Lost in the Backwoods

In the world of today, with our maps and landscape criss-crossed with roads and trails, getting yourself lost in the backwoods is usually the result of not being aware. Aware of your surroundings, aware of your limitations, aware of possible things that can go awry. Anyone can become lost, but follow these steps and you can minimize the chance that the next search for a lost wilderness traveler is for you.

First, be sure to leave someone you trust an itinerary of where you plan to go and what you plan to do. Include as near as possible when you expect to be at certain locations. Then stick with the plan Remember - you can become ill, break a bone, or have an unexpected accident befall you anytime anywhere. Even in your own backyard where you have been a thousand times before.

Next, always take a survival kit with you and know how to use it. A good survival kit will buy you time while extricating yourself or waiting for others to rescue you. The kit should provide basic provision for food and water shelter, clothing, fire, basic medical attention, and means of signaling rescuers even if you are very weak. Your survival kit should be light enough so you will not mind carrying it wherever you go, but useful enough to cover your basic necessities in the backwoods environment you are in.

There are many survival kits on the market today. A good place to start is learning about the fifteen essentials for survival an article that discusses what you need in a complete survival kit.

Should you find it necessary to spend more time than you had anticipated away from civilization, a good survival kit can mean the difference between surviving the ordeal or making it out in a body bag on a stretcher.

Third, equip yourself properly for the undertaking you are planning. This especially includes proper clothing.

For example, don't hike in the mountains above tree line with only a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. It could be 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the valley where you start, but above tree line the weather can suddenly turn without notice to below freezing with high winds and precipitation at any time of the year. You may sprain an ankle and, not being able to expend as much energy traveling, cool down. You could take a wrong turn and be forced to spend more time exposed to the elements than you had planned and perhaps even have to spend a night outdoors.

Ere on the side of caution and take a little more food, clothing, and water than you anticipate needing.

Fourth up is continual awareness. Awareness of your surroundings is your best defense against becoming lost while traveling. Keeping up your level awareness, rather than continuing on absent minded, will help prevent you from getting lost in the first place. Should you become lost, the information you have stored up can help you find your way out or make the decision to stay put and wait for help.

As you travel, study your map and keep tabs on where you are and where you have been. Continually note landmarks that are easily viewable from different locations along your route and relate them to your map. Depending upon where you are, landmarks may include certain hills or mountains, the position of the sun, a large tree or rock, a stream, an area of differing vegetation. Try to match the contours on your map to the lay of the land you are traveling over and occasionally use your compass to ascertain your direction of travel. Keep a mental estimate of the time it took you to travel between identifiable points and the kind of terrain you traveled over.

And fifth, be aware of your condition. Whether or not you are lost, your current condition is perhaps the most important consideration while traveling in the wilderness. Being tired mentally or physically can lead to costly mistakes, perhaps even disaster. If you are cold, overheated, wet, hungry, sunburned, dehydrated, feeling in ill health, or just plain tired you are much more susceptible to making the wrong decisions or physically not being unable to make it back to civilization. Know your current state and do not be tempted to push on beyond your limitations. If the going gets tough often it is better to simply turn back than to push on into potential disaster.

In spite of all these precautions, should you find yourself lost you should stop immediately. Don't panic. Remember: you have your basic survival kit and you have honed your basic survival skill so you know you can live out here for many days if you have to. And you have told someone about the area where you plan to be so rescuers can find you if it comes to that. The odds are just about 100 percent you are going to get out of this and you chalk up another adventure.

So you think you are lost. Simply sit down, relax, and study your map. Think of the possible actions you can take. It may be a good time to build a fire and warm some food and drink.

or smoke from a fire. Of the best thing you can do is stay put and await rescue. You may be able to signal would be rescuers using your survival whistle, signal mirror.

If you decide to stay put, set up the shelter you brought with you or make a shelter using the natural materials at hand. Make any improvements that will aid in keeping you comfortable and safe, keeping in mind that the weather may take a turn for the worse while you are there.

If you decide to make your way out, mark your location on the ground. Make a pile of rocks, bend some branches, or otherwise mark the location in order to create an easily identifiable spot that you can return to. Remember, this location where you first realized you are lost is the base from which you will have to find your way out. Should your first attempts at getting out fail, your best bet may be to come back to this location before setting out on another try. Or to wait until you are rescued from the outside. The one thing you do not want to do is get lost even further into the backwoods.

Your knowledge of the lay of the land and your current condition will help determine what you should do when you discover you are lost. Should you attempt to retrace your steps? Maybe your most sure bet is to simply head downhill. In many mountainous or hilly sections of the world, habitations, roads, or traveled waterways are within a days travel downhill from any location. If this is the case, you can walk downhill until you reach a stream and then travel downstream to eventually reach civilization. If you find yourself on coast, perhaps you should walk along the perimeter to the nearest habitation.

If you do not have a compass you may be able to make a compass or find the north star. These navigational aids can help keep you on course and from traveling in circles.

If you choose to make your way out on your own, leave a note at the marker you set, indicating your plans and your direction of travel. Then as you travel mark the way at regular intervals with a pile of stones, a broken branch, or some other easily identifiable clue as to where you have been. This could help rescuers find you should your attempt at self extraction fail.

Being lost in the backwoods can happen to anybody. With the right preparation and the right survival psychology your stint at becoming a mite bit confused will turn out OK.