Pack your bag

Knife Care

Rope Skill

Get Lost

Getting Lost 

Before entering a wilderness area or abandoning your car 

Tell someone where you are going or leave a note indicating where you have gone, which path you are taking, and when you will be back. – do police report. 

Do it every time ever if entering a familiar area for a short period. 

Always carry survival tools as a hunting knife, compass, matches in a waterproof container, and a windbreaker or poncho. 

Knowledge is the first step in overcoming fear. Knowledge can be amplified by the confidence in your equipment, use of the equipment, group interaction, and survival techniques. The understanding of the smells, noises, physical characteristics of land, weather, and your relationship with them will also be of great help. 

Avoid Getting Lost 

When traveling makes it a habit to: 

-         Check your approximate location on the map and try to compare its markings with your surroundings. Do this every 15 to 20 minutes.

-          Direction of the wind.

-          Watch where you cast a shadow to make sure you are not walking in circles and that you are not misreading the direction on your compass.

-          How long have you traveled and estimate the distance covered.

-          How do the contours of the land compare to the contours on the map?

-          Major landmarks as large hills, rivers or large trees, that have been passed.

-          If following a trail and somehow you lose your direction, do not just walk back but remember your “lost” position by looking for an identifiable landmark and head back. Leave markings as broken branches or blazes at “lost” position to find your way back. Make sure that you are following a blaze and not an abrasion on a tree caused by a falling branch or gnawed by an animal as a moose or bear. Man made blazes will usually have a mechanical feature as a straight cut.

 If You Get Lost – If You Are Alone

-          The shock of realizing that you are lost can be mentally crippling but you have to hope for the best and plan for the worst. Recall survival techniques of training and expect them to work, as it will increase your chances for success by increasing your confidence in that you can survive. 

-          Stay “Put”. If you’re not sure of the way out and people know you are missing. Remain calm. Usually it is best to stay where you are and build a shelter. This is especially true if you are lacking food or are injured. Staying will give you a chance to conserve your energy. 

-          Carefully study your surroundings. Find water, if possible an open area for a signal fire, a shealtered area for a camp, and wood. If the wood supply permits, keep a small fire going, at all times, for a signal fire. 

-          Build a simple safe comfortable shelter and fire as quickly as possible. 

-          Once well sheltered and warm form a plan. A survival plan will alleviate your fear. Your confidence and morale will increase. 

-          Be calm. Take it easy and think of how to implement your action plan. Establish where you are by identifying landmarks and compass directions. 

-          Take stock of your situation once your signal fire has been built, your campfire and shelter is ready. Mentally list everything you have on you. Empty your pockets and use your imagination to discover how your belongings can be used. 

-          Any shiny object can be used to attract the attention of passing aircraft.  

-          Do not be too eager to find your way out until have adapted to your environment and have the basic survival necessities of food, water, and shelter. Unnecessary risks will be taken if you are careless and impatient. 

If in a Group 

-          A group should chose a leader and assign responsibilities to all individuals so that all have a responsibility for the rescue of the group. Always try to determine and use special skills offered by members of the group. The leader can consult with the group but he has to make the decisions. Above all, the leader must at all times avoid the appearance of indecision. 

-          Make sure that no member of the group is left on his own as he might be in a depression. – negative ideas should be squashed as soon as possible. 

-          Panic, confusion, and disorganization are minimized by good leadership 

-          Problems usually occour in a group. These problems can be due to fatigue, hunger, close quarters, cold, and strategic decisions that have to be made. 

-          Develop a feeling of teamwork and stress that each man depends on the other individuals for survival . teamwork fosters higher morale and unity as each member feels the support and strength of the group.