoid. I recommend getting a good topographic map of your local area and spending time studying it – before you need it.
The Compass: Your Most Reliable Friend
In my novel, compasses become invaluable tools because they rely on Earth’s magnetic field rather than electricity or satellites. But surprisingly few people today know how to properly use one. Let’s change that.
A basic compass has several essential parts: the magnetic needle (which always points to magnetic north), the rotating bezel (marked with degrees), and the direction of travel arrow. The first skill to master is simply finding true north. The magnetic needle points to magnetic north, which is slightly different from true north. This difference, called declination, varies depending on your location and should be marked on any good map.
To take a bearing (the direction you want to travel), hold the compass flat in your palm. Turn the bezel until the direction you want to travel lines up with the direction of travel arrow. Then, rotate your entire body until the magnetic needle lines up with the orienting arrow in the compass housing. The direction of travel arrow now points in your intended direction.
One of the most valuable compass skills is triangulation – using multiple bearings to determine your position. Find two or three landmarks you can identify on your map. Take a bearing to each one, then draw lines on your map following these bearings. Where these lines intersect is your approximate location.
Natural Navigation: Reading the World Around You
But what if you don’t have a compass? This is where natural navigation becomes essential. Our ancestors traveled vast distances without modern tools, and their methods still work today.
The sun remains our most reliable natural navigation aid. In the Northern Hemisphere, it rises in the east and sets in the west, reaching its highest point in the sky to the south at noon. By tracking its movement, you can maintain a consistent direction of travel. Remember that in summer, the sun rises and sets significantly north of true east and west.
Stars offer even more precise navigation options. The North Star (Polaris) sits almost directly above the Earth’s north pole and appears stationary while other stars rotate around it. Finding it is straightforward: locate the Big Dipper, then follow the line created by its two outer stars upward about five times its length. That bright star is Polaris, and it always indicates true north.
Nature provides other navigation clues, though they should be used in combination rather than relied upon individually. In many areas, moss tends to grow more abundantly on the north side of trees where it’s shadier and damper. Spider webs often appear on the south side of trees where more insects fly. Annual growth rings in tree stumps might be wider on the south side where there’s more sunlight.
Essential Navigation Tools for Your Crisis Kit
Based on the scenario in “The Other Side of the Sun,” here are the navigation tools I recommend keeping in your emergency kit:
A high-quality compass with a clear baseplate for map work is essential. Get one with a declination adjustment feature and luminous markings for night navigation. Spend the extra money for quality – this isn’t where you want to economize.
Physical maps are crucial. You need detailed topographic maps of your local area, including your entire county and surrounding regions. Also get maps showing a broader area – state and regional maps at minimum. Store these in a waterproof container.
A small sighting compass as backup – never rely on just one compass. When all technology fails, you don’t want to be without this basic tool.
An analog watch can help with navigation using the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, point the hour hand at the sun, and south lies halfway between the hour hand and 12 o’clock.
A detailed star chart and basic astronomy guide. Learning celestial navigation takes time, but having these resources could prove invaluable.
A small notebook and pencils for recording bearings, making notes about landmarks, and marking your progress.
Practical Navigation Strategies for a Crisis
In the world of my novel, people quickly learn that navigation isn’t just about getting from point A to point B – it’s about survival. Here are some practical strategies I’ve imagined my characters using that could serve you well in a real crisis:
Always maintain awareness of your surroundings. Make mental notes of distinctive landmarks, unusual trees, rock formations, or human-made structures. When navigation tools are limited, your observation skills become crucial.
Practice pace counting – knowing how many of your steps equal 100 meters. This skill helps you estimate distances traveled and can be combined with compass work for more accurate navigation.
Develop a marking system. In unfamiliar territory, marking your path (while being environmentally conscious) can be crucial for retracing your steps. This could be as simple as small rock cairns or broken branches pointing your way back.
When possible, travel during good visibility. Navigation becomes exponentially more difficult in poor weather or darkness. In my novel, characters learn to plan their movements around optimal conditions.
The Human Element: Navigation in Community
One aspect of navigation that becomes clear in “The Other Side of the Sun” is its community dimension. In a world without technology, knowledge sharing becomes vital. Communities might designate certain buildings or natural features as waypoints, develop standardized marking systems, or create local maps showing resources and safe routes.
This community aspect of navigation extends to teaching and learning. In my novel, characters who understand navigation become valuable community members, sharing their knowledge with others. This reflects a historical reality – traditional societies often had designated pathfinders or scouts who maintained detailed mental maps of their territories.
Preparing for Navigation Challenges
The best time to develop navigation skills is before you need them. Here are some ways to practice:
Try navigating familiar routes using only a map and compass. Don’t turn on your phone’s GPS, even if you get temporarily lost. The experience of working through navigation challenges in a low-stakes situation builds confidence and competence.
Take a wilderness navigation course. Many outdoor organizations offer these, and the hands-on instruction is invaluable.
Practice making mental maps of your daily surroundings. Try to draw maps from memory of your neighborhood, workplace, or other familiar areas.
Learn to track the sun’s movement throughout the day and the seasons. This awareness builds naturally over time but only if you pay attention.
Looking Ahead While Looking Back
As I wrote “The Other Side of the Sun,” I came to understand that navigation isn’t just about tools and techniques – it’s about connecting with our environment in a way that modern technology has made increasingly rare. The skills I’ve described here represent not just practical survival knowledge, but a way of seeing and understanding the world that our ancestors took for granted.
In a crisis where technology fails, these skills could mean the difference between being helplessly lost and finding your way home. But even in our current world, understanding traditional navigation enriches our experience of place and movement. It reminds us that while technology is invaluable, the fundamental skills of knowing where we are and how to get where we’re going are essential human capabilities worth preserving.
Whether we face a future like the one I’ve imagined in my novel or simply want to be more self-reliant, developing these navigation skills connects us to both our past and our potential future. In a world of increasing uncertainty, the ability to find our way without technology might be more valuable than we can imagine.
Remember, the time to learn these skills is now, before you need them. Start with the basics – get a good compass and local maps, learn to use them, and gradually build your expertise. You don’t need to become an expert navigator overnight, but every bit of knowledge and practice adds to your preparedness and confidence. The world of “The Other Side of the Sun” might be fiction, but the skills needed to navigate it are very real. By learning them, we not only prepare for potential crises but also gain a deeper understanding of our place in the world and our ability to find our way through it, no matter what challenges we might face.