Navigation
Navigate to a linear feature with aiming off
Deliberately steering left or right of your target guarantees you know which way to turn when you hit a road, river, or ridge.
Step-by-step
Identify a linear feature (road, river, powerline, coast) that runs across your line of travel and passes through or near your destination.
Instead of aiming directly at the destination, choose a bearing 5–10° to one side.
Travel that bearing until you hit the linear feature.
You now know with certainty whether the destination lies to your left or right along that feature.
Turn and follow the feature until you reach the destination.
Tip: This trades a small amount of extra walking for total certainty about which way to turn. It's especially valuable in poor visibility.
Related outdoor skills
Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.