It is sensible to carry a foldable paper map as a reliable backup to your GPS device when hiking in an unfamiliar wilderness. Our experience is that not all trail maps are created equal. Here are a few of our thoughts after traveling countless trail miles over the years and examining their accuracy – First Choice: Maps printed by the US Government Outdoor Herbivore’s first choice among hiking maps is the USFS (United States Forest Service) maps. These maps provide an accurate summary of each trail (main features, distance, and level of […]
Lost
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The moon has no light of its own. The light seen from the moon is a reflection of the sun. The shape of the reflected light varies as the Earth orbits around the sun. This can be useful for finding direction at night once you understand how this works. When it is a crescent moon, it is straightforward. To Find South during a Crescent Moon Imagine a line connecting the endpoints of the moon’s crescent projecting to the horizon. The point on the horizon indicates South. If you are in […]
Using the fingers on your hand is one way to estimate how much time you have before sunset. This can be a handy tip when you need to find a campsite and do not have a light source available. Setting up a tent in the dark can be challenging. How to calculate hours to sunset using the fingers on your hand Fully extend your arm out in front of the sun. Hold your hand up so that the top part of your index finger just hits the bottom of the sun. Keep […]