Don't Get LostBy Shawn Van Tassell
©Copyright 2009, The Varmint Hunters Association, Inc.
I had been wandering in the woods of North Carolina for nearly seven hours. The miserable, wet, black night had been spent running into fallen trees and stepping into holes. A heavy layer of clouds was still hanging around from the wicked thunderstorm that slashed through hours earlier. I was desperately trying to keep my map dry, and all of my faith was hanging on the little tritium-filled compass that diligently pointed north. I had walked close to 10 miles, and had several more to go.
This is a screen capture taken from www.mapquest.com. I often use the “Aerial” feature on the map page to get a feel for the vegetation in the area. As you can see in this map of a location outside of Fort Bridger, Wyoming, this area is pretty barren.
This is when the thought occurred to me, “Boy, wouldn’t it be the pits to get lost out here?”
I was right in the middle of the land navigation course at the U.S. Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, and luckily I knew exactly where I was, exactly where I was going, and exactly how to get there.
Unfortunately, of the millions of people who enjoy being outdoors, we continually hear of tragic stories about people getting lost — some never making it home. If you’ve ever spent any time in the outdoors, I’m sure that you’ve been a “little” disoriented a time or two yourself. I know I have — and I know that I don’t like it. At best, getting lost may mean you have to walk an extra mile or two to get back to camp or your vehicle. At worst, it can mean getting stranded for days and ultimately succumbing to the elements.
There are several reasons people get lost, and when two or more of these factors work together you can find yourself in serious trouble. These factors include: being in unfamiliar territory; losing track of your current location; getting distracted by chasing game or following tracks; trying to navigate by instinct; being unprepared for harsh weather conditions; and panicking once you realize you are lost.
Even though Mother Nature seems to hold the upper hand, there are a few things we can do before setting out on our next outdoor adventure to ensure we have an enjoyable experience, and not wind up as the objective of the local search and rescue team.
1. Always Have A Map Of The Area
One of the most basic items you always should have with you is a map of the area. Even if you are only going on a day hike on a clearly marked path, it is a good idea to have a map. Let’s look at what a map actually is, and why it is so beneficial.
Some tools of the trade (starting at top, going clockwise). Suunto wrist compass, $25.00; Military Lensatic compass, $70.00; Digital Compass, $40.00; Garmin E-trex Vista with Map Source software, $300.00. Not getting lost on your next adventure … priceless.
To really understand map reading, you first must understand that a map is nothing more than a two-dimensional depiction of three-dimensional terrain. Everything from a road atlas, to a military topographical map, to over-flight imagery, maps are simply graphical representations of the earth’s surface. One of the most beneficial types of maps to use for hunting is a topographical map. A topo map represents the terrain through the use of contour lines. A single contour line shows a specific elevation, while many contour lines show the difference in elevation at a specified interval. For example, a map with a contour interval of 10 meters will show a contour line for each 10 meters of elevation gained or lost. In practical terms, the closer the contour lines, the steeper the grade. Conversely, the farther apart the contour lines, the more level the terrain. Once this concept is understood, map reading becomes a simple visualization exercise to see the two-dimensional map as three-dimensional terrain.
This is an example of a National Geographic Topographic map. These are the most detailed maps I’ve been able to find. The great thing about this map is the ability to pick and choose the areas you want printed out. This enables you to carry a normal-sized piece of paper of your specific hunting area instead of some big multi-fold map of the entire state. Additionally, the contour shading really helps the user visualize the terrain.
You can obtain topographical maps from many sources. Some of the best topo maps I’ve found are produced by National Geographic. There are two ways to get these maps. First, you can buy the software and run it on your home PC, and then print a map for whichever particular area you choose. This is very convenient, and very pricey. The software is packaged by state, and each state sells for about $100.00. For someone like me, that can get very expensive considering I hunted in four states over the Christmas holiday last year. The second option is to find one of the free-standing National Geographic map kiosks at certain sporting goods stores that allow the user to select a particular area, and then print the map for that area on the spot. These maps cost only a few dollars, and the cool thing is they’re printed on waterproof paper for added durability. This is a handy way to get a highly detailed, area specific map at a great price. The only downfall is sometimes it’s hard to find a store with these kiosks.
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