I mentioned in my last post about reading ‘Wild Signs and Star Paths’ by Tristan Gooley. In this post, we will revisit two of the 4 key principles outlined in this blog:
- Silence/Stillness
- Observation
- Reflection
- Action
We are going to learn to use the second principle of observation for the fourth, the act of navigation. I will refer mainly to the book by Gooley as he is the expert on this topic.
In my last post, we have touched upon using landmarks to navigate. However, my friend raised a good point when I discussed it with her. She asked what if you can’t spot a landmark or you are not familiar with the area. This is where the second principle of our observing through the senses comes into play. Gooley wrote
Sit on a patch of earth for ten minutes, and all manner of motion will appear. Leaves oscillate in the breeze, sun flecks roll over the undergrowth, birds fly by, insects introduce themselves through flight and wriggling, while ants or beetles may parade. If we choose to look, we will also see the world of the still, the shape of trees, the colour of earth and flowers, the shade of leaves.
There are “sign posts” in nature if only we are familiar with them. But familiarity comes from practice. I will pick a few pointers from the book for us to act upon, i.e. practise our navigation skills. Putting what we learn into practise is part of the last key principle to deepen our connection with Nature. Patience is key because, as I learned, ‘reading’ the natural world is an art and not exact science.
The Tick Effect
One of the signs he wrote about is the tree, especially if it is standing by itself and not blocked. He called it ‘the tick effect’ as in the tick mark that teachers make when they grade papers. You have the short slant close to the horizontal and the long slant is more vertical.
When we observe trees in the temperate regions especially, we can see this particular effect. The image of a tree is usually branches spreading evenly like a Christmas tree shape or a dome shape. However, this is rarely the case in real life. Instead, the lower branches tend to be more horizontal while the trunk and taller branches grow more vertically. This is due to the effect of the sun. The lower branches grow outward to get out of the shade of the taller branches to get more sunlight. The side of the tree facing the sun has more branches than the side facing away from the sun.
In the northern hemisphere,the sun usually rises in the South East and sets in the South West. Therefore the branches are likely to point Southward, spreading out from East to West. And it is reverse for the southern hemisphere. The effect is not as pronounce at or nearer to the equator when the sun is basically overhead. Also, there are exceptions. For example, the branches of the apple and cherry trees in my garden are pointing towards North East. It is because that is where they get the most sunlight in the summer.
Generally, observing the shape of the trees will allow us to understand the placement of the sun in the land. That allows us to orientate the cardinal points. So go out and just look at the trees in your vicinity. What can you learn from their shapes about where the sun is rising and setting and the amount of sunlight?
The Handrail
Gooley wrote
In navigation, a ‘handrail’ is a linear landscape feature that can easily be identified and followed, such as rivers, paths, roads, railway lines or hill ridges. It is one of the universal navigation techniques, used by everyone from indigenous people to casual walkers, all over the world, because it is so effective.
A handrail acts like a landmark where we can then situate ourselves relative to it. Gooley recommends having another sign like the sun or another landmark like a hill to orientate ourselves. For example, if you have a road to your left and a hill in front of you, by moving right, you’re walking away from the hill. Similarly, you could turn your back to the road, and so the hill will be to your left. To return, you just need to face towards the road and keep the hill to your right.
Try practising this ability to orientate using roads and a local landmark to you, perhaps your house. This is perfect in most environments as you are in familiar territory. I have often used this technique in my walks.
The Ramp
Like the sun, the wind primarily blows in a certain direction and leaves its marks in the land around us. For example, in Edinburgh where I am, the wind tends to blow from the West/South West though occasionally we get storms from the North East. I often notice how dramatic the wind effect is on the landscape. Gooley calls it ‘the ramp’ effect.
Everything in nature that is subjected to strong enough winds for long periods will develop a shallower angle on the side of the wind has come from and a steeper one on the side it is blowing towards. The ramp is everywhere in nature, it is even found in sediment ripples on Mars
Yes, you can see it in the sand dunes and in the long grasses along the dunes. And more dramatically on the trees at the edge of forests/woods. It is another sign that can be useful in identifying directions. Again, have fun in exploring exposed landscape like the sandy beaches or hillside to try and identify the ramp effect.
The more we practise, the keener our observation skills become and the easier we can spot these signs to be used to navigate our way around.
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