How to Get Unlost in the Wilderness

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.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

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

Using a Map and Compass

1. 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).

2. Study terrain features on the map and try to relate them to the terrain around you. The fit must be exact.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. If resection fails, ask yourself if you are to one side of a major linear restraining line such as a river or road.

6. Set the necessary direction on your compass and start walking.

Without a Map or Compass

1. Climb a nearby hill, ridge or tree to get a better view of the area.

2. 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.

3. Try to remember what direction you were traveling in, or the direction of the nearest town or camp.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Blow a whistle or yell if you're traveling with a group. Three short blasts on a whistle is a widely recognized distress signal.

7. 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.