Wild Signs and Star Paths: Key #12, The Light and Dark Woods

This series is an exploration of the works of Tristan Gooley. I’ll document my efforts to learn to read nature’s signs. If you enjoy reading, I encourage you to support the author by purchasing a copy of Wild Sings and Star Paths (UK) or The Nature Instinct (US). I’m in no way affiliated with the author, nor do I profit from sales of the book.

Last Week’s Work

To navigate by the invisible handrail—any relatively straight and continuous feature that serves as a safety net for venturing beyond. To identify my local handrails.

New World

Just as we hold onto a handrail for balance, we can cling to long features of the land to stabilize our orientation. Anything that runs in roughly the same direction for a decent stretch can work. That includes roads, trails, railroad tracks, streams and rivers, coastline, even mountains. Let’s say I park along the side of a gravel road that I know runs north and south for miles. To the right is a thick wilderness area. That means I can explore the area as much as I want, even to the point of losing sight of the road for long periods of time, provided I can find at least one reliable way to show me west. West is the direction of my handrail, and if I find it, all I have to do is follow it back to my vehicle. ( Read more... )