Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-07-11
NATURES GUIDE POSTS.
How to Avoid Getting Lost. Even In Maine
wilderness.

During the vacation season each wear
there are many summer visitors who be-
come bnvildered in the Maine forest and
some who get off the trail suffer severe
hardships. In some instances summer
visitors and Sportsmen relying with ut
most confidence upon the knowledge OF
wo"dcraft which the guide they engaged
Is supposed to possess. have been lost
through the incompetency of the guide
Yet In the forest there are natural signs
which. when noted. swill direct even tn,
his own camp
IF the sun shines as the visitor enters
the forest he should observe closely the
direction he takes from the sun Perhaps
the day will be rainy and the sky be-
cIouded. then the ground should be stud
led. noting the direction or course of the
ridges of the mountains. whether from
east to west or north and south of the
camp. Often there are ridges which seem
tn run along the sides of the mountain,
that are visible from the veranda of tn"
moment beside the fallen trunk of a
tree to rest moment or more closely
to observe the lay Of the ground he
forms map with the minds eye, which
shows the course to be followed during
he day 1t may lead on and on up and
down ridges at right angles to the gorges.
or II may follow the side of the mountain
at an angle to the sun. Or there may be
an old log road now almost overrun by
mosses and ferns and little plants, which
have sprung from the becchnut or the
-.
he Coraes. the sun: the little streams.
the log roads and the same tree trunk
form important stations on the map tina I
has been outlined. These guide boards of
Nature should be remembered througout
the long days tramp, for they are the
ones nearest home.
1t is really the easiest thing In the
world to keep from going in a circle,
although some people say II is an instinct
to step further with one foot than the
other or to go SIDEWAYS Keep watch Of
a In nv hn nflipr ton,
which often appears in the vista ahead.
The route may be through hardwood,
deciduous trees with luxuriant foliage.
The clumps of naples. ashes, or birches
stand out vividly in a forest which nat
urally contains much spruce or pine. The
colOrs of the spruce and the pine and the
hemlock-tops are not like the naples. the
birches. and the ashes. and the blue lines
Of the evergreens form great cOntras.
on a mountain side.
AS to the points of the compass. gen.
orally the heaviest branches of the trees
that is the lower branches-are on th,
east side of the tree. Only in rare in
stances do the heaviest branches lean
| other than to the eastward. In any
region where winds are high and mostly
| from the west. the heaviest limbs are to
! be found on the east side of the tree
| for on that side they are protected and
| grow faster. 1t has often been said that
| tree If found at all. but this is likely to
/ vary An exception is in tree that
| grows on the north side of the mountain
| near the rocks If the sun cannot get
between the tree and the rocks and driv.
| the mOiStIr" from the south side OF tn,
tree. moss will form there:
! When one has lost his bearings. and Is
| confused. ii Is a good opportunity to SIT
down and rest Then. when u bit re
frcshcd. he should try to recall as nearly