Here's a good question to ponder and perhaps some subject matter for shared experiences. Has this ever happened to you? Being lost in unfamiliar territory can be an extremely frightening experience.
It can be one of those situations where a small amount of knowledge can go a long way. Fear itself is often our worst enemy if and when we find ourselves lost. Fear can drive away reason where training and knowledge tell us otherwise.
Getting Lost As A Child
We've most likely all had this experience at least once in our childhood. Whether at an amusement park or in a large busy shopping center, it's one of a parents worst fears.
Are they lost? Did somebody take them? Are they hurt? These questions and hundreds more pop into a parents' mind when their child is lost. For myself, remembering back, the experience was equally as terrifying.
I got lost at Disneyland, which must have scared the poopsy out of mom and dad. It's probably closer to the truth that I was in no real danger. Disney is prepared to the teeth for such events.
Not Far From The Campsite, But Can't Find The Way Back
It's this kind of thing that can really freak a person out. You've got your flashlight (I hope) and have to go relieve yourself in the dark of night. It's important to not do your business near the camp, so you go a few extra dozen yards.
Your flashlight works well to see what's in front of you but doesn't illuminate enough of the surrounding area to see the way you came from. Boots can go running at a time like this!
Most of us have the sense to settle down our nerves and stay put until the way becomes clear. Running might lead you back to camp but odds are you'll end up even more lost.
"Hug a Tree" are three words to live by when you lose your bearings.
Lost On The Water
The saying is lost at sea but there are lakes the size of which a sailor could get lost for days. A certain fishing charter we were on took us 100 miles out to sea. When we awoke, the navigation system was completely down.
That was a bit concerning until the Captain assured us he had radio, emergency GPS, and a compass (of course). Even without a navigator, we would have made land. And we were capable of alerting the Coast Guard should we have needed them.
I've never been lost at sea, though I have had some nasty riptides try to sweep me away. Personally, I can't think of a worse place to be lost or stranded.
Smoke Signals, Reflections, Flares & Whistles
Once we discover that we are lost, these are a few of the tools at our disposal to aid our chances of rescue. If you managed to get off your vessel and into a life raft, you probably have a flare. Using the flare gun at the right time is essential, if a plane or ship should appear.
Being lost while camping as a kid taught me how to use that whistle! I blew as loud as I could and it worked. Our camp was just past a couple trees and my father came laughing. "Is everything all right over here?"
Reflections have to be a last resort of a method to attract attention. Catching the light at just the right angle seems even trickier than it sounds. I'd definitely try it and everything else at my disposal if I needed to. Except maybe smoke rings.
Smoke rings require the right kind of damp fuel to add to the fire. Piles of green pine needles is a good example as it will produce billowing white smoke on top of a burning fire.
But not all places are suitable for building a big fire. You might get away with a small one but burning the forest down will diminish your chances of survival.
No Trail Off The Mormon Battalion Trail
This was an interesting hike we had while I was in the Boy Scouts. It was supposed to go from Friday until Sunday morning, a hike along a portion of the trail. Problem was, the plan on the map didn't match reality.
Reality was that the spot our leaders had chosen for pickup wasn't on a part of the trail where we could get down. The trial was up high on a hillside with brush thicket preventing any way down.
So what did we talk out leaders into letting us do? We dressed up in our heaviest clothes like an Antifa squad and bombed through the thicket to the road below.
Surviving The Elements....
I'm not going to touch this right now because there's more than enough about surviving the wilderness for a couple more posts. Each different earth environment could take up a thousand words easily.
I will say this as a lead in and most of us are likely aware of it. A person can live about two weeks without food but only two to three days without water. Survival is all about priorities.
Share Your Lost Experience
Can you remember back to such a circumstance in your own life? I think mine are rather humorous now, though they weren't at all at the time. Tell us a tale in the comments if you have the gumption...
Thanks for reading and Happy Hiveing!!
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