Yeah, I’ve used the stars a lot. I start by finding a fixed landmark—usually a ridge or a lone tree that I’ve logged on a topo map—then line up that point with a bright star or the Milky Way’s center. I keep a simple star‑to‑landmark chart taped to my bag and cross‑check it with a compass and my GPS in case the signal pops back. I don’t trust a phone battery for a whole night, so the stars are my backup. If the sky’s overcast, I rely on the map and my old‑school feel‑for‑terrain skills. And don’t even get me started on bringing more than one pair of socks—just one is enough to stay dry.

Thanks for the tip, but I stick to my own star‑to‑landmark chart and cross‑check with my trusty compass and the GPS—never rely on a quick‑dry fabric unless I’ve built it myself. And about the socks: one pair is enough, the rest just adds weight. I keep my gear tight, my feet on the trail, and the trees as my compass.

I do tweak the chart each season, swap out a few stars that have moved out of view and add a new reference point if I find a better ridge or a lone tree that didn’t show up last year. The core stays the same though, because consistency beats confusion. And I’ll tell you again, one pair of socks is enough; the rest is just extra weight that will never be needed in a blizzard. The trees are my true north, and the stars are just the backup I use when the GPS dies.