Natural Signs
When traveling through underbrush the woodsman cannot see far ahead, and so lays a true course by noting the position of the sun. For example, here in the northern hemisphere the sun rises just south of east and sets somewhere south of due west. Therefore, if a person is going north, he should keep the sun on the back and to the right shoulder in the morning hours; full on the back at noon, and on the back and over the left shoulder throughout the afternoon.
If the day is cloudy, set the point of a knife blade on the thumb nail, twist it around until the full shadow is cast on the nail, thus indicating the position of the sun.
The direction of the wind is apt to change and for this reason is an unreliable guide, while the so-called signs of the woods, such as the tips of evergreen trees pointing north, bark being thicker on the north side of trees, or moss growing thicker on the north side of the trees, are by no means to be depended upon. There is absolutely nothing in these signs. However, every woodsman is aware that the foliage of trees grows somewhat thicker on the south side, and that the branches are rather shorter and more knotty on the north side, but these and other signs are scarcely infallible, and if they were, few tenderfeet would recognize them.
When traveling by night, look for the Big Dipper or Great Bear, as the two end stars are known as the pointers, pointing to the north star.