Staying Found

Hiking around Wallowa Lake in Oregon

The easiest way to keep from getting lost is knowing where you are. Here are some tips:

Leave a message with someone who cares regarding your excursion’s logistics before you leave.
Take along your cell phone and leave it on. Even if you’re not getting coverage, it is possible for rescuers to trace your location from the “ping” from the tower to your phone.
If you suspect you might be lost, quit moving and S T O P (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) Memorize this acronym, so you’ll know what to do when you start to get scared and confused and the adrenaline is flowing as the sun goes down. When you are lost, stay put and let others find you. Teach this concept to everyone in your party, especially the kids. In other words: Stay Found.
Read this website thoroughly, and understand how you can safely and warmly stay put to Stay Found.
Take a class, read a book, or gain the knowledge to learn map and compass skills. Practice with these items, and make them part of your survival gear. Check your position every time you come to a fork in the trail. And, remember, if lost, stay put to Stay Found.
Don’t be fooled by electronic wizardry – you can’t rely on a Global Positioning System alone to stay found. Don’t let your GPS, cell phone and/or a locator beacon lull you into a false sense of security – any electronic device is as reliable as its battery or power source. In the wilderness, cell phone coverage can be spotty or non-existent.
Learn to have a “survival-state-of-mind” whenever you leave the house, whether planning a long hike, or driving to the grocery store.
To learn more, click: message, for effective trip communications; survival-state-of-mind for psychological survival training; S T O P to avoid panic; the kids for preparing children for the outdoors: or Stay Found to keep from getting lost.