Find the trail when LOST--no compass, map, or GPS

Рет қаралды 8,355

2 жыл бұрын

If you walk into the woods and get lost or turned around, you will want to know this. No need for a map, compass, or GPS to re-find the trail. Learn what to do when you're lost and how to navigate in the woods.
You might also be interested in these videos:
How to Use a Compass When Lost: Safety Bearings.
• How to use a compass w...
3 Exercises: Learning How to Use a Compass.
• 3 Exercises: Learning ...
Orienteering playlist:
• Get Lost!...then find ...
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Day Pack equipment:
Suunto MC-2 USGS Compass:
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Pink Flagging (tougher and brighter)
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Garmin GPS
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SOL Space Blanket for 1
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SOL Space Blanket for 2
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AMC Mountain Skills Manual
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Waterproof lighter
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Spyderco folding knife
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Aqua Mira water treatment
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Katadyn BeFree filter
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First Aid Kit
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Petzl Headlamp
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Frogg Toggs rain gear
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Garmin InReach
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Osprey Stratos 24 backpack (I couldn't find it in orange)
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Filmed with a GoPro Hero 7 Black (available here):
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Adventures In Reach (AIR) hopes to expand what adventures are possible for you, teach the skills to help make that happen, inspire you to get out of a rut, and increase your confidence outdoors. We encourage you to challenge yourself and try something new, from a backyard adventure to an expedition. Although all outdoor adventures are fair game, AIR generally focuses on small sailboat or Sunfish sailboat sailing and camping, rappelling, knots, ropes, hammock camping, outdoor adventures with dogs, compass orienteering, canoeing, wilderness travel, outdoor gear, camping, hiking, and cold weather camping and survival.
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My name is Matt, and my experience includes:
--6+ years of Search & Rescue
--Thru-hiking the 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail
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#lost #lostinthewoods #navigation #orienteering #survival #outdoors #hiking

Пікірлер: 71

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

You might also be interested in these videos: How to Use a Compass When Lost: Safety Bearings. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hLVjnrR2tZ-toWg.html 3 Exercises: Learning How to Use a Compass. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m5mqob2AyrWwlZc.html Orienteering playlist: kzfaq.info/sun/PLNcpRGw7T0bhJbOc5SaMyqn_j37kmI60I

@tomhenderson7972 7 ай бұрын

As a kid, I lived on a mining claim in the mountains of Northern California. I learned to walk point to point. When you reach a point, look back at your starting point and ahead to your next point. I got lost a lot of times hunting, but it wasn't a big deal because I understood what to do. Your points are all good.

@AdventuresInReach 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching. Sounds like you have the experience.

@tomhenderson7972 5 ай бұрын

@AdventuresInReach I also learned that it is normal for a right-handed person to take a slightly longer step with their right foot, so point to point will keep you from going in a circle.

@clivedunning4317 5 ай бұрын

@@tomhenderson7972 To back up what you are saying ! In the early 1970s I was a army recruit. On a training exercise in Germany the sargeant had about 100 of us following him in a long snake. It was pitch black and a star less night. We had to go through a long,dense, wood to reach a road, to where the trucks would pick us up. As the distance involved was small and obviously being overconfident , the sgt didn't take a bearing. Progress through the wood was very slow. I was near the front of the snake ; as we emerged from the wood we could see the end of the snake just entering the wood. We had walked around in a complete circle ! Attempt number two , on a compass bearing, went a lot better !

@ellengriffin2143 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic, exactly what I was looking for! I've read so many preachy comments on hiking blogs after someone gets lost and either is/isn't found. They usually are along the lines of: "they didn't use their compass and common sense" or "they didn't follow a stream". But there is so little basic instruction in these techniques, so I really appreciate your videos, especially from someone with SAR experience. The flagging tape is so lightweight and easy to carry, I'll quickly be adding that to my pack. I've really only been super lost one time due to a trail closure/re-route, and it's amazing how quickly your heart rate goes up and panic sets in. The advice to just stop and breathe and think is indeed the most important.

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I'm excited to hear that you're learning some useful tips from my videos. It's certainly easy for people to criticize when you weren't in the situation and I truly believe that even seemingly simple skills can become difficult and hasty when needed in the moment. Stopping, breathing, and thinking is by far the best tool.

@danieldeviers9934 Ай бұрын

I got lost on my way to the like button, but with your guidance I found it.

