Lost in the wild

The old saying is; “When you’re lost in the wild, your best bet is to find water, follow it downstream until it becomes a creek, then a river, and your sure to find civilization”. This is great advice, unless you’re lost in the upper regions of Canada, with more fresh water streams, rivers, and lakes than you can poke a stick at. What if you follow a stream, and after hours of winding back and forth along its banks, you find yourself at the shore of a remote lake? I would say, that finding water should be a top priority, but you might not always find the salvation you’re looking for by following a stream or river. When you’re in the mountains a river may just lead you to tall waterfall, with towering cliffs on either side. Following a stream beats wandering through the woods hopelessly lost though if self rescue is your best option.

If you are truly lost in the wild then your best bet is to find a location, relatively close to where you first realize that you are in fact lost, and stay put. Generally, this location should provide a few basic needs. First of all, you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that you may be at this location for at least a few days. Once you’ve accepted this fact you’ll be better mentally prepared for your next decisions. Most people would assume rescue by the end of the day, or maybe during the night. The reality is that it would probably be late afternoon, or later, before anyone even realizes that something’s wrong. By the time the authorities are brought in it may even be too dark to search for you. So, assume that you’ll spend a the night, and maybe even two, and then hope for the best.

An ideal survival location will provide you with a water source most importantly, building materials to build a rough shelter, and a clearing very nearby so that your rescuers can spot you, or your signal, from the air. Although I totally agree that the first thing you should do when lost is to find a nearby water source, it may not always be the best idea to follow it. Provided that rescue is probable, you should always be focused on staying put, as soon as you find a location that can provide the basics for you. It’s a proven fact that the chances of someone finding you go way up when you just stay in one spot and let them come to you.