Aging Tracks

Two Identical Tracks are Shown with Aging Characteristics

Two identical human tracks are shown in this video. The various characteristics that indicate this sign has aged are pointed out so new trackers can learn how to age tracks.

Tracks don't age at a set rate. The rate varies depending on a number of conditions, including weather, temperature, wind, humidity, sun, shade, terrain, and many more. It takes a lot of practice to really be able to age tracks with any accuracy and you have to practice in many different types of soil, terrain, etc. All the factors that affect track aging need to be studied to come up with a good estimate. For more trackers, simply designating the track fresh or old will suffice. If you are in search and rescue, the goal is to close the distance and find the lost person, so fresh tracks are what you hope for.

Shoeprints vary in the way they interact with the ground. Flat soles might make more visible sign under certain circumstances. Lugged soles may make more distinct sign under other circumstances. Many factors affect each track and no two tracks are alike. Aging is as much as art form as tracking itself is.

 

Go to the main page of Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den

Find tracking posters, greeting cards, t-shirts, hats, and more in my new store.

Now available: "Animals Don't Cover Their Tracks - An Introduction to Animal Tracking" on CD! (Version 3.0) New drawings, more species, more photos, more extensive sections on tracking humans, more detailed directions for plaster casting, mystery tracks section, tracking stories section, and more. The CD features over 100 species, including special bonus sections with the tracks of some African and Australian animals. A large section on tracking lost people for search and rescue is included, with over four pages of photos showing the details of tracks and signs people leave. Easy to use format. This web site is limited by bandwidth, but the CD-ROM is not. The CD is available in my online store at: www.dirt-time.com  Works with Mac or PC. Happy tracking!!

What else can you find in the nature store? Beartracker's animal tracks coloring book, T-shirts, sweatshirts, journals, book bags, toddler and infant apparel, mouse pads, posters, postcards, coffee mugs, travel mugs, clocks, Frisbees, bumper stickers, hats, stickers, and many more items. All with tracks or paw  prints, or nature scenes. Custom products are available. If you don't see the track you want on the product you want, email me and I can probably create it. Proceeds from all sales go to pay the monthly fees for this web site. You can help support this site as well as get great tracking products! Thank you!

 

Find other tracking products: www.zazzle.com/tracker8459*

 

Also visit these fine stores for more products of interest:

NDN Pride shop - For Indian Pride items for all tribes. Custom items available on request.

ASL Signs of Love - For anyone who uses or is learning ASL, American Sign Language. Custom name items and more are available here.

Sales from all stores give commissions to Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den, which helps keep this site online as a free service. We are celebrating ten years online this year!

 

 

 

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Got a tracking story? E-mail me and tell me about it.

tracker777@hotmail.com

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Copyright © 2009. Text, drawings, videos, and photos by Kim A. Cabrera

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Copyright © Kim A. Cabrera - Desert Moon Design

Page updated: Monday, November 2, 2009.