Finding your Way back when Lost Hiking

Video Transcript

"Hi! I'm going to talk to you now about how to find your way back once you are lost. If you really are lost and you decide that it is too dangerous to stay put, you are going to have to find your way back. If it is possible, try to stay put. It is the safest thing you can do to prevent coming more lost. But if you must turn back obviously if you are still on the trail, you can simply turn around and start walking back the way you came. If I had come up this trail and I realized my trail blazes ran out or I don't recognize the trail blaze that is on the trees or rocks now, I would just first consult my map and then I would start looking for landmarks when I started walking back. Just turn around and start walking back down the trail and start looking for anything that you remember like a tree or a bush or a funny shaped rock. Anything that will help you remember. Oh yea, I came back this way. Eventually you should be able to find people because usually people walking out on public hiking trails but if you don't find any people, you can usually find your way back by simply just walking back down the trail. If you are still in the woods and you've gotten yourself lost, you are going to have to take out your map and start orienteering. So make sure that when you are hiking, pay attention to the blazes. If you get lost, you can turn around and walk back out. "