How to Find Direction Using a Watch

Getting lost is common when camping and hiking, but not everyone remembers to carry a compass along when they go. Before you go out on your next camping trip, take the time to learn this little trick for finding direction using only a watch.

Instructions

1. Take the piece of paper and draw a picture of an analogue watch on it. Skip to Step 2 if you have an analogue (clock-face watch). Draw in the correct time, with an hour hand and a minute hand, using your digital watch.

2. Point the hour hand at the sun. Notice that the hour hand and the 12 on the clock face form an angle.

3. Draw a line through the middle of the angle so that you get two equal halves. Now you have the north-south line.

4. Determine north by remembering that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. In the morning, the sun is in the east, at noon it is pointing due south and in the afternoon it is in the west.

5. Find the direction in which you want to go. Now that you have your paper compass, you can now try to find your way to civilization. If you lose direction, stop and redraw your clock according to the time on your digital watch.

Tips & Warnings

• This method works best in places far from the equator.

• These direction are for those who live in the Northern hemisphere. Switch the direction of the north-south line if you live in the Southern hemisphere.