Need quick and easy compassing? At 12 o'clock noon, place a stick straight in the ground. The shadow it throws points North, in the Northern Hemisphere, and South, in the Southern Hemisphere.

If you are lost on a foggy or overcast day, make safety and shelter your first concern. Fog will often clear off by late morning. But dark, thick, heavy clouds indicate precipitation, so it's more important that you remain dry and warm.

Wait for the weather to break before attempting to determine the sun's position.

2torial #0472: Learn2 Improvise a Compass (Day and Night) - Continued Method 2: Use a Stick (Daytime) Position your stick Find your stick, then find a sunny patch of level ground. Position your stick Poke your stick into the ground, tilted so it points into the sun (and casts no shadow). Be patient Wait at least 15 minutes until the stick casts a shadow around 6 inches long Add the finishing touch Draw a line straight across (perpendicular to) the shadow line. Read the results Voila! You've got your compass. The stick is your west point and the end of the shadow is the east. The cross-line goes from north (on the right) to south (on the left). Method 3