@AdventuresInReach Ай бұрын

Great comment

@alexblue6991 11 ай бұрын

A few years ago my wife and I went out for our usual forest hike every weekend we were so confident we didn't take a compass or mobile phone we left them in the car only this day we had a heavy snow storm everywhere looked so different all the trails and paths got covered very quickly it took a few hours before we found our way back to the car Alec from Scotland

@AdventuresInReach 11 ай бұрын

Being lost is scary. If I'm going any distance I always take my daypack were my compass and survival essentials live. I use it for everything--hiking, mountain biking, skiing...and always have the essentials in addition to whatever is needed for that activity. It's amazing how quickly it can change some days.

@chaco973 6 ай бұрын

Good video man

@stacysmeader6228 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Clear and precise.

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@cashroyale9001 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome info. Thank You

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

Happy to have you watching, and I really appreciate the comments!

@rafaelrivera5020 Жыл бұрын

Great video, I got lost with my son this weekend while on his archery cow elk hunt, we hiked in a wooded forest chasing elk 1.8 miles from our parked truck, we got lost. We hiked back and found a forest rd and a kind hunter in truck gave us a ride back to our truck. We were 1.5 miles away from our truck when we got lost, very scary situation, wouldn't wish on my worst enemy

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

It certainly is scary getting lost. I've been there myself. Fortunately, skills like this helped me figure it out. Stay safe out there.

@edwarddemedeiros3607 6 ай бұрын

Awesome informational video!

@AdventuresInReach 6 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

@nature_photography_yukon 2 жыл бұрын

Helpful, thank you!

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful.

@3AlarmBushcraft 4 ай бұрын

Excellent training. My only addition to people reading the comments is when you leave your pack to circle, make SURE you take fire ,shelter and water filter with you just in case you look back and have lost sight of your pack and cant find it. Now you’re lost again. Otherwise you would have nothing and are worse off than before.

@AdventuresInReach 3 ай бұрын

Good tip. I certainly advocate for staying in site for this whole process and not pressing your luck with getting too far away where the bag/bandana/flagging/bright object isn't getting difficult to see. That being said, you probably can't be too careful in these situations.

@armorvestrus4119 Жыл бұрын

This is a great video that could save a life. Cheers to you for posting this.❤👍

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

That was the hope. I've found a couple people with search and rescue who could have used this method to find there own way back.

@trailblazermatt Жыл бұрын

Good, practical advise.

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

I hope it helps you. Thanks!

@likachan7740 2 жыл бұрын

thanks learn a lot

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Always glad to hear that these are helpful and educational. Let me know if you have any questions.

@jeannettemcgrath2248 2 жыл бұрын

Cool. I like these more broad idea videos that help on a multitude of adventures

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I think these are useful as well. Let me know if you have ideas along this line.

@laraferreyra3382 4 ай бұрын

Great video! Subscribed

@AdventuresInReach 3 ай бұрын

Welcome! Thanks for watching. Here's my orienteering playlist if you're interested. I have a couple more coming in the near future. kzfaq.info/sun/PLNcpRGw7T0bhJbOc5SaMyqn_j37kmI60I

@xionix4 Жыл бұрын

I love this. Not even knowing your cardinal directions, still navigating relative to your current location to probe until you can find your way again... Great stuff.

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

Absolutely. It can be quite helpful and is really quite simple. I've found a few people with search and rescue that could have benefited from this knowledge.

@sujit-vl1kd 2 жыл бұрын

So nice thanks from India

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I hope it's helpful.

@danjarvis6980 10 ай бұрын

I once read that Apache Indians when tracking, if they lost the tracks would stop, then begin a very slow walk in an ever expanding circular spiral from their present location until they cut trail again. A book some may enjoy is " The Tracker " by Tom Brown, describing his early training for wilderness survival.

@cmcer1995 7 ай бұрын

I agree with your method of trying to find your way back especially with the four directions. I also think hiking with a fanny pack with essentials so if you drop your pack to find a place to relieve yourself you will still have some essentials. I recall a KZfaq story of a woman hiking with a group that went off trail to use the bathroom and got turned around and never found her way back, and ultimately perished.

@AdventuresInReach 6 ай бұрын

When guiding I've had people tell me they could find their way back to the shore of a lake no problem. We blindfolded and let them 50 yards into the woods with thick underbrush, and watched them try to find their way back. After 45 minutes of wandering around they gave up and we led them out. It's pretty easy to get turned around...especially if you don't have the knowledge.

@ymcaclimb 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video! I’m going to try this technique out! I have been lost in the woods, with children! Fortunately with a map and compass, plenty of food and good shelter. We found our way within half an hour, and it was an adventure! Thanks for the info!

@AdventuresInReach 2 жыл бұрын

Did you get my response a while back? I responded yet it still shows up in my "haven't responded" list. You might also want to check out my safety bearing video if you haven't already.

@ymcaclimb 2 жыл бұрын

@@AdventuresInReach yes I did, thanks. Will check out the other video too.

