Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass Author: Harold Gatty | Language: English | ISBN:
B00COGXUTG | Format: EPUB
Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass Description
Today's adventurers will learn how to find their way in the wilderness, in towns, in the desert, in snow-covered areas — even on the ocean — by observing birds, animals, weather patterns, vegetation, shifting sands, patterns of snow fields, and the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.
- File Size: 6048 KB
- Print Length: 288 pages
- Publisher: Dover Publications (May 6, 2013)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00COGXUTG
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,563 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #11
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Sports > Outdoors & Nature > Reference - #53
in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Survival Skills - #56
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > Specialty Travel > Adventure
- #11
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Sports > Outdoors & Nature > Reference - #53
in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Survival Skills - #56
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > Specialty Travel > Adventure
To review what I like about this book would go on and on. Basically the description covers all you need to really know about what's in it. It's all very illuminating... when you think you know quite a bit it turns out you probably don't. There's so much I learned from this book, and I was in the US Navy. They didn't cover a fraction of this in bootcamp. Even later on when I was in the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist program, which encompasses a supreme amount of navigation knowledge, they barely even touched on but a few of these methods. It's a shame... I wish this was a mandatory read for my shipmates and I.
I did however find it a wee bit frustrating to read. I've never read a book that beats a dead horse so badly. Halfway through the book I felt that if I read one more word about how 'there's no sixth sense' I was going to burn it. There's even a whole chapter based on it... and this isn't the only point he beats to death either. He's very long-winded when it comes to describing things, for example, here he lists things a person can hear of the land while he is offshore (as if we didn't already know): "He can listen to the sound of chopping, sawmills, church bells, whistles, to the rumble of trains and other industrial and highway noises, to the lowing of cattle, the crowing or cackling of poultry, the bleating of sheep, to waterfalls and rapids or the sea's surf". --now, tell me that couldn't have been shortened a bit. Ugh!
He also tends to give way too many examples from the pages of history or his own experience. While this is pretty informative and sometimes appreciated, it's not the most useful information... like I don't need you to prove what you just said; I believe you, man.
The author of this book died in 1957 but the estate of Harold Gatty chose to publish this guide. In my opinion, this was a wise decision as this is an absolutely phenomenal book.
The author, who was an accomplished navigator, describes how to use the wind, sky, clouds, sun, shadows, reflection in the sky, trees, animals, termite mounds, etc. to determine direction (north, south, east, or west). Also, he makes it clear that no part of the world is without signals--whether it be desert, the Arctic, the sea, Antarctica, etc. It is clear that we as a society have lost our quick ability to observe what nature is telling us. This is not a "how to" book; instead the author explains through stories and examples of how previous explorers found their way and how he has done so as well.
In addition to using natural surroundings, he also describes how to navigate your way through towns and cities by determining direction based on the way a house was placed or where the kitchen is. The reason you can do this is that certain regions face their houses toward the sun or toward the wind - it depends on the place.
Of course, this book will only guide you and it is not designed to be your only reference source as the observer must learn the prevailing details associated with their area, such as from which way the prevailing winds blow, before they can be a successful navigator. Mr. Gatty ecouranges you to pay attention to your surroundings and to pick out directional details from everything in your environment (including insects or houses). In a beginning example in the book, he describes how he can tell where a picture was taken, at what time of day, and which direction the house is facing.
Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass Preview
Link
Please Wait...