Getting Lost Starts at Home
'Above Average' Joe
You’re out for a quick day hike and the sun is getting low on the horizon. Suddenly, you get this sinking feeling that you have no idea where you are…
A few hours ago, you struck out solo, bragging to yourself that you know this country like the back of your hand and were determined to find a new trail to hike but now your peaceful surroundings have turned dark and foreboding. Nothing looks like it should and the trail you foolishly tried to blaze on your own has vanished. How did you get here? How do you get out?
No one plans on getting lost, but if you prepared accordingly knowing how to react and what to do in order to get rescued starts at home.
1. Packing
Don’t: grab a bottle of water and an energy bar, stash it in your pack and hit the trail. After all you’re only going to be gone for a few hours right?
Do: When you're packing, you need to ask yourself, “do I have enough supplies to spend the night out if I had to?'"
Know and carry the 10 Essentials: map (make it waterproof), compass and/or GPS, headlamp, food, water, extra clothes, first-aid kit, matches, fire starter, and rain gear. Also pack a basic survival kit containing an emergency blanket or a large plastic garbage bag for shelter, an extra fire starter (flint and waterproof matches and/or butane lighter), a water filtration method like potable aqua or katadyn filter, a signal mirror, and an 8-by-8-inch square of heavy-duty aluminum foil for making a cup or rudimentary cooking pot.
