Instinctive navigation

[TomBartlett]

I've had similar experiences while out for a bimble, knowing which way home is without easily being able to say why. I think it comes down to what many people on this thread are saying - having an awareness of ones surroundings, subconsciously picking up on things like the position of the sun, landmarks, etc. That said, while in Thailand I did some jungle trekking. We stuck to the paths and if had you asked me to point to where camp was, I honestly don't think I could have. I'd put that down to lacking many of the aforementioned indicators (couldn't see the sun, too few recognisable landmarks, general unfamiliarity with the terrain).

[georann]

We stuck to the paths and if had you asked me to point to where camp was, I honestly don't think I could have. I'd put that down to lacking many of the aforementioned indicators (couldn't see the sun, too few recognisable landmarks, general unfamiliarity with the terrain).

See now I would have said the complete opposite. If I go for a walk I can always point the direction to where I started even without many indicators. I think I can tell subconciously how much I've turned and my brain adds it up to give the direction back.

[Bushwhacker]

See now I would have said the complete opposite. If I go for a walk I can always point the direction to where I started even without many indicators. I think I can tell subconciously how much I've turned and my brain adds it up to give the direction back.

Seriously, it's not possible.

[mousey]

See now I would have said the complete opposite. If I go for a walk I can always point the direction to where I started even without many indicators. I think I can tell subconciously how much I've turned and my brain adds it up to give the direction back.

Surely thats just a form of deadreckoning and as such an ability that everyone has [to a lesser or greater extent] as long as they pay attention to where they are going and keep a log mentally [or otherwise] of distance travelled and directions turned.

[georann]

Surely thats just a form of deadreckoning and as such an ability that everyone has [to a lesser or greater extent] as long as they pay attention to where they are going and keep a log mentally [or otherwise] of distance travelled and directions turned.

yes exactly

[kennyboy]

I'm exactly the same what i,ve figured is that i can "see" in my mind the route i've taken from above, just like looking at a map and always get back to where i started.......i thought it was just me.

Same here Robbi. Some people are naturals with Math, Athletics, crafts etc.. Guess some people are just natural navigators.

[Wayland]

Interesting example on Channel 4 last night in the "Hidden Talents" series.

Girl dropped off in an unknown area of Wales without map and compass after just looking for a while at a 12km route from a waterfall to a hill on a map.

To make things more difficult, they dropped her at the opposite end of the route to where she was expecting but she still completed the route in about two and a half hours on foot.

I would say that was fairly impressive however you go about achieving it.

[John Fenna]

When I was a regular orienteer and teaching (normal) navigation I had a very good "map memory" - now I am pretty average!
I think that kind of thing comes with use and training ... with natural aptitude helping!

[Urban X]

This is something I've wondered for years if everyone could do it or whether I had the lamest super power ever! Seriously though, I can always tell the direction I need to head back to where I started but not neccessarily the route or distance! Possibly something more of a human compass that youre brain subconciously remembers how much you have turned and in what direction so you can always find youre way back (I can also always seem to point north even in entirely new locations but I guess its something to do with sub-conciously picking up on things in the environment such as sun position). I accidentally put this to the test the other week when I went for a walk in my local forest and did the stupid thing of trying out a new route without map or compass! None the less found my way back to the start, with only a few points of wondering whether I was in fact lost!

Same here georann except I always know where South is, thus North is not too hard to find.

Never had any training whatsoever, not cubs, scouts, orienteering, military, etc., and never, ever, been lost. (Even underground when I'm exploring).

Skill, inbuilt awareness, supersense, whatever, I always know how to get back to where I came from and always know where South is to within a few degrees either way, doesn't matter where I am, travelled all over, totally new places, even if just for a day/night I'll find my way back to base, and if I've been anywhere once I can always get to that place again.

Bushwhacker you can say it's not possible, think I'm full of manure, whatever ya like, really doesn't matter lol, it works for me and that's all that matters, in fact it's really handy as I can't read maps or use a compass properly.

What does interest me is whether people who can do this can also measure by eye pretty accurately and tell what time it is with no watch? Apart from not getting lost I can also tell how far away something is and how big/small, wide, long, deep, etc., things are and tell the time to within probably 10 mins, with or without sun, day or night.

If anyone asked me 'how' I wouldn't have the faintest idea, I've never even thought about it, it's natural to me so I find it odd that other people I've been exploring with have to keep asking if I know the way all the time or how to get back to their cars??? Each to their own. [shrugs]


Si