Evaluating The Area

[HappyFeet]

Evaluating the area will help you analyze which is the fastest and easiest route to go. There are many ways in evaluating the area that you are trekking or hiking. You can climb a tree or go to the top of a hill to see the landscape around you. I usually do these evaluations whichever is applicable.

What other ways can you suggest for evaluating the area where you are hiking or trekking?

[woodzman]

The places I usually hike/camp are heavily wooded, so I like to use a topo map of the area I'm in. I'll generally pick a route on the map and stick to it.

[Bradsalex]

A map and line-of-sight are (I believe) the best two ways to evaluate your surroundings. Using the map you can plot a route or find yourself using terrain association. Personally I like to just go where I see fit and aim for a general direction that will take me to a body of water or road.

[HappyFeet]

Checking the map is a good way not to get lost in your trip. I forgot to add about GPS that is found in some cellphones. If you have them then you can use that to navigate your way.

[failghe]

Well for me it is easy, I'm in Florida. North it will be flat. South it will be flat. East it will be flat. West...yep you guessed it flat. Any direction except North sooner or later I will hit a large body of water. LOL