If You Stray From the Path

AMC Outdoors, May 2003

By Michael Lanza

If you are truly "lost" — that is, all efforts to find your way have not brought you to a place you recognize or can identify on the map — you have two choices:

1) Walk downhill, follow running water, or walk a straight-line compass bearing in one direction. Or head to a high point with a view to see if you can spot a route out. In the Northeast, you'll eventually find a road. However, in a more remote area, this may get you more lost, so you should:

2) Wait for help to arrive, preferably in the first place you realized you were off-course, which will be closer to your intended route than a randomly chosen spot. Searchers will begin looking in the vicinity of your planned route (which you should give to someone prior to starting your hike, along with your ETA). Relocate only to be more visible, like to a meadow.

Give searchers clues, like building rock cairns in conspicuous locations, flashing a mirror in the sun, or periodically blowing a whistle in three short blasts. If you see a low-flying plane, lie flat in an open area with your arms outspread, which makes you easier to spot from the air.

—Michael Lanza is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Travel, from AMC Books.