[pct-l] Finding your way without technology

[Diane Soini]

Thank you for that.

I often found my way on the PCT simply by following the trail and  
watching the clock. In 2 hours I ought to pass such-and-such as  
indicated in the guide book. 2 hours would pass, I'd look for such- 
and-such and confirm I knew where I was. I also got to know the trail  
itself. It has a personality. At unmarked junctions I took the path  
that looked like the PCT. I thought this was inferior to what other  
people were doing but it worked for me.

I got lost two times. On the first lost experience, I reminded myself  
that all the creeks were flowing downstream to a reservoir and the  
worst thing that would happen is I would follow this creek and end up  
on the shore of that lake and have to call out to a boater passing  
by. On the second lost experience I comforted myself by knowing at  
the very least I was going north and had to cross the highway  
eventually. Seeing a lake with a recognizable shape let me know where  
exactly I was because there was a lake shaped the same on one of the  
section overview pages in the guide book. Stupid way to navigate when  
you are lost but it worked.

Yesterday I went to a party and found my way by knowing that the  
house was on the side of a hill and just watching the hill approach.  
I knew to look for his street when the hill was getting close.  
Whenever I navigate this way in a vehicle it drives certain other  
people in the car crazy. But what is wrong with finding your way by  
simply looking out the window? I've often known where I am on a map  
when I'm hiking by knowing where I am in space, where I physically am  
in the geography of the area, even though I'm having a hard time  
finding the little secret trail we're following and getting "lost"  
continuously.


On Jul 22, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] NYTimes Op-Ed: Finding your way without technology
>
> Great Read:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/opinion/sunday/losing-our-way-in- 
> the-world.html?