Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

—BIVOUACS 53going down country, do not try to steer a straightcourse, but save your strength by following theeasiest way, being careful merely to keep the generaldirection. Follow divides, rather than streams, forreasons that will be given in the next chapter.But we will assume that you have an idea whichway camp lies. Take the compass direction fromyour outlook, note how the sun bears as you facethat way, pick out a mark in line with the course,and steer for it— then from this to another, and soon. But, before leaving the site of your bivouac,blaze a tree and pencil on it the time of your startThis willand the direction you intend to travel in.be invaluable to your mates if they track you up.At intervals of half an hour or so, fire a distresssignal, if you can spare the ammunition dont wasteit.As you travel, make bush marks and blazes alongthe course. It may be necessary to return; otherscan follow your trail by them; and, if you shouldcircle, you will know it when you come across yourold marks.Circling.—^When a man travels w^here there isno outlook over the surrounding country, he is aptto "circle." In going around obstacles he maychoose habitually the same side, and not makeenough allowance for this tendency when averagingup his windings. But many men have an unconscious leaning toward one side or the other, even inopen country, even on horseback, and will tend totravel in a circle unless they frequently check theircourse by compass or landmarks. Just why, we donot know. It is said that only an ambidextrousman goes straight naturally. Most men swerve tothe right, and, since most of us are right-handed, itmay be that when there is nothing else to guide u^we incline toward the stronger side.I offer this explanation for what it may be worth.Anyway, the tendency to travel in a circle is commonto most men when they are lost, Mr. C C. Filson