Trail Tape/Signs?

[Barney]

Do you carry a trail tape, ribbon, or cloth of bright colors to mark the trail as you go? Some would even call these navigational tapes.

[Gondor]

I would rarely go off trail and if so only in a known location so I don't need and use those tapes at all. But I see how they can be useful. A bright orange shirt can suffice for this as well. Tear it into pieces and use it.

[mamabear]

I carry it but rarely use it because like Gondor, I seldom go off the trail. However, if I ever decide to, I'm prepared. It's always good to be prepared!

[Grandpa]

No, I do not, and I hope if you do, you retrieve those tapes on your way back.

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...



Must I also retrieve the bread crumbs...??

[IndianaHiker]

Never markings for navigation bad idea on so many level.

First makes an area look like hell.

Second there is always a chance that someone that feels that this looks like hell will remove them for you ie. someone like me. Unless they are the tape that DNR uses to mark trees to be taken I have removed what looked like trash to me. Have always assumed that who every put that there was long gone and just didn't clean up after themselves.

Third have read many stories of folks doing that and have the markers to far apart or the miss on because it is over a hill and get lost anyway.

Do yourself a big favor for the sake of safety get a map and a compass or at least a GPS system and learn to use them. Today there are GPS units for well under 100 buck that do nothing but automatically leave an electronic bread crumb trail to get you back.

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder1

Hi...
Must I also retrieve the bread crumbs...??

Nope, the birds will do it for you, probably before you try to return. However, you will be guilty of feeding the critters

[ghostdog]

It is unsightly litter and lazy navigation imo. I have never and would never use it.

Besides, I’m a map junkie and we rarely come back the same way we go into the landscape. Big loops where there are no trails are what we like.

One site I like to do business with now is mytopo.com. I recently got a custom printed 1:24000 topo from them on waterproof paper that covers almost 200 square miles of a place we like to adventure in. It covers pieces of 9 USGS quads so it is much more portable and useful than carrying all of those. I'll be getting more custom maps of the places we tend to explore time and time again. They go well with the maps that cover larger areas where you never know where you will end up for a night or two.

So find a good detailed map of your area of interest, keep a good accurate compass right at hand and use it as you navigate. Note your readings in a pocket notebook. Many carry the ten essentials but that compass only helps if one is using it as they go.

I agree with Indiana’s view on a GPS. They are very good navigation tools and work very well in tandem with map and compass. I like the units that display a good moving map and found mine on sale years ago. It was one of those “last year’ units” but still works perfectly after all these years. You can even have it make a track, like little bread crumbs or virtual tape that nobody else sees but you. Just take some spare batteries just in case.

[Theosus]

Some people do this. I don't like it, frankly because by the end of my hike my pack is full of other people's orange tapes.
Get a GPS. If all else fails hit "backtrack" and follow the line.

[IndianaHiker]

Something like this would get you back and it is pretty cheap. Heck if you go often in a couple of years maybe cheaper than the tape.
Backtrack GPS