Begin by grasping a short stick, pen or pencil like a conductor would hold a bation. Hold it out at arm’s length and slide your thumb up or down the stick to match the same width of a stream or height of a tree in the distance behind it. You may need to back up in order to match the relative size of these items. Then, keeping the tip of you thumb at the side of the stream or base of the tree, rotate it 180 degrees or 90 degrees respectively to the adjoining ground beside it. Where the tip of the stick matches the horizon line on the ground, spot a landmark like a rock or flower as a marker. Then you can walk up to the marker and measure the distance between that and the pivot point on the stream bank or tree base by pacing it out or by using a tape measure or known length of cord.

When estimating a distance or height, be sure to position yourself at a perpendicular angle (or 90 degrees) to it for the best possible accuracy.

Begin by gathering 4 sticks (or markers like stones) that you will place in the ground. Then, look directly across to the other bank of the stream for some type of marker like a plant, rock or stump, then position yourself directly across from it. Place stick #1 in the ground between your feet. Then turn 90 degrees to your side (we’ll choose left) and take 5 even paces and place the 2nd stick in the ground. Continue for another 5 even paces and place the 3rd stick in the ground. Now turn 90 degrees away from the stream and begin to walk. As you walk (you may prefer to walk backwards while facing the stream) your goal is to watch as the middle stick #2 drifts to the left relative to the marker across the stream. In addition, you may also want to hold the 4th stick in front of your dominant eye and watch as all three markers line up (the marker across the stream, stick #2 and stick #4. At this point place stick #4 in the ground at your feet. As long as you have walked in strict 90 degree angles, the distance between the marker across the stream and stick #1 will equal the distance between stick #3 and stick#4. This distance can now be paced out or measured for your rope or log’s minimum length.

For fun, you can practice this in an urban environment such as an empty parking lot using paper cups as your markers instead of sticks. You’ll be amazed at the results.