Finding Your Location / NEVER Get Lost Again

[@KirstenBayes]

When myself and a buddy got whited-out on a mountain back when, (with no way to shoot azimuths to terrain features, no GPS back then) we successfully used an altimeter to put us on the contour line, and from that worked our location. Some watches are Altimeter-Barometer-Compass (ABC). Even though I am no longer any kind of mountaineer, I regularly use altimeter and compass as a means of navigation.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Glad you figured it out!

[@tomcreekdevil5967]

This is why Stokermatic is and has been my number one favorite YT channel for years. Bill knows LandNav like the back of his hand! And it's always good to see Riggs in these videos! I just hope he doesn't try to steal the shadow stick! Lol. Good Dog Riggs! Ditto serving others. It does indeed give back to the person serving more than the recipient. I serviced in the USCGAux pulling people out of the ocean, rivers, lakes. It's a feeling of satisfaction saving lives. 99.99% of the people who needed rescued did something wrong or failed to do something before getting into their boat and that's what got them into trouble. DOESN'T matter, they need help and we helped them.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Appreciate you sharing your experience Tom!

[@cagneybillingsley2165]

i don't get being lost. why not just keep walking. take enough fire making materials and skills and food and just keep walking

[@tomcreekdevil5967]

@@cagneybillingsley2165 I think you're on to something, at least for some areas of North America. PNW Cascades, Siskiyou Mountains, Sierras, Rockies, would not be one of those areas. Walk 200 meters off trail then do a 180, and see if it looks recognizable. It won't. Double that to 400 meters or more because you need to take care of a "call of nature" and it's dusk. walk a few yards in what you "think" is the direction you just came from but you're off by a few degrees, then over correct again in the wrong direction, the overhead canopy is blocking the remaining light and you lost track of your original direction of travel. You now have a decision to make. Do I keep wandering around getting deeper in a lost situation or do I stay put and prepare to spend the night? You're now at a crossroads of life or death. Indecision can easily kill you at this point. NOBODY who gets lost planned on getting lost when they left the house for a day hike or backpacking trip. You mentioned fire making materials, food and skills. Those are important. What about water? I'm not trying to be difficult and I respect your original question. It's a valid point. Last year in Washington State a seasoned and highly experienced fire captain and SAR leader got stuck in inclement conditions for only 6 days. Tragically he didn't survive. This is someone with years of experience and skills. I was deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic outcome. Bottom line is LOTS of people with far less experience are victims backpacking, hiking, hunting, fishing etc. Again your question is valid and I respect it. Most if not all people who become lost failed in at least one or two prerequisites before setting out that day. This applies to airplane, automobile crashes and vessels sinking. Two or more elements always contribute to those failures. The same applies to getting lost in the wilderness. Bill is educating the public how not to become a statistic. Best regards, Tom

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Excellent Bill! As a further note: east / west interstate highways end with an even number (I-10) whereas north / south highways end with odd number (I-5).

[@Z7d3nR4]

Yep, but be aware that a north-south route may travel hundreds of miles east or west before it returns to actual north-south direction. Vice versa for routes marked east-west.

[@DamianBloodstone]

Another great lesson. I'm a small city dweller. I know most of my back ways around. Knowing the back ways around in a city is as important as knowing how to navigate in the wood. Since a road might be blocked, be it major or minor, due to various things and force you to go another route. Too some places might not be where you want to travel through and you must know ways around them without using the major roads in order to get home. I'm disabled, but I still do things for others in my complex who are also disable or in need of something I might be able to do. It might be difficult at times but we have to look after each other, or else no one will look after anyone. Take Care and Stay Safe.

[@cclutch9606]

The analog watch trick is good too point the hour hand at the sun and half way between that and 12 is due south for the northern hemisphere

[@FredPerryUSA]

Have always trained and operated (on trail) with paper maps and compass. Started that as a kid in Aussie boarding school and then Aussie Army Cadet training in the early seventies. In any case; we may and probably will, one day see cheep Chinese satellites banging into our expensive birds making things like GPS go dark. SO...paper maps, compass, and analog watch with stop watch. And its fun!

