I have seen so many people get turned around and they spend hours finding where they are, how off course they have become, and have to setup a make shift camp before they get to their destination. Most people think that their cell phone or GPS units will get them to their destination, until there is a failure of those items in one way or another, and they go off course, and now they are lost.
I have yet to have my GPS unit fail on me and I have ample power with proper maps loaded in the unit so I never get lost. That being said, I still have a weatherproof paper map scaled for my compass and I have the orienteering and navigation skills to find my way no matter what. So how do you get those skills?
I can write a good book on Orienteering and Navigation, and maybe I will someday. But for all of you out there, go take an Orienteering and Navigation class. There are many places that offer it, and it is a must to never be lost again. I do recommend taking the class, learning everything (and remembering it all) and go out and practice in small geographical areas, and expand as necessary when practicing.
Being lost has many issues, like lack of water and food, and when it gets dark, shelter and fire. And if your cell phone or GPS unit fails, you can’t even contact anyone to tell them you are lost, unless you have either a satellite phone or a satellite messaging device (hopefully your GPS unit isn’t the satellite messaging device) to communicate.
If you don’t know what orienteering and navigation is or how to use those techniques, go take a class as soon as possible and never be lost again.
