Sign of a Barefoot Runner
My thanks to Tim Crook for his very interesting emails and for permission to share here. Hi Tristan You suggested getting in touch if we…
Tag: wind
The Meaning of Cloud Streets
On a flight back from Spain to the UK, we were treated to a great display of “cloud streets” over France. They form parallel to…
Nature’s Clues and Signs – Black Down
I’m back from a routine ‘sharpener’, one of the short, intense natural navigation exercises that I like to do regularly to keep my hand in…
What is a Gap Wind?
Whenever a wind is forced through a narrow gap it accelerates. This is true of all fluids, gas and liquid, it is the reason we…
Some Trees Were Born to be Compasses
See this page for more on how to navigate using plants.
The Foehn Fish
Another very interesting email from Prof. Otta Wenskus: Hi Tristan, I just read your paragraph on altocumulus lenticularis. Sadly, while Ifind them beautiful, my feelings…
Nature’s Clues and Signs 1 – East Marden
Welcome Welcome to the first in a new nature’s clues and signs series. Over the coming months I will be heading out on a series…
The Wind Shift Before the Weather Change
Or… The Art of Staring at Blue Skies This video is a time lapse of a couple of hours of looking out over the western…
Using Snow and Snow Shadows to Navigate
We can navigate using both snow and the absence of snow, zones known as ‘snow shadows’. There are two types of snow shadow, those caused…
Some Observations from Search and Rescue
My thanks to a helicopter pilot for this fascinating email and for permission to share it. And for adding the ‘ptarmigan altimeter’ to my collection!…
The Secret World of Weather
How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop The weather changes as we walk around a tree or turn…
The Fine Art of Looking at Ugly Walls
Walls that start life looking the same do not stay that way for long. The sun hits exposed south-facing walls hard in the middle of…
Clues Above Brighton Pier
Have a good look at the picture above. I took it during a night walk along the Brighton seafront. If I was planning to set…
How to Gauge High Winds Using Trees
The tops of trees or other fixed objects in the middle distance make it easier to gauge the effect of the wind on clouds or…
Which Way Are We Looking?
Two questions today. I took this picture yesterday. Which direction are we looking? And a tougher one: what sign is there in this picture that…
Avalanche Warning Signs
In some areas niche expertise is vital, literally. The signs that warn of avalanches can be life-saving. Nik Huggins spoke to Alan Halewood (pictured) for…
Nigerian Signs
Something a bit different today. My thanks to Chris McCosh, for coming on an Instructor’s Course in 2018, and for passing on his findings in…
Why The Coconut Palm Points to the Sea
The coconut palm tree (Cocos nucifera) does something that very few trees do. It leans into wind. Most trees have trunks that will bend away…
Beach Hut Picture Puzzle
What direction are we looking in this photo of West Wittering beach in West Sussex, UK? Clues (if you want them): All dunes form with…
Using A Tree Stump as a Compass on Hills
Regular readers will be familiar with the idea that a tree stump can be used as a compass. In trees exposed to plenty of sun,…