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101 Camping Out Ideas & Activities
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READING TRACKS
From the earliest times, reading tracks has been important to man. Animal tracks led him to food and human tracks warned him of enemies or served as a guide, preventing him from getting lost in the wilderness.
Those folks who have remained close to nature and are depend ent on nature—today we often arrogantly call them "primitive peoples"—are highly skilled in reading tracks. Most of us, however, no longer have this ability. But while reading tracks is not something we grow up knowing how to do, we can develop and perfect the ability even today.
Begin your tracking lessons on a sunny day and face the sun, so that every uneven spot on the ground will cast a shadow. If you lose a track, mark the last impression, and search in a large circle for the continuation. Notice the peculiarities of the track you are following so you will be able to distinguish it from others you may come across. Mark the path you are following to keep you from losing your bearings in an unfamiliar region while you are concentrating completely on the tracks.
The quality of the tracks depends primarily on the type of earth. Snow, loam and sand hold tracks best. But weather conditions can destroy even the best tracks. If you know what the weather in the
area has been, you can determine when the tracks were made. For example, if it has rained you can examine the raindrops that have fallen on the tracks, or if the wind has been blowing, the sprouting grass seeds or dust in the tracks will give you a clue to when they were formed. Grass which has been stepped on lightly straightens up again after a short time. Sunshine hardens tracks.
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