Stay on course

Never get lost again: 10 survival and navigation hacks

Image: Denise Jans

Who hasn’t lost their bearings, at least momentarily, during a hike through unfamiliar terrain? Whether in the wilderness or the urban jungle, even seasoned explorers can sometimes get turned around. With the right tips, though, you can confidently stay on course. Here we’ve gathered some of the most practical advice, from natural navigation techniques to modern tech tools, to ensure you avoid walking in circles on your next adventure. Stay calm, stay prepared, and enjoy the journey!

Image: Denise Jans

You can use the sun's position to easily determine your general direction. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and, in the Northern Hemisphere, travels slightly southward throughout the day.

Observing its position can give you a rough sense of cardinal directions. At midday, the sun is due south. You can also use a watch as an improvised compass: point the hour hand at the sun and halfway between that and 12 o'clock gives you south.

Image: Klemen Vrankar

Lost after dark? Let the night sky guide you! In the Northern Hemisphere, find Polaris (North Star) by locating the Big Dipper; the two stars at the end of its "bowl" point directly to Polaris.

In the Southern Hemisphere, use the Southern Cross constellation to locate the south. This method has been trusted by travelers for centuries, especially among sailors and desert nomads, when maps weren’t an option.

Image: Drew Walker

Always plan ahead. This advice goes beyond just avoiding getting lost —it can help you navigate and stay out of trouble in many situations. Always carry a physical map when traveling, especially in remote areas. Familiarize yourself with key landmarks and, if possible, mark your path as you go.

By plotting points and taking note of terrain features, you'll improve your chances of retracing your steps or finding alternative routes if needed. Digital maps are also great but remember that they can often fail without service, and you won’t be able to access them if your battery dies.

Image: Kalen Emsley

Learn to recognize your surroundings. During a challenging hike, it can be tempting to focus solely on the ground beneath your feet, but looking up and taking in your environment can be lifesaving. Pay attention to prominent features such as mountains, rivers, or unique buildings.

Of course, cities are easier to navigate with distinct landmarks like skyscrapers or monuments, while in the wilderness, a unique tree or ridge line can anchor your route. These can serve as reliable waypoints for orientation, so always note their relative position as you travel. As a bonus, you’ll get to enjoy the scenery more!

Image: Aron Visuals

Compasses are timeless tools for finding your way, reliable even in the thickest of fogs. Learn to read one properly, aligning the needle to the north and following your desired bearing. When paired with a map, you’ll find that it’s quite hard to get lost!

Modern versions often include features like altimeters or GPS connectivity, but even the most basic model will help you stay on track and find your way with confidence.

Image: Maël BALLAND

Obviously, if you have access to more modern technology than a humble compass, make the most of it! Today, anyone can have a reasonably reliable GPS system on their phone, helping pinpoint your location with precision within seconds.

Before heading out, familiarize yourself with the features of these systems and test them in familiar areas. Most of these services also allow downloading offline maps for areas with no signal. However, if you are going to rely on electronic devices, remember to keep them charged and carry a backup battery or solar charger for extended trips.

Image: Albert Dehon

Remember Hansel and Gretel? They were onto something—though, as the story shows, literal breadcrumbs aren’t the best choice. When navigating forests, deserts, or areas with few landmarks, leaving your own markers is a smart idea.

Use stacked rocks, tied ribbons, or scratched arrows to mark your path. This technique is especially helpful for retracing your steps or guiding search parties to your location. However, try to remove these markers when you return. Leaving them behind can confuse future hikers and may harm the environment by disturbing the soil and increasing erosion.

Image: Kalen Emsley

Let the land guide you. Although this might sound a bit like a New Age slogan, it couldn’t be more true. Landscapes naturally funnel movement—valleys lead to rivers, and trails often follow ridges.

Learn to spot the patterns, like streams flowing downhill or human paths converging at logical points. This skill reduces wandering and ensures you're headed toward areas of interest or civilization.

Image: NEOM

When in doubt, follow your nose! Meaning, of course, that your instincts are often more reliable than you might think. Also, try to remain calm—panic almost always leads to poor decisions.

If disoriented, stop, take deep breaths, and assess. Use tools like maps, compasses, or apps to determine your next move logically. Being mindful of your surroundings improves focus, allowing you to correct mistakes before they escalate.

