Lost on a Hike? Here’s How to Find Your Way Back

如果你去旅行迷路了怎么办呢？

下面告诉你如何找回原路

Summer was coming to a close and I was determined to wring every last day out of it. Four weeks in Montana spent rafting, hiking, biking, camping, boating, and fishing only left me wanting more and as I made my way back home to the Pacific Northwest, I decided to swing north slightly and quickly check out the Kootenays in British Columbia. Since my Montana departure was late in the afternoon, I found myself crossing the Canadian border at 8:00 p.m., leaving me only a couple hours of daylight. Making my way north in the dark while looking for a campsite proved to be a little disconcerting. I had no idea if there were any campsites along the way, and the thought of sleeping in my car on the side of the road was not pleasing. Though I wasn’t lost, the feeling of making my way through the dark and not knowing what was ahead was just as unsettling. At 10:30, I found a campsite, quickly set up my tent, and crawled inside. But that feeling of being lost made me curious enough to do a little research to find out what to do when one actually is lost while hiking or exploring the woods.

Stop and assess the situation.

As soon as you think you’re lost, stop. There’s no reason to take another step until you come up with a plan. The farther you walk, the longer it takes for rescuers to find you. Also, statistics have shown that if you don’t know where you’re going, you have about a 75 percent chance of walking in the wrong direction. So sit down, drink some water, have a bite to eat, and think things over.

Stay calm.

Though this can prove difficult, it’s very important to remember. When you’re panicking, you can’t think straight. And if you aren’t thinking straight, you won’t be able to help yourself and others involved.

Orient yourself.

Ask yourself how you got to where you are. Which direction were you heading? If you have a map and compass, use your compass to determine directions from your present location. If you’ve located your general position on the map, identify landmarks that you should be able to see. If you’re without a map, things are a bit more challenging. To help figure out your location, remember the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

If you find yourself above tree line, try to follow cairns (piles of stones set up to mark the way). Blazes—painted marks on trees, metal or plastic pieces affixed to trees, or axe notches cut into trees—can often be found at tree line and are used to mark the way out of the woods. Look for water and follow it. If no trails are to be found, find a river or stream and follow it downstream. Downstream will eventually lead to civilization. Estimate how long you have until dark and determine the weather. Will it be getting better? Will it be getting worse? Check your water supply and decide how long it should last and use it accordingly.

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