do you practice being lost?

Michael · 08-08-2010, 11:42 PM

This might be an odd question.

I've developed a habit. Once I've been to a place a couple of times, I practice getting lost there. I head off in a random direction and walk where there aren't trails for a while. I walk up over a ridge or into a swamp and just meander for a bit, then try to find my way back to something I know.

When I do this, I avoid using a compass. As much as possible I try to use my own senses to figure out where I am and where I'm heading. I use the sun. I listen to context clues (traffic on distant roads, fog horns in distant waters, etc). I try to figure out the lay of the land and follow it.

Do other people do this, or am I a weirdo?

foxylady · 08-09-2010, 01:39 PM

I just have to say I have never had to 'practice' getting lost. I do just fine on my own. I can usually find my way back out though. It is probably a good idea though to practice being lost so you know the back ways.

northernbushape · 08-09-2010, 10:50 PM

I wouldn't say I actively practice getting lost, but I go off-trail a lot and am always conscious of direction and landmarks when I do so. This is a good thing to keep sharp on, as when you actually find yourself off-trail for some unforeseen reason, it's good to have a keen eye to get yourself back on track.

I think it's good that you practice this stuff. You can only benefit.

Fox38 · 08-10-2010, 06:37 AM

I think that is an excellent idea, and no I do not do it. I hike a lot but I don't practice being lost. I should though, so I know what to do and how I will react if I get lost.

Michael · 08-12-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northernbushape

I think it's good that you practice this stuff. You can only benefit.

That's kind of my thinking. It's the hiking equivalent of checking where the emergency exits and fire extinguisher are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox38

I think that is an excellent idea, and no I do not do it. I hike a lot but I don't practice being lost. I should though, so I know what to do and how I will react if I get lost.

It's actually a pretty interesting experience.

Like you say, there's a component of it where you figure out how you react. When you don't know where you are or how to get back, there's an initial bit of panic. I think it's good to experience that a couple of times when the situation isn't actually dangerous so that you can see exactly how much you panic. Then you can learn to adjust for that.

And I suggest that if you're going to try this, you try it somewhere relatively small first. It's good to know that if you totally mess up, you can just choose a direction and walk for a mile or two and get to a road. It's a sort of safety net.

southerngal · 08-12-2010, 06:04 PM

I have never practiced being lost and I had never thought about doing so before either. I guess it is a good idea and might prevent feelings of panic should you actually become lost.

jason · 08-12-2010, 10:41 PM

I only "practice" being lost when the wife is with me. She tells me we are lost, I say we are not. Ok, so that only happened once, and I found out real quick she does not like narrow paths. I tend to stay on the path here in FL. Mostly due to if you go off of the path it tends to be swamp, or no place to step.

Again, as a kid though in NY, we just went where we felt like. Path or no path. So many places to explorer, and we did our best.

SmackontheWeb · 08-13-2010, 11:11 AM

Practice, practice, practice. When you think you've got it down, practice some more. This way, when/if you do find yourself in a lost situation, you've "been there, done that" and won't have to waste time trying to figure out what to do. Some of the things I practice when camping is things like firemaking in different environments with different fuels, emergency shelter making, first-aid, orienteering, water purification, traps & snares...

Practice is something you can load up on and never have to worry about it adding weight to your pack.

Newanderthal · 08-16-2010, 02:07 PM

I don't actively get lost, but I don't stick to the trails either. I take off in random directions every chance I get, following my eyes to anything that looks interesting.

My internal compass and a good sense of spacial mapping keeps me from getting turned around.

Michael · 08-16-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newanderthal

My internal compass and a good sense of spacial mapping keeps me from getting turned around.

I find that this is also generally the case with me as well. The more I wander off the beaten, the more I find I tend to know where I am and where I'm going.