“Off Course”  

By Gary Ramsey, Published in the Adirondack Express on February 21, 2008

 

Lost! Lost is a relative term and can mean several things. Your attitude and composure will determine whether you are hopelessly confused and no where to be found or simply "off course" at the present time. Panic is the emotional state that turns being off course into the ultimate tragedy. When knowledge replaces fear and you have some basic equipment, you will get out. The following is a few basic steps to wilderness survival.

The first step actually starts before you leave. Even if you only intend to follow a well marked trail for an overnight venture, always leave word with a reliable person regarding your intended destination, length of stay, travel routes and anticipated return date and time. Also give them the information they will need to initiate a search if you don't make contact as expected. In NYS the proper contact would be the Forest Ranger for your area of travel. Ranger names and numbers can be found on the NYS DEC web site. Be absolutely clear that you want the Forest Rangers called if you do not return within a few hours of your specified return time and under no circumstances should your contact start a search on their own. Forest Rangers are trained to know when to start the search and how to find people fast.

Before traveling in the back country, you must have a map of the area and a compass and acquire some basic orienteering skills. Topo maps by the US Geological Survey are best for wilderness travel because they show known trails and roads, waterways and terrain features. Usually, these maps are readily available at local sporting goods and hardware stores. There are many books on the market that you can use to teach yourself how to use a map and compass. My favorite is the Appalachian Mountain Club's Guide to Winter Camping by Stephen Gorman. His chapter on orienteering is very easy to understand and will make you competent in basic wilderness travel within an hour or so. Local bookstores and sporting shops carry this book or you can get it through the AMC. Study the information and practice a bit and you will be amazed at how easily it really is! If you want to go high tech, get a GPS. In my opinion, a GPS does not replace a map and compass. I carry all three. Depending on weather conditions and the canopy above, your GPS may not be able to receive enough satellites to establish your location. However, if you do have a working GPS and know how to use it, you will never be lost!

If a time comes when you feel you may be lost, STOP and evaluate the situation. Wandering around looking for that familiar land mark, road, creek or pasture until well after dark only burns daylight and compounds your ability to efficiently prepare for the night. If it's an hour before dark and you have been trying to orient yourself for a while and you think you may be off course, you probably are! So stop and begin to prioritize your needs for survival.

Now that you have stopped, make a plan. The first thing you need to consider is protection from environmental injuries. What is the weather, do you need protection from the elements? If you do, start to inventory the gear you have with you and what is available in the immediate surroundings. Be creative and improvise what you need from what you have and what mother nature can supply. Shelter is more important than fire. You can spend all your time gathering wood for a fire, which will only marginally keep you warm or you can spend your time improvising a shelter that will shield you from the wind, keep you dry and insulate you from the cold. Your clothing is your first line of defense. Calm down, take your time and work slowly but steadily. Sweat will make your clothes damp and as the temperature drops you will get cold and maybe even hypothermic.

Dehydration will directly affect your ability to make logical decisions, which means water is more important than food. Ration your food, but not your water. You must drink enough water to keep your urine output at about 1 quart in every 24 hour period. Once you have secured adequate shelter, your very next task is to find and drink enough water. If you know a stream, pond or lake is very close, see if you can construct your shelter there but don't spend a lot of time looking for water before you have secured adequate shelter for the night.

The first rule to getting found is to stay put! A moving target is harder to find than a stationary one. In addition, when a search is activated, the Forest Rangers will start in your last known location or route of travel. Most rescues occur within 24 to 48 hours, so time in your location is on your side. Most likely you are very close to your intended route or destination, just a bit off course. The best action you can take while waiting to be found is to periodically signal for help. Three of anything is the universal sign for help, three shots, three whistles, three shouts or three fires (although three fires may not always be practical based on the situation). If you are able to construct a fire, make it smoky by day and bright by night, if possible.

You should only consider traveling from your location if: it no longer meets your needs for protection, sustenance and signaling, rescue doesn't appear imminent (it's been longer than 48 hours) and you have the means and the navigational skills to travel safely.

Wilderness survival gear includes the following:

Back Pack or Day Pack
Map
Compass (2)
GPS with extra batteries
Multi Tool
Knife with serrated edge
Water and Food (High Calorie Energy Bars, Candy Bars, Jerky, Gorp)
Water purification tablets
Flash Light with extra batteries
Matches, lighters and candles in waterproof container
Roll of Duct Tape
Whistle
Mirror
Heavy duty space blanket (get a real space blanket, throw those flimsy silver things away!)
Parachute cord
Folding Saw

And what about the embarrassment of being lost? Any body that has spent any amount of time in the wilderness has been "lost" a time or two. I've been mighty twisted up in the backcountry and down right frustrated, but never really scared. Fortunately I've never had to spend the night. If and when I do, I will survive by following the above guidelines. When the Rangers find me, we will all have a good laugh because they know, that I know, they too have been "off course" a time or two!