Getting lost stories?

[HarryToolips]

^^^^thats good except you can still practice using a compass on your outings...and if it's a sunny day, try using just the sun to navigate, while just using your GPS to mark your cams or whatever..google the solar watch method.. Or you can PM me for tips..

[mpotzold]

Re: Innate sense of direction.

In the 60's surveying mining claims in the remote Yukon wilderness had 2 brothers( last name Acklack ) from Old Crow on my crew. The FN guys excelled at everything they did. They always found their way back regardless of terrain, distance or weather & were never confused. Always found the shortest way back. Didn't use a compass. We always said that they could walk out of the bush with their eyes closed.

Another time I got caught in a whiteout north of Germansen. I flagged my way into dense forest, swampy area for at least 3 km. The snow started falling & was so heavy & wet that it covered all the ribbon. So I couldn't backtrack. One could only see about 20 to 30 feet ahead. Again decided to walk a straight line & after an hour or so made it to the road. Sheer luck!
I wasn't ready for an overnight stay. The fresh moose signs were everywhere & with all the excitement lost track of distance/time.

Got our moose the next day in the same area.

Lesson learned. Always be prepared for 1 or 2 nights & have at least a couple space blankets along.

more on Old Crow
Old Crow, Yukon record low today in Canada-40.4°C this morning
The record low reminded me of the Acklack brothers from Old Crow post.(story from Yukon when I was a survey party chief)

[Bernie O]

I learned the hard way not to store your compass next to a magnetic device for any lenght of time during the off season as I have had a compass reverse polarity one year by just putting it next to my radio. I checked it before I went out and could not believe my eyes. As it was only one year old I took it back for warranty and the sales clerk said he had never seen this before and questioned me where I had stored it and we both concluded it was the magnet from the speaker that had overcome the weaker magnet of the compass. This was in the late seventys and I have always checked my compass every season before I go out.