Getting lost while hiking can be a disorienting and potentially dangerous experience, but with the right survival strategies, you can stay safe and increase your chances of being found. Knowing how to remain calm, assess your situation, and take smart actions can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one. Here are essential survival strategies to follow if you find yourself lost while hiking.
1. Stay Calm and Stop
The first thing to do when you realize you’re lost is to stop, stay calm, and assess the situation. Panicking can lead to poor decision-making, so take a moment to collect your thoughts and think through your next steps.
Key Actions:
- S.T.O.P. Rule:
- Stop: Stay where you are to avoid worsening your situation.
- Think: Calmly assess your surroundings and situation.
- Observe: Take note of landmarks, the direction you were heading, and any signs of the trail.
- Plan: Decide what steps to take based on your resources and the conditions.
- Breathe: Take a few deep breaths to help calm your nerves. Staying composed will help you think more clearly.
- Evaluate Your Resources: Check what supplies you have with you, such as water, food, a map, and a compass. This will help you plan your next steps effectively.
2. Try to Retrace Your Steps
If you haven’t ventured too far off the trail and can safely backtrack, try to retrace your steps to a known point. Look for markers, footprints, or trail signs that indicate where you came from. However, if you feel uncertain or can’t identify clear landmarks, it’s often better to stay put.
Tips for Retracing Your Steps:
- Look for Familiar Landmarks: Identify any distinct features you may have passed, like large trees, rock formations, or water sources.
- Check for Trail Markers: If the trail is marked with blazes, cairns, or signs, try to locate one to orient yourself.
3. Stay Put if You’re Truly Lost
If you are unable to retrace your steps or if it’s getting late in the day, the best option is often to stay put and wait for rescue. Remaining in one location increases the chances of being found by search and rescue teams and reduces the risk of injury from wandering further off course.
Why Staying Put Is Important:
- Conserve Energy: Staying in one spot conserves your energy and prevents exhaustion. If you keep moving aimlessly, you’ll burn through resources faster.
- Easier for Rescuers: It’s easier for rescuers to locate a stationary person than one who is moving. Staying put increases your visibility and allows search teams to find you more quickly.
4. Signal for Help
If you’re lost, you’ll want to do everything you can to make yourself visible and audible to potential rescuers. Use whatever you have on hand to create signals that stand out.
Ways to Signal for Help:
- Use a Whistle: A whistle’s sound travels farther than a shout. The universal signal for distress is three short bursts, repeated at intervals.
- Make Noise: If you don’t have a whistle, use your voice. Shout at regular intervals, or bang on rocks or trees to make noise.
- Use a Mirror or Shiny Object: A signal mirror or reflective object can catch the sunlight and create a visual signal. Flash the mirror in the direction of aircraft, search teams, or open areas.
- Create Visible Signals: Arrange bright clothing, gear, or rocks in a large X shape on the ground—this is a recognized distress signal from the air. If you have an emergency blanket, its reflective side can help signal rescuers.
- Build a Signal Fire: If conditions are safe and you have the means, build a fire to signal for help. Smoke from a fire is visible from a distance and can attract attention. Add green branches to create thicker smoke.
5. Use Your Map and Compass (or GPS)
If you have a map and compass, now is the time to put them to use. If you’re familiar with how to use them, they can help you get your bearings and locate nearby landmarks or trails.
Navigational Tips:
- Check Your Compass: Orient your map using the compass to identify your location relative to known features like mountains, rivers, or ridges. Look for high points to help you orient yourself.
- Use GPS Devices: If you’re carrying a GPS device or a smartphone with a GPS app, try to determine your current location and look for nearby trails, roads, or water sources. Keep in mind that GPS signals may be weaker in deep valleys or dense forests.
- Follow Natural Features: If you don’t have navigational tools, follow large, recognizable natural features like rivers, ridgelines, or valleys that can lead you to civilization or a trail.
6. Build a Shelter
If you’re lost and nightfall is approaching, you’ll need to prepare for the possibility of staying overnight. The key to staying safe in the wilderness is keeping warm, dry, and protected from the elements.