@TimKaseyMythHealer 10 ай бұрын

We all have cell phones, take a picture of waypoints as you go along. Also, I have a food/cooking timer I brought with me for a hiking trip, and I used it to make sure I took rest stops. I believe a timer going off every 10 minutes to 30 minutes will give you a great short term memory of what direction you came from, and how long you walked in that direction. Essential information for simply “undoing” a bad direction change. Oh, I wanted to respond to the “follow a stream” … you do this in the Columbia gorge, and it will walk you right off a waterfall, especially if you are walking at night.

@drz400pa5 4 ай бұрын

What if your cellphone battery dies?

@TimKaseyMythHealer 4 ай бұрын

@@drz400pa5 Take a phone charger with you.

@clivedunning4317 5 ай бұрын

Just one safety comment. Always, always have a good quality whistle on your pack or about your person. ACR or ACME have the best , in my opinion.

@AdventuresInReach 4 ай бұрын

Agreed. I certainly carry one. I actually have a bag of them and pass them out when I lead trips.

@clivedunning4317 4 ай бұрын

@@AdventuresInReach Thanks for your reply. I always carry two. One on my person and an additional one on the outside of my pack, attached by a small lanyard as per advice from The Scottish Mountaineering Council (I live in Scotland) so it can be accessed even if your hands/arms are broken or pinned down.

@kennethlapointesongwriter3330 Жыл бұрын

Yes, constantly look back, and remember which way you turned onto each different trail (left or right or straight) so you can reverse that when you go back on your trail. If lost, make your lost spot 'home', then with flagging tape (one orange backpack is very limited) start taking longer and longer jaunts out from 'home' like the spokes of wheel, and flagging each jaunt (so you can get back to 'home'. One of them will sooner or later take you back to your trail.

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! That's much of what I demonstrated and described in this video.

@mwallace6540 2 ай бұрын

I mark with TP in the trees so once I find trail I don’t have to retrieve orange tape…but have to attach TP so it won’t blow away.

@AdventuresInReach 2 ай бұрын

That's a great idea. In 99% of cases I'm an advocate of leave no trace. If someone is truly lost and needs to leave a trace in order to survive, I believe it's fair game, including leaving flagging in the trees.

@ihadadream-itsgonenow 4 ай бұрын

I did similar to you once, but had nothing on me. Scary and i only lived 500 m away from home ! Use your watch as compass even with error. Or, ALWAYS CARRY A HOMING PIGEON ON TOP OF YOUR KIT BAG. ATTACH WATCH TO PIGEON. WIFE WILL SAY THANKS AND SEND A SEARCH PARTY OR JUST SAY THANKS FOR THE WATCH ?

@rcjames5286 Жыл бұрын

👍👍

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

I hope you never have to use it...but I've found a few people with Search and Rescue who certainly could have to get themselves out.

@pirsensor1186 2 ай бұрын

All you need is a timer to make a rough estimate of where north is. If you are on the northern hemisphere then you know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. So let's say the sun rises rise at 6 a.m. in the east, then the sun rises at 9 a.m. in the east/south and at 12 a.m. in the south and at 3 p.m. in the south/west and at 6 p.m. the sun sets in the west. If you look at your watch at 2:00 PM, if you are lost, you know that the sun is no longer in the south but is turning towards the south/west and with that knowledge you can determine north. And now you wonder what if the sun is not shining, then I will give you this answer. Where the sun shines (even if it hides behind a cloud), the sky is usually brighter than the rest of the environment in the sky.

@AdventuresInReach 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely. That certainly works when the sun is out or the clouds are thin enough to see where it is. Days with thick clouds are hard to tell.

@ecospider5 Жыл бұрын

I'm currently lost in the woods. And I found this video. I tried everything you said but I can't find my way back. I am getting a little scared at this point. I guess I should call my spouse and have them tell me which way to walk. 🌲🐿🌿🍁🎒

@AdventuresInReach Жыл бұрын

Good luck!

@ecospider5 Жыл бұрын

Now I have been walking toward the sun for almost a day. I feel like I’m walking in circles.

@ecospider5 Жыл бұрын

Now I have been walking toward the sun for almost a day. I feel like I’m walking in circles.

@michelecapucci7840 Жыл бұрын

Underrated answer

@armorvestrus4119 8 ай бұрын

In your video, the bright blue shirt would have been better than the backpack it stands out more from all the other colors. If it had been in the summer the orange would have been great but not in the fall. I like bright yellow or blue, but it depends on what you can see the best at a distance. Cheers to a good man.

@AdventuresInReach 8 ай бұрын

Absolutely. That's a great reminder. I showed with the backpack, but certainly any equipment including your clothing is fair game for this exercise. Thank you for the comment!