Views: 7 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-10-23 Origin: Site
When venturing outdoors, we want to get away from the hustle and bustle of getting lost in the city and explore nature. But it’s also easy to get lost, and sometimes even dangerous. Therefore, it is very important to learn basic navigation and road coping methods. Not only does this allow us to enjoy the outdoors more safely, it also protects our lives in an emergency. Simply put, it means learning not to get lost in the wild.
To avoid getting lost in the wild, follow these simple steps:
Observe sightlines: Focus on surrounding sightlines and landmarks, such as mountain peaks, large trees, etc., to help determine direction.
Memorize Landmarks: Before leaving camp or any known location, remember the salient features of your surroundings so you can use them for navigation when you return.
Record your route: When you leave a road, creek, river, etc., note which way you came off and make it part of your route.
Count and map: Keep track of the number of streams, peaks, and intersections you pass, and try a simple route map to keep track of your location.
What to do if you get lost
If you find yourself lost while exploring the great outdoors, don’t panic, stop and assess the situation first. Continuing blindly may make the situation worse.
Sit down, take a deep breath, think about the places you have walked, such as houses, streams, etc., and try to find your original route.
Often, when you first realize you're lost, you haven't gone very far. But many people will continue to walk around because of anxiety, which can make the situation worse and even exceed the scope of search and rescue.
If you have a map, first understand the legend to find your approximate location, and then use the contour lines on the map to understand the surrounding location. Contour lines widely spaced means the terrain is flat, there are no contour lines, it may be a plain, and dense contour lines may be a valley. Use the scale of the map to indicate the distance between you and the target. For example, if the scale is 1:50,000, it means that 1 centimeter on the picture represents the actual length of 50,000 centimeters (0.5 kilometers). Use a small ruler to calculate the distance between yourself and the target. If you don't have a pen and paper, you can use your fingers to roughly measure the distance. Generally speaking, an adult's index finger is about 2.5 cm long from the tip to the first joint.
Then, adjust the map direction to match the actual direction, and choose a direction to head towards the main road or a populated place. Pay attention to possible obstacles on the map, such as cliffs or rivers, and take detours if necessary. At the same time, pay attention to surrounding landmarks and compare them with the map to show how far you have traveled.
To put it simply, stop, think nervously, use maps and landmarks to find the original route, and avoid walking blindly.
If there is moonlight and you can see your surroundings, walk towards the road or farmhouse. If you can't see clearly in the dark mountains, don't move on and find a sheltered place, such as a corner or behind a rock.
If there is a life-support bag, try to get into it. Several people can stay warm by squeezing together. Even without a life support bag, you can survive the cold nights, just pay attention to the docking position from time to time to keep the warmth in the middle.
1. Draw the map and make sure it is aligned with the direction of the compass.
2. Choose the direction you want to go according to the compass instructions.
3. Look in that direction and find an easily identifiable place, such as a large rock, a tree, or a patch of fern.
4. Walk towards that landmark and once there, use the compass again to find the next target.
5. Repeat this process until you are out of the fog zone.
If you don't have a map or compass, your best bet is to stay put until the fog clears to avoid getting lost further.
If you encounter the 'milky sky' phenomenon, your vision will become blurred and it will be difficult to identify the direction. Next it's best to stop and wait for things to get better. If a snowstorm approaches, dig a weather pit or use a snow pit under a tree root to take shelter from the wind.
If you have a life-support bag, you can put some hair or dead grass underneath it and hide in it. Wear layers of clothing and keep the outermost buttons or zippers closed. Cross your arms and tuck your palms under your armpits to keep warm.
If you must keep going, use a map and compass to determine your direction. Throw snowballs while walking and observe the landing point and rolling direction of the snowballs to determine the inclination of the stairs. If the snowball suddenly disappears, there may be a cliff ahead.
In fact, when encountering a milky white sky, it is best to stop and wait; if necessary, dig a snow pit to take shelter from the wind; keeping warm is very important; if you move forward, you must use a map and compass to navigate and pay attention to the rolling situation of the snowball.
If you find yourself in a strange place and can't find your way back to camp, don't panic. Sit down, take a deep breath, recall the landmarks you passed, such as houses, rivers, etc., and try to find your way back. By recalling landmarks and remaining patient, you'll be able to gradually orient yourself and ultimately return safely.
