Through performance evaluation, the applicant will demonstrate the ability to:

 2.  Properly use a tracking stick.

Please scroll down for complete text so you can refer to the tracking stick diagram.

Tracking is largely a matter of following the subjects footprints or signs of passage across the landscape. To do this more effectively we can take advantage of the regularity of the subjects stride and other foot characteristics to help us find each successive track. The tracking stick is a tool used to help us focus our attention on what is called the prime sign area or the most likely area of the next footprint. This helps to keep the tracker from wasting time and eyes examining all the landscape surrounding the last known track.

The most common item used for a tracking stick is a straight ski pole which has had the basket removed, also any similar straight stick including a tree branch can be used. Rubber bands or rubber O-ring washers can be used to mark measurements of foot length and stride on the stick.

Generally the stride measurement is marked on the tracking stick by placing the front tip of the stick at the rear of the heel of a subject's track and locating the first marker at the front of the toe of the previous track. (Note: this requires two visible consecutive tracks.) The foot length is then located on the stick by moving the second marker to the rear of the heel directly behind the first marker. Once the stick has been set up in this manner, it is possible to work from either the heel or toe of one print to find the next track.

The stick can now be used to locate or identify sign by tying it to a previous footprint known to be the subjects. This is accomplished by placing the toe or the heel marker over a known piece of sign and by pivoting the stick in a small arc about this point until the next succeeding footfall is located. If after careful examination this area does not reveal a track then the arc of the sweep can be increased. At this time a careful reexamination of the previous track should be done to determine if a stride change or turn can be accounted for. A person's stride can vary as much as 4 - 6 inches as terrain and other circumstances change. Thus one should attempt to use average measurements of stride on the stick and not move your markers back and forth as these variations occur.

Our thanks to Bob Brady of Snohomish County Search and Rescue
http://www.scvsar.org/