How to Get Out of Quicksand
If you want to get out of quicksand, forget what you've seen in the movies. Quicksand is not nature's human trap. You're not going to get sucked under unless you've got a lot of heavy stuff strapped to you. Quicksand behaves a lot like water, so if you know how to swim, you can get out of quicksand.
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Instructions
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Remain calm if you step into a patch of quicksand. Panic is your worst enemy. Just remember that quicksand is not like what you see in the movies.
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Shed excess weight. Just as if you were getting ready for a swim, shuck off your pack or remove your heavy jacket.
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Keep as still as possible until your feet touch solid ground. Most patches of quicksand are only knee deep. If you start going deeper than your thighs, lay back so that you will float better on the top of the quicksand.
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Swim out with slow, deliberate motions. This is very hard work! Extracting yourself from a larger patch of quicksand can take hours.
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Work toward the last known bit of solid ground. Sometimes there may be a crust of solid ground over a patch of quicksand, so you may have walked over this before going into the quicksand.
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Pull yourself out. Once you've reached solid ground, pull yourself out of the mess.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember, quicksand behaves a lot like water. You float in water unless you're carrying something heavy or are trying to sink. Quicksand is thicker that water and is therefore easier to float in.
Quicksand is also harder to swim in than water. Be very patient when freeing yourself from quicksand. Make sure that you rest if time allows.
Never hike alone. Having a buddy with you makes getting out of quicksand a lot easier and a lot safer.