[@martyblack13]

One thing I've done is ask God for wisdom to guide me out. He gives me ideas to survive and I survive based on reminders of what ive learned though guys like you! When your low on carbs and can't think or have lost all your gear or super tired from lack of food or extra work load...he will guide you! Star mapping is really key as well! This is why i like your channel it shows a lot about survival with nothing! Cause we have those days when we leave things behind by mistake due to unforseen problems! Cheers Stoker!

[@arctodussimus6198]

“Lost? Fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain’t never been lost!” - Henry Frapp

[@recondo4u]

Thanks for the essential content. With the direction our world is heading right now, everyone needs to pay close attention to what you are teaching!

[@jerryj3047]

you can make out the northwest side because buildings and trees because its weathered,ants build an anthill to the south of the tree, the north side is steep, the south side is a slope, and the stumps have denser summers on the north side,can go on and on outstanding video 👍👍

[@daviddcook432]

Cool. Never realised about the N/S aspect of the moon shadow.

[@THERESISTANCE762]

I joined the navy when I was 18, been out close to 20 years now. I take youth and veterans bird hunting now its awesome to see the kids get their first birds and to reminisce with the old veterans.

[@moorejl57]

Great stuff, I learned something new!

[@grumpybuzzard7131]

I did as well

[@ricksilver7398]

Nice presentation

[@Troy-nr7ku]

I went way out into the bush today. I walked down a creek toward a lake. It was so flooded and thick I had to get away from the flood plane to higher ground. I zigged and zagged so much and the brush was so thick I couldn't tell what direction I was heading. No sun, no visibility, but I had my ears. I listened as I went in the direction I thought I should be heading until I heard a truck off in the distance. That let me know what direction I needed to go to get to my destination. I also checked my compass and Google maps afterwards just to see how I was doing and I was surprisingly on track despite the difficult traverse.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Glad you trusted yourself and made it out.

[@GruntProof]

Good stuff man. The biggest problem is just getting the people to care about having the gear and knowing how to use it.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Truth.

[@abefehr6155]

Brother some really good information thanks alot God bless

[@jory6781]

Another easy way to find a road system now that cell phone towers are popping up. A lot more frequently out and we'll of nowhere to get coverage. Better is try to walk towards it and find the access route to it and use that to backtrack to the major road system.

[@STOKERMATIC]

True!

[@michaelmeadows5142]

For whatever reason, the like feature wouldn't let me add a "like" to this video! As always, Bill dishes the knowledge, and y'all need to soak it up like sponges! He knows how to keep it simple and informative, and "you should have on your person!" Spoken like a true leader. Be safe out there.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Very interesting!

[@stacywilliams1710]

Good job Sir

[@mattmarzula]

Can't say I've ever been lost. The stars, the sun, and the moon have pretty much always let me know where I am.

[@simpleman4196]

It's always very easy to know exactly where you are now matters where or what time of the day it is. To know your exact location all you have to do is a quick glance down at your feet and say I am here. It's that simple.

[@reysanchez5578]

Good video, thanks for the info 👍

[@Swish82]

Excellent video. I had an OPS SGM tell me for every digital system I have, I need to have an analog system in place and I've always stayed true to that advice. Thanks for the video.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Sounds like a good one. Not many left

[@Swish82]

@@STOKERMATIC he was pretty good. He retired a few years ago. He gave me that info 13 years ago in the Stan. Good times.

[@louiemorris9598]

You can use the hour hand on an analog wrist watch.

[@delta7087]

This is my favorite channel. Always excellent content. Keep it up buddy.

[@STOKERMATIC]

🥃👊

[@MichaelR58]

Good video , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@jackvoss5841]

A little booklet that came along with a compass advised that, “the easiest way to keep from getting lost, is to stay found.” Navigating is being able to answer three questions: 1, Where am I now? 2. Where do I want to go? 3. How do I best get there from here? In the wild, stop and answer those questions very often. In the woods, even more often. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@STOKERMATIC]

Good stuff

[@henrydillard6217]

You can try to put down a stick to find your way, unless Riggs takes it first 😄

[@STOKERMATIC]

Truth!!

