Compass anomaly

While bushwhacking this weekend, I found that my compass needle deflected as I moved my hand in relation to it. Not having this happen before, I assumed it must be the gloves I was wearing (it was a bit chilly for bare hands). Others in the group had no problems, so we followed their compasses. On my return home I checked my gloves and glove liners, but no combination of glove and or liner produced the same result. My outer glove was a nylon work glove, and the liner was wool. Has anyone else had this problem?

Static charge on the gloves in the dry cold environment. Moving the charged glove creates a transient magnetic field. Not reproduced at home because the home environment is warmer and more humid, and the static charge dissipates.

Anyone else have a guess? That's mine...

Is there a metal clip or d-ring on your glove that may have been close to your compass when you were bushwacking, but not when you tried to reproduce the anomoly at home? Did you have a watch or other metal object on your hand?

Did you have hiking poles around your wrists, or GPS, altimeter watch, etc., nearby? Especially the GPS receiver.

The force is strong with you?

hikerbrian said:

The force is strong with you?

Click to expand...

Good one.

No metal clips, d rings or poles near by when noticed. Static was my first thought, but I was wondering if others have seen this as well.

Could be what is in the soil/rock! Happens a lot in the Adirondacks, when lucky one can found North in every direction all the while going in a straight line!