Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1916 — WHEN LOST IN THE WOODS [ARTICLE]

WHEN LOST IN THE WOODS

Manner in Which Shadows Fall Will Show to the Initiated Where the Sun Is. Few persons become lost In the woods when the sun is shining; but on a cloudy day or in a snowstorm it is easy to go astray, the Youth’s Companion states. A familiar piece ol woodland will look strange when the trees are overloaded with snow and their branches hang close to the ground. It often happens that you find yourself in the woods without a compass. To meet such an emergency, those versed in woodcraft offer many rules and suggestions, but their advice is not always to be depended upon. A sign that is correct in one part of the country is often misleading in another. All signs depend upon one of two things—the sun or the wind. Winds are likely to follow up or down watercourses or along the valleys. Therefore they vary in different localities. Likewise, in hilly country the sunlight does not fall evenly upon the trees and plants, and often leaves misleading signs.

Since you will probably have a fairly accurate idea as to what hour of the day it is, you can easily lay out your course for home or camp if you can find the position of the sun. Find a place where the light is even, that is, not in the shadow of a large tree. Then place a pin or a sharp stick, point down; upon your thumbnail, or other polished object. A dim shadow will fall away from the sun. At any time before sunset the pointed end of the shadow will show where the sun is, no matter how heavily clouded over it may be, or how thickly the snow may be falling. This method of laying a course has led many a man to camp many times, when all other signs had failed. When you are lost, it is important not to get excited. As long as you keep you are not very badly lost.