By PJ DelHomme
If you spend enough time in the woods, you’ll get lost at some point—maybe just briefly, maybe overnight or longer. Here’s how to stay found.
We hunted until the last minute of shooting light. I was with two brothers, and we debated going the long way on a trail back to the truck or taking a shortcut. We chose the latter. As we walked, the clouds rolled in. It was as dark as I had ever seen. We kept moving in what we thought was the right direction. The game trail grew faint, and the trees got tighter. We had no landmark by which to guide us.
The younger brother grew nervous. You could hear it in his voice. After 30 minutes, we stopped and agreed to double back to the actual trail. It took longer, but the sense of relief was palpable once we were on the trail. It was a good decision.
We were hunting in western Montana, but that lost feeling in the pit of your stomach can happen anywhere—just ask Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) volunteer member Jenny Lind. She recalled one SAR mission in which they were called to look for two young female hikers who got lost in the high desert. They had no gear, no water. “They would have died if we hadn’t found them that night,” Lind says. “A lot of things look alike in the high desert, including the trails.”
When they realized they were lost, the hikers called before their cell phones died, likely saving their lives. “The biggest part of being found is knowing you’re lost,” she says. After they made the call, the hikers stayed in a safe place and let SAR come to them. “For the average person who finds themselves lost and they know someone is out there looking for them, just sit down,” Lind says.
People can take several proactive steps to prevent a call to SAR. Here are five ways to stay found.
1. Tell Someone Where You’re Going
With cell phones, GPS apps, and Google Maps, telling a loved one or close friend where you’re heading is incredibly easy and convenient. Put a pin on a map, take a screenshot, and send it to them. Leave them a map with your itinerary and other places you might be. Lind says leaving a note on your dashboard at the trailhead stating when you plan to return is better than nothing.
2. Pay Attention
It’s easy to get distracted in the woods, especially if you’re hunting. Even if you don’t have a compass, you can keep track of your bearing (generally) by keeping track of the sun. Was the sun behind you when you started hiking at dawn? That means you traveled west to your deer stand. The sun should be at your back on the hike out at the end of the day. Use landmarks, too. Remember that peak that was always on your right? You get the idea.
Special thanks to the following sponsors for making this video series possible:
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), United Association/International Training Fund’s Veterans in Piping Program (VIP), Ullico, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)
3. Pack Signaling Devices
Search and Rescue teams are professionals, but they’re not psychic. Help them help you by packing a few things that make finding you easier. Lind says that whistles are small and effective. Always bring one on your hike. A signal mirror is another life-saving item as more SAR teams use drones in their rescue efforts. For examples of signals, watch this SMART Tips & Tricks video.
All is not lost when your phone dies, and you forget the map in the truck. Why? Because you studied a map of the area before you ventured into the great unknown. Knowing the general terrain and landscape before heading out gives you intel about the lay of the land, like major landmarks and possible extraction points in case of emergency. Read about wilderness survival stories like this article.
5. Just S.T.O.P.
It’s an easy acronym to remember, and what it stands for could save your life. (S)top, stay calm, and stay put. (T)hink about how you got where you are and take a look around. (O)bserve your surroundings. Are you in danger? Is there a trail nearby? What gear do you have? And finally, (P)lan your next move. Consider the SURVIVAL acronym.
