There are lots of ways to keep yourself pointed in the right direction...

 

North can be found by looking for moss on trees and other objects.  North is cooler and moister so moss usually grows on the north side but sometimes the moss will be in a different place due to local micro-climates.  So its best to double check with a second method if you are in doubt. 

 

South is usually the side with the most spider webs because there are more bug catching hours on the south side of an object which makes it a better investment of the spider's time.

 

If it is night and you are in the northern hemisphere look for the Little Dipper and find the bright star in its handle.  Thats the north star.  Travel facing it and you will keep going north.

 

If you are facing east then north is to your left and south is to your right.  If you forget just picture standing on the east coast looking out to the ocean.  To figure out which way east is you can:

 

1. Wait for sun to rise or set or just track it across the sky for a bit.  That can take a while but it is pretty consistent in a general way.  The season has some effect as to where it is in the sky but you are really shooting for a general idea.

 

2. Put a stick in the ground and mark where the end of its shadow is.  Then wait a while until it's shadow moves and mark the position of the end of the shadow is again.  The line between your marks will be going pretty much east / west.  As long as you know if it is morning or afternoon you can then tell which end is east or west.  (Great excuse for a rest break to gather your wits, usually lost is not as hopeless as it seems if you stop and think things out.  What really messes people up is the period of panic after you first get hit with the idea "I'm lost" because that is when they stop paying attention to where they are going.)

 

3.  If you are near water you will probably find more birds, reptile and anphibians nesting on the west side because it is warmer.  If it is winter look for old bird nests in the trees.  In warm weather look for foamy spit like stuff in the water or on water plants.  Fish eggs work too.   In spring, you can listen for mating calls (frogs croaking etc)

 

 

 

This information won't get you to the corner of 5th and Main but you are really just looking for a traveled path or road that you can place on that mental map you have in your head from earlier.  Then it is just a matter of planning the best way out.  Think about water when you decide which way is best to go.  Clean water becomes really important if you are traveling for any period of time.  That is not hard if you plan ahead.  There are small water filters that can turn filth into potable water in no time.  Go to Real Goods and you can find a back packers size.  You can also get tablets to sterilize water or just boil it but the little fitlers turn out better tasting water.  Don't drink water because it "looks" clean.  You will lose more water from the runs than you can replace as well as vital minerals that you can't replace.  Food isn't that big of a deal right away and if you aren't too picky you can eat some bugs.  You can starve eating rabbits but gain weight on a diet of ants and larva.  (Ants taste sour but they are plentiful sources of calories if you don't mind your food biting back.  My son thought the ant larva were more palatable because they wiggled less.  Avoid the larva of other species unless you know it is not only not poisonous but also clean.  Just don't go around eating random bugs, berries or nuts unless you know what is poisonous.  Don't eat bright colored bugs, they are flashy to warn that they are poisonous.  Reptiles are easy to catch when it is cold but be sure to cut off enough of the head to remove poison glands on snakes. Also, use a stick to secure the snakes head before you "catch" it with your hands.  Better yet, avoid the ones that are poisonous all together unless you are REALLY hungry.)  Cook all meat if you find a way to kill it to avoid parasites.

 

 

 

 

I'm sure I left out a lot but others with more knowledge can flesh this out a bit but it is pretty hard to get so lost you need more than this if you are on most of the east coast.  I've never been out west so I'm not sure there as there are less people.  Now, if I get lost in the city I'm just sending up a signal flare because I am hpeless there but that is what cell phones are for.  Speaking of which, now days you can get lost in the middle of nowhere and call for help and they can track the GPS in your cell so take one with you if you have it.  Even the best woodsman can break a leg or get bitten by a snake. 

 

PJ