“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir
Orientation
Learning to read a map
Reading a map is an essential prerequisite for any hike. You can directly see my article on it: Knowing how to read a map (Norwegian) and understand the terrain
These maps feature contour lines that allow, with a bit of practice, to mentally visualize the "shape" of the terrain: the dips, the rises, the mountains, and the valleys. Reading the contour lines should "speak" to you, enabling you to determine a route and a schedule. Practice in places you know perfectly, until you can "see" the landscape in three dimensions.
Estimate your rate of progress
About 4 kilometers per hour for a walker, 300 to 400 meters of positive elevation gain per hour, and 600 to 800 meters downhill... Experience should lead you to establish benchmarks for your pace and, thus, to more easily estimate your travel times. Practically, if you are lost, one hour of walking from the last known point means you can draw a "circle of uncertainty" with a radius of four kilometers on the map around that known point to help orient yourself.
Have fun counting your steps over a specific distance (between two kilometer markers, for example). This will be useful the day you need to find a shelter in the fog, which the map locates 700 m to the southeast.
Never lose your way with the stars
Guiding oneself by the stars? Polaris, also known as the North Star, is the brightest star at the end of the "tail" of the Little Dipper. It is the only star that appears to have a fixed point in the sky, which is explained by its position above the geographic north, the direction of the North Pole.
If you can't find it, you can use other constellations like the Big Dipper to locate it. Find the Big Dipper, which looks like a ladle, and imagine the soup it is pouring. By following the hypothetical space soup, you will arrive directly at the North Star. If you see a constellation that looks like a "W," you have found Cassiopeia and you are too far away. Move up a bit to spot Polaris, comfortably nestled between the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia.
Stay connected
A compass does the job perfectly, easy to use, but who doesn't have a smartphone these days? And its array of features that have become so useful in the field for navigation: GPS, magnetic compass, mapping applications... Except that a phone with a dead battery won't be of any service to you, and that outside of GSM / 4G coverage, its functions suddenly become drastically limited.
On the battery side, we will therefore bring a small USB battery to ensure we are covered, or even a mini solar panel. As for offline features, we will make sure to preload the maps in the cache of our mapping app, or even take a few screenshots of the areas we will be exploring.
Look for intermediate landmarks
In compass navigation, one quickly encounters intermediate landmarks. Once the general direction of your destination is defined on the map and then transferred to the terrain, you will note, in extension, the various characteristic points located in that direction: a tree, a mountain, a rock, etc.
These intermediate points (the tree, the rock…) will allow you, once reached, to be certain that you are on the right course even when your distant landmark (the mountain) disappears due to the terrain. In reality, you will break down your route from one notable (and identifiable) point to another notable point, just like a road GPS does, from intersection to intersection.
I am lost
Keeping your cool: the basics when you're lost while hiking
Easier said than done, keeping your cool is undoubtedly the first reflex to have if you get lost during your hike. If you realize your wrong trajectory, take a few minutes to think calmly: should you continue on your path, or turn back? Should you call for help? Can you locate your position in relation to your surroundings? Many questions can clutter your mind, and the best way to answer them is to keep a cool head. Once you have assessed your situation, two options are available to you: find your way back or wait for help.
Trying to find one's way
Getting lost while hiking is not always a foregone conclusion. If you can keep a cool head, you might even find your way back on your own. Several options are available to you.
As soon as you notice your mistake in the path, stop. There's no need to continue on the road you have taken. Turn around and try to find the place where you went the wrong way.
-Check your map: As a good, cautious hiker, you have taken the map of your hike. A great idea, if you know how to read it, of course. This map can help you determine your position and the way to get back safely. An essential, then.
-Use your compass: Another asset to have in your pocket when heading out for a hike is the compass. It not only helps you identify your position but also keeps you on the right course. When used together with the map, you maximize your chances of finding your way.
-Use a GPS or mobile apps: As a proper 2.0 hiker, you never leave without your GPS or your fully charged mobile phone. Whether it's the GPS or a mobile app, you'll be able to easily retrace your steps. Especially if you've downloaded maps directly onto your device – it won't need a network to navigate. Some apps also allow you to mark the location of your vehicle, your shelter, or other points of interest. Don't hesitate to do this before heading out for a hike. Fortunately, the network coverage in Norway is quite good, so you won't have any issues with your phone.
The flow of water is an excellent way to find your way while hiking. Rivers and other streams usually lead to the valley and nearby villages. So, you just need to follow the current. However, stay alert because the path is not always accessible in the mountains. Don't get hurt.
Waiting for help, another solution
You are truly lost and you do not feel capable of finding your way back on your own. Check that you have network coverage on your mobile phone. Contact emergency services (112) and provide them with as much information as possible about your location. Make sure you have enough battery to enable location services.
-Stay warm: If you decide to wait for help, you need to make sure to stay healthy. Rescue teams may take time to find you, so it's better to be well-equipped to stay warm, in particular. In the mountains, or elsewhere, body temperature can drop quickly if you wait too long, especially if night begins to fall. If you packed your hiking bag meticulously, you should have what you need to make a fire, as well as a survival blanket, and if you really have the knowledge, build a makeshift shelter, especially in case of rain and snowstorm.
-Stay hydrated: In winter, the feeling of thirst is less pronounced when temperatures are low. Yet, you can still become dehydrated. While you can survive several days without food, the same is not true if you lack water. So, remember to hydrate while waiting for help to arrive. Additionally, don't forget that a lack of water increases the risk of hypothermia.
-Signal your presence: Rescue services are informed, but they still need to determine your location. Therefore, you need to find ways to signal your presence in the mountains. You can opt for a fire, which will also help keep you warm. If you can't make a fire because the wood is too wet, for example, don't panic. A flashlight can do the trick by signaling with: 3 short - 3 long - 3 short (S-O-S), which you can also produce with a mirror. If you brought a whistle with you, now is the time to use it. Wear colorful and highly visible clothing as well. Another tip: gather wood around you and arrange branches to spell out an SOS message, so you can be located from the sky.
What you also need to know are the very important rules of 3 in survival that you will find by clicking on it: The rules of 3 in survival
Thank you for reading this article, I hope you enjoyed it.