Tips for Finding Your Way in the Outdoors

Anybody who has ever hiked knows what it feels like to be lost at some point, even if temporarily. When traveling the wilderness by foot, there are several ways by which you can end up steering yourself off course. Most of the time, though, you probably find your way rather quickly, and resume your adventure. But what if you get really lost? What happens if you get so lost that you are overwhelmed by a sense of fear? It is a situation that nobody wants to be in, but it does happen. The good news is that there are a number of things that you can do to ensure your renewed sense of direction, and hence, your safe return out of the wilderness.

You should be sure to do everything you can beforehand, to avoid losing your way once you get started. It may sound relatively simple, but even experienced hikers can get lost due to a poor plan. Before hiking, make sure you've included a map with your gear. Remember, landmarks will change often, so make sure its an updated map. You should have at least 2 compasses with you. It is better to have more than one compass for comparison; many hikers doubt the readings of their compass, and that doubt leads them into trouble. When two compasses give the same reading, it's wise to believe them! You can easily learn how to use a compass at an outdoor outfitting store or local community center. This is essential if you have never used one before. Before starting your trip, you must consult a map of the region you will be traveling. Be oriented with the trails, streams and mountains situated in the area where you will travel. In addition, it's very important to let someone know that you'll be hiking. If you are missing for an extended period of time, someone will know where to look! It would be terrible to be lost without anyone else actually realizing it. Be sure to tell someone close to you about your plans. Let them know exactly where you will be going, how long you will be there, and when they should expect you back.

As you walk, look around and take notice of your surroundings. Look carefully at mountain tops, ridges, streams, and other landmarks. Such natural reference points play an important, even life-saving, role. As before, be sure to employ your map and compass. There not there to take up space in your gear, they're meant to be utilized! If you are even slightly unsure of your location, just access your map. Hikers frequently worsen their situation by believing that they can fix it themselves. Do your best with the tools you have. Stop if you find that you do not know where you are. Review your map for a familiar landmark that you can recognize. People can usually get their sense of direction back by taking 5 minutes, observing what is around them, and consulting their map. A small amount of time is all that stands between the current situation and an escalated situation that could be dangerous.

If you do find that you are more lost than you thought, be sure to stay relatively close to the area in which you told people you would be. This will make it easier for rescuers to find you. Should you continue to be lost, remember the four steps in S.T.O.P. (stop, think, observe and plan). Once you decide to do something, stick with it. Now is not the time to be scatter-brained. Going in several directions will only hurt your effort to find your way. The most important thing you can do is stay calm. Panic will only use up your energy, and you may need it later. If you can't find any familiar landmarks by going back the way from which you came, stay where you are. If you have brought a whistle, blow it at timed intervals to let rescuers know that you are in need of help.

With the right amount of preparation and planning, you are likely to avoid getting lost while hiking. If it should happen, though, the previously mentioned steps will give you a significantly better chance of being found or finding your way back to safety. As with many things, preparing for the worst will ensure that you are able to handle a bad situation should it arise. Knowing what to do and how to do it will allow your hiking experience to be an enjoyable one.

An experienced hiker himself, even Robert Shovelsky finds these outdoors tips to be helpful. In fact Robert does the most of his hiking in northern California, where he stores his RV indoors. Robert tells all of his friends about the convenience of 24 Hour Storage for indoor rv storage California.