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Posted: 3/7/2014 6:56:39 AM EST
source: http://www.survivaldump.com/how-to-estimate-remaining-daylight/

I found this interesting for wilderness survival and basic skills if you get stuck out in the wild. Thought I should share. Anything know how accurate this may be?

------------------------------------------------

A decent guide on how to roughly tell what time it is.

The sun travels its own diameter every four minutes. (It is half a degree wide. Same as the moon.)

Is it time to stop and scrounge for shelter, or is it better to keep on trekking? Use this simple trick to measure the remaining daylight. Remember to allow yourself at least two hours to setup camp before the sun goes down.

Count the finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger is equivalent to fifteen minutes with each had totaling an hour. When the sun dips low enough that only two hands fit, its time to search for a suitable campsite and assemble a shelter. (A caveat: if you’re near the poles, the sun will hover over the horizon for a longer period of time, giving you an inaccurate reading).


http://www.survivaldump.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sunlight.gif
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 7:33:48 AM EST
[#1]
Quoted:
source: http://www.survivaldump.com/how-to-estimate-remaining-daylight/

I found this interesting for wilderness survival and basic skills if you get stuck out in the wild. Thought I should share. Anything know how accurate this may be?

------------------------------------------------

A decent guide on how to roughly tell what time it is.

The sun travels its own diameter every four minutes. (It is half a degree wide. Same as the moon.)

Is it time to stop and scrounge for shelter, or is it better to keep on trekking? Use this simple trick to measure the remaining daylight. Remember to allow yourself at least two hours to setup camp before the sun goes down.

Count the finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger is equivalent to fifteen minutes with each had totaling an hour. When the sun dips low enough that only two hands fit, its time to search for a suitable campsite and assemble a shelter. (A caveat: if you’re near the poles, the sun will hover over the horizon for a longer period of time, giving you an inaccurate reading).


http://www.survivaldump.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sunlight.gif
View Quote




If I'm near the poles looking for shelter, I'd prolly freeze to death... lol

I wonder if this works in the s hemisphere?


Link Posted: 3/7/2014 8:52:11 AM EST
[#2]
works the same in s hemisphere
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 9:10:32 AM EST
[#3]
I use this all the time at work.

Works pretty well for getting an idea of how much usable daylight you have left at the end of the day when no one can remember what time sunset is.
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 9:41:40 AM EST
[#4]
Learned that in Boy Scouts 25 years ago. ;)

Still use it occasionally today.
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 9:42:09 AM EST
[#5]
Cool trick!
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 11:02:02 AM EST
[#6]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:




If I'm near the poles looking for shelter, I'd prolly freeze to death... lol

I wonder if this works in the s hemisphere?


View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
source: http://www.survivaldump.com/how-to-estimate-remaining-daylight/

I found this interesting for wilderness survival and basic skills if you get stuck out in the wild. Thought I should share. Anything know how accurate this may be?

------------------------------------------------

A decent guide on how to roughly tell what time it is.

The sun travels its own diameter every four minutes. (It is half a degree wide. Same as the moon.)

Is it time to stop and scrounge for shelter, or is it better to keep on trekking? Use this simple trick to measure the remaining daylight. Remember to allow yourself at least two hours to setup camp before the sun goes down.

Count the finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger is equivalent to fifteen minutes with each had totaling an hour. When the sun dips low enough that only two hands fit, its time to search for a suitable campsite and assemble a shelter. (A caveat: if you’re near the poles, the sun will hover over the horizon for a longer period of time, giving you an inaccurate reading).


http://www.survivaldump.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sunlight.gif




If I'm near the poles looking for shelter, I'd prolly freeze to death... lol

I wonder if this works in the s hemisphere?




Oh, but it depends on not only how close to the pole you are, but the geography, currents and wind. i'm pretty close to the north pole but I didnt even get to see snow this winter. Lots of rain though.
Its true about the sun moving slower. Gets dark by 3PM in the dead of winter and during summer you still have daylight at 11PM. Reminds me of Ushuaia although not as bad. Damn place you still had sunlight at 3AM. Drives you nuts after a few days in a tent.
FerFAL
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 4:44:13 PM EST
[#7]
Thanks for posting OP. Neat trick that will help if you don't have a watch.
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 4:48:48 PM EST
[#8]
I learned this from Bear Grylls. I will not drink my own piss.
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 4:58:38 PM EST
[#9]
We did this with soccer games when picking sides on the toss.

If you timed it right you could really screw over the other teams goal keeprer and get the sun right in his eyes through the second half.
Link Posted: 3/7/2014 5:50:27 PM EST
[#10]
Do most folks not know when it gets dark out?

I learned a similar trick with analog watches, how to tell which direction is north based on where the sun is. But if I can see the sun, I know where north is, roughly what time it is, and roughly how many hours of daylight I have. No tricks needed, just simple observation.