[@kennethneathery3963]

Man, I've seen peps' lost at the airport! Kman

[@STOKERMATIC]

🤣

[@kebrun4484]

This helps most GIs. Unless you have gone to OCS. Then you are screwed.

[@wincentbern813]

dog checking if you do it right 😀

[@jonnyf9523]

One of the best things I've ever done is to volunteer for habitat for humanity to help build a home for a family.

[@STOKERMATIC]

AWESOME!

[@marklynd7168]

I would like to know how you plot a gps coordinates on utm map

[@STOKERMATIC]

You just drop some numbers UTM 377299 1483035 Is the same as: MGRS 77299 83035

[@bobbywlindsey]

To plot 8-digit coordinates on a map, can you use a base plate compass or is a protractor a must?

[@STOKERMATIC]

You can use the base plate. With enough practice you can plot pretty accurately without either.

[@bobbywlindsey]

@@STOKERMATIC I'd be super interested to see how you do that (both with a baseplate compass and without a compass). If you've already made a vid about it, just send me where to watch :) Thanks again for all your instruction! Your vids are very helpful

[@STOKERMATIC]

I can’t recall if I’ve used a baseplate to plot, but I wouldn’t use a protractor if I was using a baseplate. Have to check out my landnav playlist and see what I could see. Haven’t demonstrated plotting by eye, but I can fit that in.

[@nc_mtbmedic1399]

I don't wanna be found

[@jhutch1470]

Place the map on the ground and step back!!!

[@subdawg1331]

yep triangulation love it still most can not do this any more

[@iggie1439]

Very interesting. I live in Australia and would be interested in how you would find where you are located in the middle of a desert with no feachers.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Assuming you weren’t teleported in by aliens: stop, consider how you got there, orient yourself, listen, look - and set out. Western Australia has some remote areas, but even therms there are mines, cross roads, airports, etc that can help in gaining your bearings and preventing a bad situation from getting worse.

[@JJ-JOHNSON]

HWY numbers, odd numbers is north to south, the even numbers is east to west.

[@YouveBeenMiddled]

Am I the only one that wishes *we* had access to a place with a Vietnam Village Road?

[@raymondazpeitia1870]

Thank you Very much-a more straightforward way to explain it to the family .

[@mervmartin2112]

You've hit all except one I use. There was a shot of a stream. Follow it downstream. You'll eventually find a road system or a town. You wont be without water and you'll possibly have fish to eat. Just remember to camp away from the stream (100+ ft), everything living in the woods gets a drink sometime. Best to be away from that

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

100%! Nothing to add to the conversation except to say that everyone should have this basic knowledge especially if you are a hiker, backpacker, hunter or someone who spends time in remote areas. You never know when or how your high tech equipment will fail and it will fail. However, you can always rely on the basic cardinal directions and how to accurately plot them to get you out of your temporary lack of situational awareness. Thanks Top! Stay Stoked and get outside and enjoy what nature has to offer

[@michaellangan7378]

You can always help file down streams in the creeks. They run into rivers and sewer later they’re gonna run into a city. That’s another way to get out.

[@Z7d3nR4]

Overhead electric power transmission lines. Railroad tracks. Listen for road noise or train noise. Light sources. Water runs down hill.

[@bafumat]

Oddly enough I have never had the sensation of being lost. I have not known where is was at but I always knew how to get back where I had been. It is just something that doesn't really bother me I guess.

[@charlesfeehrer8403]

Great video. Very clearly explained concepts.

[@abauto5408]

This was a good vid that is for the info. Moss can be used to help find cardinal north.

[@foosking]

2:06 put that away and lets play. I know where we are. haha. dogs are the best

[@michaelwoodard6924]

I use the sun for the most part it rises east and sets west

[@josephkuser3998]

Great video! Did you have that diagonal molle sewn on you hpg kit bag or did it come that way? I have one with molle and one without and I like that. Might have to have it done on mine for my radio.

[@STOKERMATIC]

It came with webbing on it.

[@LpMcQuack]

What chest pack is that ?

[@STOKERMATIC]

hill people gear

[@lansdorf]

You make a good teacher and we would be know where without teachers. Best wishes 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@STOKERMATIC]

🙏