How to Get Unlost in the Wilderness

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Rate: (3 Ratings)

If you're lost, try not to panic like those losers in "The Blair Witch Project." The best thing you can do is stop, relax and think about your course of action. No matter how dire the situation may seem, there are smart moves you can make.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

  • Protractors (for Resection)
  • Maps
  • Mechanical Pencils (for Resection)
  • Base Plate Compasses
  • Whistles
  • Straightedges (for Resection)

Using a Map and Compass

Step1
Orient your map using a compass. This involves getting the map pointed in the right direction so you can use it to determine your own position. (see Related eHows).
Step2
Study terrain features on the map and try to relate them to the terrain around you. The fit must be exact.
Step3
Limit the size of the map area where you think you might be by identifying a major feature of the landscape, such as a mountain, forest or valley.
Step4
Do a resection if you can identify two far-off terrain features. A resection is a way of using a map and compass to pinpoint your location by noting the relative distances between yourself and two terrain features. (see Related eHows).
Step5
If resection fails, ask yourself if you are to one side of a major linear restraining line such as a river or road.
Step6
Set the necessary direction on your compass and start walking.

Without a Map or Compass

Step1
Climb a nearby hill, ridge or tree to get a better view of the area.
Step2
Look for natural direction signs. The sun moves from east to west, and tree branches in the northern hemisphere tend to grow horizontally on the southern side of the trunk (northern side in the southern hemisphere) due to the location of the sun. Tree branches also tend to grow away from the dominant wind current.
Step3
Try to remember what direction you were traveling in, or the direction of the nearest town or camp.
Step4
Try to retrace your steps to the last point at which you knew your position or find your way back to civilization only if you have a clear picture of where you are and where you should go.
Step5
Resolve to stay put and wait for rescuers if you have no idea in what direction you should walk, or if someone knows where you're hiking. If you wander off in a wrong direction, it will be more difficult for rescuers to locate you.
Step6
Blow a whistle or yell if you're traveling with a group. Three short blasts on a whistle is a widely recognized distress signal.
Step7
Light a safe, smoky fire and lay brightly colored clothing or tarps on a hill or clearing to draw attention to yourself.

Tips & Warnings

  • Always let someone know where you're going (including the exact trail or route if you know it ahead of time) and when you expect to get back.
  • Always carry a map, compass, and bottled water with your other provisions. You can survive much longer without food than you can without water.
  • Teach kids to "hug" a tree and yell for help or blow a whistle the moment they feel lost. Hugging the tree will keep them in one place and may even provide emotional comfort.
  • If you don't have a compass, you can use an analog wristwatch to determine directions. Hold the watch so the hour hand points directly at the sun. South will be halfway between the hour hand and the 12. Note that this works only in the Northern Hemisphere with watches set to standard time.
  • Moss is an unreliable direction indicator.

Comments

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Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Always: matches, warm clothing(even if it's warm when you leave), bottled water, a small mirror to signal for help, extra socks. Most people don't have a compass or map...Stay put. Wandering in unfamiliar terrain can get you very dead.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 In case a team of mountaineers get separated, and neither team knows how far apart they are; the team who is ahead can mark a tree trunk or anything visible when they pass through the area by marking the time . i.e. 1-24 . The following team would know how far they are apart by comparing their own time upon reaching the same area.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I'm repeating what was said before: people gather near water. If you see accessible high ground, do a scan from it for the biggest watershed and follow it, but any place water runs will lead to people.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 One of the most important things to do is admit to yourself that you are lost. It helps you to deal with things a little better.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Before you leave purchase a topographical map for the area, look around and find terrain features, then find them on the map. When you find those exact features you aren't lost anymore.

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