How to Make a Compass on the Ground

The ability to determine direction - north, south, east or west - is an invaluable tool to have, and possessing the calm, when lost, to utilize the information is an even more valuable trait.
Electronics can fail, gadgets can be lost, but the knowledge you possess is available to you at all times. How to find north was common knowledge and a basic survival skill not long ago; this ability is no longer deemed necessary due to the advent of technology.
If you're ever lost and technology fails you, then this low tech method may be a real life saver.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   For this technique to work you need, at least, a partially sunny day. No special tools are needed just a stick and two rocks. First look around for a stick approximately five or six inches long.

2. 
    

   Stab the stick into the ground and take note of where the end of the shadow is and place a small rock there.

3. 
    

   Wait for approximately an hour, by this time the sun will have traveled a short distance. The shadow cast by the stick will be at a different angle.

4. 
    

   Place another small rock at the end of the shadow, and you should have two rocks (two points in a straight line) that will indicate an east and west direction.

5. 
    

   Now that you've found east and west you'll want to know which way is west. West is opposite the direction of the sticks shadow - this is after 'noon' time. If you try this technique before noon the shadows will be leaning towards the west.

6. 
    

   Draw a perpendicular line to indicate north and south. If you're north of the equator the shadow the stick casts will fall towards the north.

7. 
    

   Lastly, if you know your general location and that, for example, a major highway is east of you, you can look down the east/west axis of your make shift compass. While looking east, look for a large easily recognizable land mark that you can use to keep your bearing.