Lost Hiking? What to do? – Camping Safety Tips

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I must admit – I had been lost while hiking. Twice.

Once I was with my father and got lost for 4 hours. I was 11 years old then. It scared the crap out of me. On the other hand, I understood that I can survive being alone in the woods. That gave me strength.

The second time was three years ago when I was hiking alone in Giants Ridge, Minnesota. I made a mistake and didn’t take my power bank for the phone. That time I didn’t have a map and relied mostly on my GPS. When the phone died, it was getting dark and I simply didn’t know where I am. I had to spend the night in the woods and to look for the right path the next morning. I was lucky to find two hikers who helped me to get back on track.

Thousands of hikers get lost every year in the US. That only means that you have to be prepared and know what to do when you get lost hiking.

You can minimise your chances of getting lost in the first place. There are things you can do at home to make the odds of getting lost lower.

Do Your Homework

Plan your trip

Even though hiking is a great adventure, it is always a good idea to have a plan in the first place. Gather information about the trail, plan your day (or more days). When are you going to eat? When are you going to pitch your tent for the night? This framework will allow you to keep track of your activities and adjust them if needed.

Have enough power for your phone

From my own experience, I can tell, that you better don’t miss this one. We all like to be one with nature, but when it comes to serious situations like getting lost in the mountains, we better have our technology prepared. Charge an extra battery, take a power bank and a solar charger. You will not regret it in case there is a need to use it.

Share Your Plans with Someone

This is classics of hiking. Tell at least one person about your plans. Ant it better be your close person. If you get lost, someone will start to worry soon and give information to the rescuers or ranger about your plans which in turn will be very helpful to finding you.

Check the Weather Forecast

Before you go hiking, check the weather for upcoming days in the area. Very often people get lost when suddenly it starts to rain or a dense mist appears in the area. I use these services to check the local weather:

• https://www.wunderground.com/
• https://weather.com/

While Hiking

Be Aware of the Surroundings

When you hike – you are mostly in the unfamiliar area. Therefore, it is very important to keep an eye on the track. The path will look differently depending on which way you are heading. So, be sure to turn around frequently, to “take a snapshot” of how the trail looks in reverse. If you get lost, this data will help you recognize the path.

Avoid Getting Away from the Trail

The “good manners” of hiking mean that you should always stay on the established trail. However, often hikers step out of it in order to look for an adventure. Sometimes this leads to getting lost. Always stay on the trail or very close to it to avoid dangerous situations.

What to Do when You Get Lost?

Stop and Stay Calm

Don’t panic. Stop and think. Try to remember the last place you were sure about. Plan your next actions.

Don’t allow yourself to panic. Panic leads to wasted energy and usually bad decisions. Calm down and get the big picture of the situation and then act accordingly.

Assess Your Resources

Examine your backpack to see how much food and water you have. Plan your intake in order to maximise the period during wich you can fuel yourself using the supplies you have.

Remember that even after your resources are depleted, there is still plenty of food out there – berries, for example, may be a great source of energy. And there is a high probability that you will always find clean water.

Try Tracing You Way Back

Don’t go forward anymore. Move backwards and try to recognise the place. If you manage to find the place you are certain you have been to, chances are you will find your way back.

Use Your Phone

Often there is no phone coverage in areas where great trails are. However, chances are, you can get a decent coverage, especially in open areas or higher altitudes. If you manage to find a spot with at least minimal coverage, call 911 immediately. If you have a GPS, locate yourself on the map and give your coordinates to the operator. This is the fastest way go be found.

Use the Whistle

Did you know that whistles are installed in many backpacks by default. Take a look at yours – it might be there as well. It is barely visible, but it is often installed in plastic parts of your backpack. Whistling doesn’t take too much energy, so if you get lost, whistle as much as you can and turn your head in different directions – it may help rescuers identify your location.

Make Yourself Visible

Find a meadow or any other clearing where you would be easily visible from the air. If you have shiny of colorful objects, put them on the ground. Chances are, a plane or a rescue helicopter will notice you from the air and will identify your location.

Getting lost in the woods or mountains may be a terrifying experience. However, if you get yourself together and remember the advices mentioned in this article, you can be saved fast.

Be sure to prepare well before going hiking, even if this is just a 2-hour hike along the creek.