Hmm the equinox Sun probably sets a little south of due west as I'm pretty far north. The solstice sunrise shines into my north facing windows at about a fifteen degree angle during the longest days of the year. During the equinox it shines into my south facing window at about 30 degrees. I guess that's about a 45 degree change to the North.

Hmm.. That seems like a lot. I would guess from visual memory that it's more like forty at the most. But then again, it could be 89 considering the accuracy of my methods. :P

Equinoxes are easy: due east, due west. I live near 35 degrees north. Therefore, on solstices I point about 30 degrees north or south of due east for sunrise (30 degress north of due east for summer; 30 south for winter). You have to learn what number of degrees north or south of due east you need to point based on your latitude. On the equator you would point 23.5 degrees (that's the earth's tilt). Pointing 30 degrees involves imagining your arms at 90 degrees, one index finger pointing due east, in winter, your left index finger pointing north. Then move your left arm to 45 degrees, then eyeball another ten degress to get 30 degrees.

I pointed to westerly and easterly position.
I know.
where I live.

If you could see me I would be pointing right there, over by bridge mountain, and off to the east as well, but its dark and you can't see the Mountains. I guess I really don't know.

I can gauge roughly where the sun sets on the Solstice and Equinox by how it lines up with buildings and a mountain to the south. I could probably guess within about five degrees.

Does the sun set when I can't see it anymore because it's behind the trees? Or does it set when the almanac says it sets?

Because of our latitude we are likely to have sunset in the due west--almost directly over McDonald Pass at equinox. The time of the sunset on the equinox is close to 7:00, as is the sunrise--am or pm, of course.

I need a globe or an almanac for that. To determine how many degrees to the south of west the sun sets. It's midway between the high point and the low point.

You ask around.

It will take a year to measure and a year to calibrate. (Unless you can take a measurement every day)

Place a stick or tall thin stone into the ground. The more solid this is, the more accurate it will be.

Every x days, mark the shadow cast by the rising and setting sun.

The extents to which the curve of the path of these shadows end, mark the solstices. The mid point marks the equinox.

the sunrise and set on equinoxes are due east and west respectively (given non-circular orbits, this may be a bit off, but not enough to matter for hiking navigation).

In the northern h-s, rise and set are north of east and north of west respectively.

This information is best gotten by taking your globe outside and playing with it on a clear day.

David's link is pretty good, but you need to get into the details.

On the equinox, the path of the sun cuts a great circle
through your location. The point of rising will be
about (latitude * (lattitude/180)) south of due west,
or about 10 degrees south of due west for Boston...

Sun setting on the equinox is pretty close to west south west. Sunrise on the solstice is north north east.

1. Ask the weather bureau
2. Google it
3. Ring the local planetarium or university
4. Download a shareware Celestial mappping program
5. Get out of your chair and look

Pointed. Ex Boy Scouts always know this. Besides, in a few days, the equinox arrives and this is easier!

http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/azel.html