Link Posted: 3/8/2014 4:18:05 AM EST
[#11]
We always did it with the fingers spread a little bit. It's pretty accurate. Taught it to the boy not long ago.
Link Posted: 3/8/2014 9:12:19 AM EST
[#12]
I think this was covered by both Les Stroud and Bear Grylls on their TV shows. You just have to separate the good information from the pee.
Link Posted: 3/8/2014 3:34:55 PM EST
[#13]

Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
If I'm near the poles looking for shelter, I'd prolly freeze to death... lol



I wonder if this works in the s hemisphere?





View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



Quoted:

source: http://www.survivaldump.com/how-to-estimate-remaining-daylight/



I found this interesting for wilderness survival and basic skills if you get stuck out in the wild. Thought I should share. Anything know how accurate this may be?



------------------------------------------------



A decent guide on how to roughly tell what time it is.



The sun travels its own diameter every four minutes. (It is half a degree wide. Same as the moon.)



Is it time to stop and scrounge for shelter, or is it better to keep on trekking? Use this simple trick to measure the remaining daylight. Remember to allow yourself at least two hours to setup camp before the sun goes down.



Count the finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger is equivalent to fifteen minutes with each had totaling an hour. When the sun dips low enough that only two hands fit, its time to search for a suitable campsite and assemble a shelter. (A caveat: if you’re near the poles, the sun will hover over the horizon for a longer period of time, giving you an inaccurate reading).





http://www.survivaldump.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sunlight.gif

If I'm near the poles looking for shelter, I'd prolly freeze to death... lol



I wonder if this works in the s hemisphere?





You have to use your left hand in the S. hemisphere

 
Link Posted: 3/8/2014 4:54:00 PM EST
[#14]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Oh, but it depends on not only how close to the pole you are, but the geography, currents and wind. i'm pretty close to the north pole but I didnt even get to see snow this winter. Lots of rain though.
Its true about the sun moving slower. Gets dark by 3PM in the dead of winter and during summer you still have daylight at 11PM. Reminds me of Ushuaia although not as bad. Damn place you still had sunlight at 3AM. Drives you nuts after a few days in a tent.
FerFAL
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
source: http://www.survivaldump.com/how-to-estimate-remaining-daylight/

I found this interesting for wilderness survival and basic skills if you get stuck out in the wild. Thought I should share. Anything know how accurate this may be?

------------------------------------------------

A decent guide on how to roughly tell what time it is.

The sun travels its own diameter every four minutes. (It is half a degree wide. Same as the moon.)

Is it time to stop and scrounge for shelter, or is it better to keep on trekking? Use this simple trick to measure the remaining daylight. Remember to allow yourself at least two hours to setup camp before the sun goes down.

Count the finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger is equivalent to fifteen minutes with each had totaling an hour. When the sun dips low enough that only two hands fit, its time to search for a suitable campsite and assemble a shelter. (A caveat: if you’re near the poles, the sun will hover over the horizon for a longer period of time, giving you an inaccurate reading).


http://www.survivaldump.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sunlight.gif




If I'm near the poles looking for shelter, I'd prolly freeze to death... lol

I wonder if this works in the s hemisphere?




Oh, but it depends on not only how close to the pole you are, but the geography, currents and wind. i'm pretty close to the north pole but I didnt even get to see snow this winter. Lots of rain though.
Its true about the sun moving slower. Gets dark by 3PM in the dead of winter and during summer you still have daylight at 11PM. Reminds me of Ushuaia although not as bad. Damn place you still had sunlight at 3AM. Drives you nuts after a few days in a tent.
FerFAL


I was amazed when I spent some time in England.  It got dark much earlier than I was used to, and stayed dark longer in the morning.

I was even more amazed when I went to Scotland during the summer.  Light out till 11pm, and then all night was just kind of like twilight, and then the sun was back at like 4am.  Craziness.
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 10:57:55 AM EST
[#15]
I was cleaning out the garage yesterday and used this method (thanks to this thread).

I measured the sun's position in relation to the horizon with my hand and told my girlfriend "we'd better wrap it up, we only have 45 minutes til sunset".

She decided to google it to see how close I was, and I was only 1 minute off.
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 11:31:54 AM EST
[#16]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I was cleaning out the garage yesterday and used this method (thanks to this thread).

I measured the sun's position in relation to the horizon with my hand and told my girlfriend "we'd better wrap it up, we only have 45 minutes til sunset".

She decided to google it to see how close I was, and I was only 1 minute off.
View Quote

It probably took her 1 minute to google it....

ETA: Is this with the arm fully extended, or close to the face, as it would make a big difference?
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 11:43:25 AM EST
[#17]
This is actually a neat trick and it applies to other stuff as well.  Machines are more precise but you always have your body with you so it's useful to make it a point of reference.  Spend some time measure things (stop it - you know what I mean).  

My fingers hold to that 15-minutes-of-light mark where I live.  I also used a real rangefinder to confirm that an average-size (6 ft +/-) human male is about the width of my little finger at 100 yards and pretty close to half-width at 200.  A mule deer take up the tip of my finger to the first joint at 25 yards, a bull elk about the same space at 50, et cetera.  Just neat little points of reference.
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