How to Tell Direction Without a Compass by Using a Watch

No one plans on getting lost. In the woods, disorientation can result from a missed trail sign or lapse in attention. Knowing general direction can mean the difference between finding the trail again and searching fruitlessly for hours. With no compass available, the canny hiker relies on his analog watch to determine direction. The procedure for determining direction differs depending on the hemisphere.

Things You'll Need

  • Analog watch
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Instructions

  1. Northern Hemisphere

    • 1

      Hold the watch face parallel to the ground.

    • 2

      Point the hour hand of the present time in the direction of the sun.

    • 3

      Mark the point halfway between the hour hand and 12. This position indicates south. For instance, if the watch registers a current time of 4 p.m., the 2 o'clock position would indicate south. To find north, rotate 180 degrees from the south position.

    Southern Hemisphere

    • 4

      Hold the watch face parallel to the ground.

    • 5

      Point the watch's 12 o'clock position in the direction of the sun.

    • 6

      Mark the point halfway between 12 and the hour hand. This position indicates north. For example, if the watch registers a present time of 8 a.m., the 10 o'clock position would indicate north. To find south, rotate 180 degrees from the north position.