Another way to look at it is that "celestial noon" is when the sun is most overhead, i.e. at its highest point above the horizon. It would be confusing if we were all on "celestial" time ... actually, the punctuality of some might not be any different but I digress ... so we have time zones. At the eastern end of the time zone "celestial noon" is earlier than it is at the western end as the earth spins around the "big nail" at the top, that being the description of the north pole by the natives of such regions.
That is why we can find true north with an analog wrist watch (or clock) ... or a digital one if you can mentally envision the analog numbers ... when the sun is at it highest ("celestial noon"), we in the northern hemisphere see the sun as most directly to the south. Knowing the time, a very important fact in any celestial navigation ... the more precise and accurate the time the more precise and accurate the navigation ... leads us to the old trick of pointing the hour hand towards the sun and observing that noon points due south (and 6 due north). The inaccuracy due to the location within a time zone is not enough to effect hikers' navigation as it will, at least, help establish direction towards a landmark such as a river or a road.