Image: Lanju Fotografie

If all else fails, and you are utterly and completely lost, your best course of action is to stay in place and signal for help. You can use mirrors, whistles, or bright clothing to attract attention.

Three of any signal—three blasts, flashes, or fires—is the universal distress signal. Helicopters or rescue teams often spot reflected light or vibrant colors from far distances, boosting your chances of being found.

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?

What is behind the name of every full moon?

Image: Ganapathy Kumar

You have surely heard of blue moons, corn moons, and harvest moons. These are all speaking about the same moon, but where do these names come from, and what do they mean? They are all names given to the full moon, but they occur at different times of the year.

Many cultures around the world have names for the moon and its phases. In the U.S., the names of the full moons come from a mix of European and Native American traditions and have been popularized by the Farmers’ Almanac.

Image: Michael LaRosa

Other names: Moon after Yule, Old Moon, Ice Moon.

The first full moon of the year was named after the wolves that howled near villages, searching for food. The proximity of the wolves led some Native American tribes to call this moon the "Stay-at-Home Moon."

Image: Aditya Vyas

Other names: Black Moon, Hungry Moon, Bear Moon.

February is the snowiest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the moon’s name reflects this. Alternative names refer to the scarcity of food due to the weather and to the harsh hunting conditions. Because February is the shortest month of the year, it sometimes lacks a full moon, a phenomenon known as a "Black Moon."

Image: Sean Thomas

Other names: Spring Moon, Snow Crust Moon, Sore Eye Moon.

As the snowy weather recedes in March, the first signs of Spring start to appear. The odd name for this moon comes from the appearance of worms in the thawing ground, a sign that better times are ahead.

Image: steph

Other names: Budding Moon, Peony Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon

Wildflowers start to appear in April, inspiring the name of this moon, especially moss pink and creeping ground phlox, two of the earliest wildflowers. Alternative names for the April moon also refer to new growth.

Image: Sergey Shmidt

Other names: Mulberry Moon, Milk Moon.

If the first sprouts inspire the April moon, by the time of the May moon, flowers are everywhere. Alternative names for this moon refer to the mulberries that have ripened in the trees and the cattle being moved to pastures.

Image: Oliver Hale

Other names: Honey Moon, Windy Moon, Rose Moon.

The name for this moon comes from the wild strawberry, which at this time of the year is ripe and ready to be harvested. Found across most states, this plant was a spring staple. Alternative names refer to spring storms and other flowering plants.

Image: Diana Parkhouse

Other names: Salmon Moon, Mead Moon.

Come July, young bucks begin growing their antlers rapidly in preparation for the fall mating season. At the same time, salmon start migrating upriver, and it’s time to start fermenting mead.

Image: Anil Sharma

Other names: Moon of the Ripening, Grain Moon.

The sturgeon was once an important food source in North America. During August, these fish are abundant and easy to catch. Alternative moon names indicate that summer crops are ready for harvesting.

Image: Christophe Maertens

Other names: Autumn Moon, Mating Moon.

Corn is still one of the main crops in North America, so it’s not surprising that the full moon during its harvest is named after it. Other names refer to this period as the animal mating season.

Image: Viktor Talashuk

Other names: Hunter Moon.

The October full moon rises quickly after sunset, which gives farmers extra light to finish harvesting. This additional light was also helpful for hunters, who used the time to stock up for winter.

Image: Francesco Ungaro

Other names: Freezing Moon.

Found in most of North America, beavers start building their homes around this time of the year. Some say the name of this moon comes from the beaver hunts that happened in the season. Alternatively, this moon is also named after the first frosts.

Image: Joel & Jasmin Førestbird

Other names: Long Night Moon, Moon Before Yule.

By December, winter has set in, and the full moon is named after the coldest time of the year. Alternative names for this moon make reference to the long winter nights and to the festivities at the end of the year.

Image: Kym MacKinnon

The Farmers’ Almanac follows the tropical year—from one winter solstice to the next—rather than the calendar year. In addition, the lunar cycle takes about 29.5 days to complete, slightly shorter than a full calendar month. This means that, every two or three years, a year will have thirteen full moons instead of twelve. The extra full moon is called a Blue Moon, which is the origin of the expression "once in a blue moon," meaning something that happens rarely.