Shelter Tips:
- Find Natural Shelter: Look for natural features like rock overhangs, large trees, or caves that can provide shelter from wind, rain, and cold.
- Create a Lean-To Shelter: If natural shelter isn’t available, use branches, leaves, and any tarps or ponchos to create a lean-to or A-frame shelter. Lean a large branch against a tree at an angle, then cover it with smaller branches and foliage to create a makeshift shelter.
- Insulate the Ground: Place leaves, pine needles, or other natural materials on the ground to insulate yourself from the cold earth.
7. Conserve Your Resources
While waiting for rescue or trying to find your way out, it’s essential to conserve the resources you have, especially water. Staying hydrated and managing your energy levels are critical for survival.
Water and Food Management:
- Conserve Water: Sip water slowly throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts at once. If you run low, look for streams or lakes, and use purification tablets or filters if available.
- Look for Water Sources: Water flows downhill, so head toward valleys or ravines where streams or rivers are likely to be found.
- Ration Food: If you’re carrying food, ration it wisely. If you run out of food, focus on staying hydrated; the human body can survive for days without food, but dehydration sets in much quicker.
8. Protect Yourself From the Elements
Weather conditions in the wilderness can change rapidly, especially at higher altitudes. Protecting yourself from the elements is crucial to avoid hypothermia, heat exhaustion, or sunburn.
Weather Protection:
- Stay Warm: Use extra layers, emergency blankets, or dry leaves to retain body heat. Avoid getting wet, as moisture can accelerate heat loss.
- Stay Dry: If it starts to rain, seek shelter or cover yourself with a poncho, tarp, or large leaves. Staying dry is crucial to preventing hypothermia.
- Sun Protection: If you’re exposed to direct sunlight, wear a hat, apply sunscreen, and cover your skin to avoid sunburn and dehydration.
9. Be Prepared Before You Hike
The best way to survive getting lost while hiking is to be prepared before you set out. Taking the right precautions can prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.
Key Preparation Steps:
- Tell Someone Your Plan: Always inform someone of your hiking route and estimated return time. This way, they can alert authorities if you don’t return on time.
- Carry a Fully Stocked Daypack: Pack the essentials, including a map, compass, first aid kit, whistle, extra food, water, layers, and an emergency blanket. These items can make all the difference if you get lost.
- Bring a GPS or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB): A PLB or satellite messenger can send your coordinates to rescuers, even in remote areas without cell service.
- Understand Your Route: Familiarize yourself with the trail by studying maps before you leave. Know key landmarks and potential exit points in case of emergencies.
FAQ: What to Do If You Get Lost While Hiking
How long should I wait before trying to find my way out?
If you’re unsure of your location, it’s best to wait for at least a few hours. Rescuers will often start searching from the point where you were last seen. However, if you’re confident in your navigational abilities and have a good sense of direction, you may try to backtrack or follow a well-known feature like a river or road.
How can I avoid getting lost while hiking?
The best way to avoid getting lost is by staying on marked trails, using navigational tools like maps and GPS, and paying attention to landmarks. Regularly checking your location on a map or GPS device will help prevent wandering off the trail.
How long can I survive if I’m lost in the wilderness?
Your survival time depends on your access to water, shelter, and food, as well as the environmental conditions. Generally, you can survive for about 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food, though dehydration and exposure to extreme weather can reduce these times.
What should I do if it starts to get dark while I’m lost?
If darkness is approaching, it’s best to find a safe place to set up shelter for the night. Trying to navigate in the dark increases the risk of injury. Build a shelter, start a fire if possible, and stay warm and dry.
Should I move if I think I’m close to a trail?
If you are confident that a trail or road is nearby, and you can navigate to it safely, you may try to move toward it. However, if the terrain is unfamiliar or dangerous, it’s better to stay where you are and wait for rescue.
By staying calm, following these strategies, and being prepared, you’ll improve your chances of being found quickly and staying safe if you get lost while hiking.