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Backpacker Magazine – November 2011

Rip & Live: Lost

More than 1,000 hikers go missing every year in our national parks alone. Most are found within hours, but basic skills can help you get home without making a serious—or even fatal—mistake. Follow this advice for staying on course.

by: Kristy Holland

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Rock cairns Like this one can help you stay oriented. (by Kirkendall)

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A satellite communicator can be a lifesaving tool.

Photo by This signpost is a clue that you're on the right track. (by Seaver)

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This signpost is a clue that you're on the right track. (by Seaver)

Photo by A white blaze is a standard trail marker. (by J. Chow)

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A white blaze is a standard trail marker. (by J. Chow)

Photo by Survive overnight with a shelter like this. (by Supercorn)

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Survive overnight with a shelter like this. (by Supercorn)

Stay Oriented / Look For Landmarks
Sit. Think. Observe. Plan / Signal For Help
Survive Overnight / Read Your Rescuers' Minds
Carry a Beacon

Stay Oriented
Use these tricks to place yourself on a map.

>> Calculate distance. As you travel and cross-reference your map, esti- mate miles traveled. A typical hiker covers up to three miles per hour, not including breaks. Add 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet of climbing, and subtract 10 minutes for every 1,000 feet of descending. Or iden- tify landmarks on your map like peaks and river crossings, and time your progress between them to gauge pace.
>> Aim off. Hiking a beeline is almost impossible in wilderness terrain. If your intended target, like a bridge or town, is near a road or river use this tactic: Aim 3 to 5 degrees to the left or right of your ultimate destination. When you hit the road or river, you’ll know which direc- tion to turn to hit your goal.

---

Look for Landmarks
Notice trail markers and be prepared to backtrack.

“Staying aware is the most important thing you can do to avoid becoming lost,” says Robert Koester, who researched more than 50,000 search-and-rescue incidents for his book, Lost Person Behavior. His best advice? Bring your eyes up—don’t focus on your feet—and scan your surroundings: up close, far away, and behind. Good navigators notice landmarks and continuously reference their map and compass. Haven’t seen a trail marker in a while? That could be the first clue that you’re lost. Backtrack to the last landmark you recognize, and stay alert for these reassurance markers beside trails.

BLAZE
Some trails, like the AT, are marked by a stan- dard paint blaze (left). But in wilderness areas, a blaze could also look like two rectangular cuts (a smaller one on top of a larger one) in the bark on both sides of a tree; blazes are common at junc- tions and trails in designated wilderness areas.

BLAZER (MARKER FLAG)
Colored markers (usually made of aluminum or plastic) nailed into trees at eye level or at least 30 inches high. Be alert for color changes where trails separate—color-blind hikers can get disoriented when marked trails cross.

CAIRN (ROCK DUCK)
Pyramid-shape stacks of rocks ranging from one to six feet tall. Expect larger piles in alpine or snowy terrain, or in areas with typically low- visibility conditions, like coastlines.

GUIDEPOST
Poles, fence posts, or any straight markers made of wood, concrete, metal, or plastic. Posts are often combined with number, color, or symbol codes (shown) to differentiate paths.

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READERS COMMENTS

AZ Hiker

Mar 19, 2013

Don't become a "missing hiker" --pack your own personal safety net; a copy of "Felix the Sugar Glider Be Safe Hike Smart" (Amazon) and a compass! Before you go, be sure to calibrate your compass for the declination at the location where you will be hiking. Go to: http://magnetic-declination.com A compass doesn't need a signal or batteries and works in all types of weather but you need to know how to use it and this book makes learning how to use a compass easy. Felix! explains how to orient yourself using a compass, a compass and a map, a map and no compass, no compass and no map. Look for it on Amazon, "Felix the Sugar Glider Be Safe Hike Smart." Anyone wanting to know direction and especially for those who want teach these skills to children might enjoy learning from this book. To feel more confident about orienting ourselves outdoors, we read thru this book before every hike - it's only about 34 pages and illustrated. The ability to know your way and know where you are is something we all need in any survival situation not just while hiking. Learn to stay found by using a compass and paying attention to your surroundings. Felix! teaches the reader what to pack for a day-hike, trail ethics, what to do if you get lost or scared, how to get rescued, and survival packing (for the car and for the trail) just incase you end up unexpectedly spending the night outdoors.

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AZ Hiker

May 24, 2012

And don't forget to read Felix! the Sugar Glider Be Safe Hike Smart (Amazon). Learn essential hiking skills and how to navigate your way with and without a map or compass. A fast, easy read that could maybe save your life but definitely will make your hike more enjoyable and safe!

Elflander

Jan 03, 2012

"—color-blind hikers can get disoriented when marked trails cross."
I was once lost for about a half hour on a short little trail in the Catskills because i just could not spot the deep red markers on the trees. Red/green color blindness is not that rare. Please, trail makers, do NOT use dark red markers. A lighter more orangy red would help but only when white, blue and bright yellow have been used up already. You could also use two shades of blue that are readily distinguishable and even color combinations( eg. blue & white). Anything but deep red.

YNPNan

Dec 31, 2011

I was struck with heat stroke on a hike in Tucson Mountain Park in June. One of the things that stuck in my head the whole time was to stay on the trail. I found a spot with "shade" next to the trail where someone could find me. No hikers came by but Search and Rescue was able to find me within a few hours. I followed my "stay on the trail" rule and stayed in sight even after I became confused and in and out of consciousness. I was lucky, they were able to capture my GPS signal after 2 hours of my calling 911. I only got through once but it was long enough. Another hour or so and I would have died.
Thanks SAR!!

YNPNan

Dec 31, 2011

Ralph from MD

Dec 30, 2011

Here's an idea. Place a written cardboard sign in back of the front windshield stating "If I Am Not Back By (such and such date) Please Call Emergency Rescue"

Anyone seeing your vehicle and sign may be of some help if you do get lost and are unable to find your way back.

R. P., Hiker of old

Dec 30, 2011

A few years back I was solo waterfalling and became lost. Fortunately, and I had never done this before, when I exited my vehicle I wrote down my GPS location in the trail guide book. After back and forth of trying to find the return trail, I noted my vehicles location and began trailblaizing toward my destination and came within 100 ft of my car. I now orient my car's location and carry and use orange barrier tape to denote turns and off trail events.

AZ Hiker

Dec 30, 2011

This article has some good tips about how to stay found by staying aware and knowing your location. A good book for both adults and kids is Felix! the Sugar Glider Be Safe Hike Smart avail on Amazon. This book teaches not get lost while navigating trails in the outdoors, and find your way using a compass, map, trail markers, landmarks, and the sun and stars!
A fun and interactive “Hike Smart Activities” section reinforces the story’s safe hiking tips. It includes an easy guide to using a compass with and without a map, using the sun and the stars to find your way and lists important items to keep in a survival kit.
The ability to know your way and know where you are is something we all need in any survival situation not just while hiking.

AZ Hiker

Dec 30, 2011