Why Do People Get Lost Hiking? (And How To Get Rescued)

According to the Boston Globe a total of 46,609 people required search and rescue aid in the country’s national parks between 2004 and 2014. Most people get lost by simply wandering off the trail. What is most alarming about these numbers is the fact that 42% of these people were day hiking. That is, these individuals went out for a daily hike and anticipated the hike to be over before nightfall. 

Here Are Some Reasons Why People Become Lost While Hiking:

• Not planning the time and distance correctly

• Staying out past dusk

• Following a game trail

• Missing trail details

• Faulty or outdated map

• Limited experience with the terrain

• Unforeseen weather changes

• Taking a shortcut

Not Planning The Time And Distance Correctly

Planning your hike is paramount. Know the distance of the hike, the type of terrain and the exact equipment you need to complete the hike. Knowing the average hiker moves at a pace of 2.5 mph should help determine your plan. Plan incorrectly, and you could end up hiking into the night. If you are an inexperienced night hiker, hiking at night can induce panic and make your situation worse.

Staying Out Past Dusk

When hiking an unfamiliar trail it is doubly important to plan accordingly. Every detail should be considered and that includes the time needed to complete the trail. If you miss on this detail you could find yourself hiking in the middle of night looking for civilization. Obviously, this is not a coveted situation and if you find yourself in this predicament it is important not to let panic set in. One way to remain prepared is to always pack the 11 Hiking Essentials.

Following A Game Trail

When on your backpacking journey, be sure you are on the correct path.  Look for denoted trail blazes and other landmarks. Most trails have notes from other hikers that will guide you on landmarks and other issues you might face at certain parts of the trail.

Missing Trail Details

It is tempting to get lost in thought while moving through the forest and trails. Not paying attention to the details of the trail can be problematic should you happen to get lost. Not knowing where you have been and what you have passed during your trek will make it difficult for you to find your way or be confident in any decision you make to remedy the situation. 

Faulty Or Outdated Maps

Even if you are using a GPS map you need to make sure it is updated with the latest information. GPS maps are updated regularly, daily, sometimes hourly depending on the software.  However, you need to make sure your device is set to periodically check for updates or manually update the map yourself prior to any hike or backpacking adventure.

A paper map can go a long way as well. I recommend you have both a paper and digital map to back-up one another. Paper maps can become wet and illegible or you could misplace the map. A digital GPS could lose battery life or not function properly for a number of reasons. It is always best to have both. Make sure your paper maps are as up to date as possible and always cross reference the paper map against a digital map.  Remember, any kind of significant weather can augment the landscape and alter the accuracy of a map. Digital maps are most responsive to these changes.

Limited Experience With The Terrain

Hiking or backpacking in unfamiliar terrain requires extra planning and precaution. If your plan is insufficient and you find yourself ill equipped to negotiate the terrain, you may make faulty decisions and wind-up lost. If you are going to hike a new trail it is best to review trail maps, research the trail and talk with other folks either personally or on a forum. The more information you have the more confident and prepared you will be on the trail.

Unforeseen Weather Changes

Depending on climate and location of where you are hiking, the weather can be easy to predict and forecast to be almost impossible. Higher elevation hikes will generally see an increase in weather volatility. Make sure you understand the weather in the area you are hiking and bring a few items that will help you stay dry and warm in the wet and cool weather.

Taking A Shortcut

It might be tempting to take a shortcut if you fall behind your expected pace. Unless you are a super experienced backpacker, I would strongly advise against taking shortcuts. Taking shortcuts can obviously lead you to becoming lost and disoriented - a terrifying feeling when you have limited resources and lack of survival knowledge. Always stay on trail and remember to take a map and digital GPS tool. It also may be a good idea to carry a device such as the Garmin inReach. That way, if you do become stranded, you can signal for help.

Avoid Getting Lost On The Trail

To avoid getting lost on the trail in the first place:

• You should constantly check for landmarks

• Look behind you to get a glimpse of the path from the opposite direction in case you need to turn around

• review your map regularly, use your compass and map to triangulate your location

• use your compass to confirm the direction of travel

• pay attention to the time so you have an idea of when you should see or approach certain landmarks based on their distance.

What To Do If You Get Lost While Hiking

If you find yourself lost on the trail you will want to improve your chances of getting found.

To improve your chances of getting found if lost while hiking you should:

• Stop

• Signal for help

• Make yourself visible

• Collect essentials to prepare for survival

• Start a fire

• Get to an open area

• Use human formations and structures to signal for help

Stop

Do not keep moving.  It is a common urge to keep moving but that can induce further panic.  Rather, sit down, get some food and water into your system and think about the last time you knew you were for sure on the trail.  Perhaps you took recent pictures, review those to see if any significant structure or waypoint can be seen.  If you can safely get back to trail then do so.

Signal For Help

In our 11 essentials for hiking we highlight the importance of bringing a whistle.  It is so important we expanded the 10 essentials of hiking to 11 - number 11 being the whistle or other signaling instrument.  In survival, you may lose your voice but it does not take much vocal strength to blow a whistle.  

Another option some hikers carry is a smoke flare. A brightly colored flare makes for great contrast against the blue sky and earthly tones that an eye in sky sees via helicopter.

Of course, if you are in need of assistance and happen to be in range of a cellular tower then 911 is your best option!  Another device that can help signal for help is a satellite communication device such as the Garmin inReach. This device can send your geo location to a search and rescue team. Some device even allow for two way communication!

Make Yourself Visible

Bust out those bright colors and let them be seen. Try to find open area where air rescue can easily see your and your brightly colored accessories. Try to make yourself as big and obvious as possible

Collect Essentials To Prepare For Survival

Well, it is now dusk and it appears you need to hunker down for the night. First thing is first, let’s gather some firewood to start a fire. Secondly, you will want to try and find water the next morning. You can last weeks without food but only two to three days without water. In a true survival situation most experts will advise to drink the cleanest water you can find even without purification. However, if you follow our 11 essentials guideline, you should have ample purification options to survive days in the wilderness.

Start A Fire

Talk about a psychological boost. Fire can bring both warmth and happiness.  It can even help sterilize water provided you have the right equipment. It can also assist with cooking meals thoroughly, especially if you find yourself hunting for food.

Get To An Open Area

It might be tempting to stay by a water source but, if that water source is a running river it might drown out any distress calls you send out. Additionally, placing yourself in an open area allows you to be more visible from the sky.  Once you are in the open area, make yourself as big as possible and wave around any bright color clothing you might have when a helicopter is in the area. Remember, if you can not set the helicopter it surely can not see you!

Use Human Formation And Structures To Signal Help

Use anything and everything at your disposal to let a search and rescue team know you are in need of help. Aligning rocks to spell ‘HELP’ or even the classic ‘X’ will let rescue teams know they are in the right area.  Snow on the ground you say? Spell the word ‘HELP’ in the snow. You would think human tracks would be enough but, in certain areas where snow is always present, there is no telling how fresh or old the tracks are.  

Conclusion

Getting lost while hiking or backpacking can be jarring. However, with the right level of preparedness, equipment and knowledge you can prevent yourself from becoming lost or give yourself the best chance for survival in a situation where you become stranded. Let us know in the comments below if you have ever been lost on the trail and what steps you took to regain composure and find your way back to safety!

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