Anyone who has ever backpacked in unfamiliar surrounds knows how it feels to be lost at some point in time, even if temporarily. There are many ways that someone backpacking in the great outdoors could end up finding them self off course. Most of the time, luckily, you will find your way rather quickly, and resume your trek. What if you really became lost? What would happen if you became so lost that you were overwhelmed by a sense of fear or panic? It is a situation could happen to anyone and many don’t want to even entertain the thought. Fortunately there are a number of simple things that anyone can do to regain their sense of direction, and hence, return safely from their wilderness adventure.
It may sound obvious but the best advice is to take all precautionary measures you can to ensure you do not get lost in the first place. It does sound overly simple, but many backpackers often end up lost due to poor planning. Make sure that you take a map an up to date map, as quite often trails and landmarks change. Take two compasses with you, why, because many backpackers loose confidence in their compass, so it is helpful to have another one to compare it with. If both have the same reading, trust them! If you lack experience using a compass, you should be able to get assistance at a local community center or outdoor store. Before you set out on your journey, study the map you have of the area into which you will be traveling. While the map is not the territory, you can get an idea of the trails, streams, and mountains that will make up the land you are traveling. It is also vitally important to tell a responsible person that you are going to be backpacking in a particular location for certain duration. This is important because it ensures that someone will notice your absence if you are lost for an extended period of time. You do not want to be missing without someone knowing that you are missing! Tell your family, friends and authorities exactly where you are going, and how long you plan to be there.
While backpacking, it is important to take notice of all of the topography around you. Pay particular attention to tracks, ridges, valleys, summits, rivers, or anything unusual such as rock formations and trees. Natural reference points could end up saving your life. Again, make good use of your map and compasses. You have them, so use them. If you find yourself even the slightest bit unsure of where you are, check your map. Backpackers often dig themselves into a deeper hole by thinking they can fix the situation on their own without reference to their tools. Use the tools that you take with you. If you become disoriented, stop. Look at your surroundings and then try to locate those features on a map. Typically, people are able to regain their sense of direction in around five minutes by studying their map and surroundings. Five minutes is all it can take to prevent a relatively harmless situation from escalating into a serious, or even dangerous matter.
