How to use your analog watch to find true north.

For those of us who like to hike and rarely take a compass because we are going on an "easy" hike, or a "we do this all the time" hike, there is a way to find true north without a compass (acutally there are more than 10 ways to find north...but I'm only going to show you one). It is done using an analog watch. It's not the best compass...technically it's not a compass...but it is better then no compass. I think this is a fantastic tool to use. Especially when we're on an easy hike that we do all the time and didn't bring a compass and I swear the trail was right here.

I have included a picture for your viewing and educational pleasure.

How it's done.
Three simple steps. 

1. Place the watch in the palm of your hand or on the ground face up.
2. Point the hour hand in the direction of the sun. (Or along a shadow, making sure the hour hand is   pointing towards the sun, not away from it)
3. The half way point between the hour hand and the 12 mark is your north-south line.

A few points to remember:
1. Yes I drew that picture
2. For us in the northern hemisphere, the sun will always be in the southern sky at its meridian
3. If it is before noon, measure clockwise from the hour hand to find south. If it is afternoon, measure counter clockwise from the hour hand to find south.

And there you have it. An easy way to use your analog watch as a compass to help find true north. Give it a shot the next time you're outside. It is actually pretty cool. Or I am just a really big nerd.