Perhaps the greatest cause of one’s being lost after separation from party is that during ensemble travel the leader is the only one who sees the landmarks. Upon leaving the camp place or headquarter’s point one should note the landscape and know absolutely the direction he is taking, otherwise his compass will be of little value even though he can see the sun and knows that if, he points the hour hand of his watch to it, half way between that point and twelve o’clock he is directed south.
A lost man has a tendency to travel in a circle which is explained by some as being due to the fact that most men step farther with one foot than with the other. It can be avoided by selecting some distant object, walking straight to it, picking out another in the same line of travel and continuing to do this until one has arrived somewhere. One has the satisfaction of knowing that he will not find himself at the place he started from a short time previously. The compass then is invaluable and its directions must under no circumstances be questioned.
To further prevent the possibility of losing one’s self he should blaze the trail as he tries to travel out and keep straight with the compass if there is no sun, moon or stars to act as guides. One cannot depend much on Nature’s signs such as the preponderance of tree limbs on the south side, moss on the north side, etc. In a country that has been lumbered over old trails and woods roads should be followed down hill as the lowlands and water courses are the invariable destination of logs and these old trails and tote roads usually guide the traveler to some lumber camp or clearing from which a well defined road is apt to lead. As a last resort strike running water and follow it tenaciously. In it and along its shore the wanderer may perchance find food, he may possibly launch a raft upon it and he certainly will not die of thirst.
If you find yourself hopelessly lost the first thing to do is to keep cool and avoid panic for the greatest danger is fear which robs one of his judgment. If you are near a party and have a gun shoot twice in succession repeating after long waits.[1] Smoke distress signals are made by starting two green stuff fires about fifty feet apart. Get on a high point for a lookout.