Sometimes, you're lost in the forest because of being absorbed in your investigating job or pursuing the trail of the prey; or you are slow-paced and then losing track of your group but nobody know about it; or while going camping, you are washed away by a flood to the place that you don't know and you lose all of your luggage. You might also worry about running away from your enemy, or "wild animals" and then fall into a completely strange place, etc.
LOST BUT NOBODY SEARCHING FOR YOU.
In case there is some reason that you lost, but nobody know to organize the search; and because you are not prepare for necessary items (or if you have, it is not sufficient), so you must set the top goal of getting out of the danger zone as soon as possible; you should look for the shortest way to guide you to the nearest neighborhood or the safe area.
Therefore, with any of your strength, ability and intelligence, you have to stay focus on finding the way to escape. If after two or three day you still cannot get out, you will feel worried and puzzled, even lose your control which lead to deterioration from physical to spiritual. This is the taboo for person who is lost.
In a panic, you will no long be calm to consider carefully, so it will lead to your wandering around the forest. Sometimes, you may return to the position where you started. According to the scientist, this phenomenon is explained as follow: normally our two steps are not equal - one is short and another is long. On the way, we automatically adjust the direction of the road. In the forest, we often go by instinct so we tend to go in circles.
Here, we do not question whether it is right or wrong, that just to remind you to pay attention. This is a real phenomenon and very common. When you are in a case like this, you will be very worried and fearful, even depressed, lose your mind and will. It is very harmful and more dangerous than famine and disease. When you lose all your survival instinct and energy, it means you are waiting for death.
Hence, to escape quickly out of the strange zone, you should be very calm to find out direction; because usually in this case, you are not very far away from the residential area.
Orientation - Get the direction
Even you have a compass, it is useless if you do not know which direction you have to follow (in this case, a compass is only useful if you know which way direct to the residential area. Or if you have a map, you have to know which position you are on the map)
Now, just consider you don't have a compass or map, so what should we do to get the right direction - and this direction should be the shortest and lead to the nearest residential area.
To do that, you have many ways:
Firstly, you find and select the highest point in the zone such as: tall trees, top of the hills, stone aggregate, etc, to climb to observe. (It will be very difficult if you are in a plain old forest, because when you climb up, you may not see anything but the trees)
When climbing, to be safe, you should climb close to the trunk, put the foot close to the armpits of the tree branch; your hands cling to the reliable branches; and your body should be always in 3-point bearing (1 leg and 2 arms, or 1 arms and 2 legs)
In the morning (or daylight), you can see some characteristics of residential areas such as: towers, buildings, houses, fields, smoke from chimneys, etc.
In the evening (or at night), you can see fire, electric light, etc. At the residential place, even it is far, it still has light throwing to the sky.
If the residential area is nearby, you can hear some big sound like a horn, or train horn.
Once you are able to orient the direction, you only need to be highly decisive and have some specialized skills to rescue from the risk.
However, if you don't hear or see anything, what should you do?
Try to find a stream or a river and follow along the direction of flowing water downstream. Normally, it is not that easy because the stream never flows in a straight line, so your moving schedule will be much longer. Moreover, on the two side of river, trees are often very dense, which make you difficult to move. It can be said that the safest way is not the shortest way.
If that is a shallow stream, you can go in the middle of the stream; it is not only easier to move, but also raise the chance of seeing a larger stream or river (and you will have more opportunity to find water in the pools or small vessels). When you get to the river, if possible, you can make raft to float on the river.
To find a river or stream, you can climb up a high point to observe. If you see anywhere which has a row of tree run along (especially in the dry season, hopefully there are streams or rivers), or as you move down along the mountain slopes, you will be able to fine small streams. Follow the flow, you may see a larger river.
We move along the stream because almost all the streams are heading to the rivers; and along the river, there are often some residential area or fishing village; or you may see fisherman's boat, and you will have chance to be rescued.
While moving, if you see a path, your luck will be multiplied. However, you have to see carefully if the path is new or old, and if it was create by human or animals, and if it leads to the forest or the residential area (you can guess by watching the turn of the path branch; if it heads to the jungle, it will look like an agreement V; conversely, if it leads to the residential area, it will look like inverted V letter). If you cannot guess, you can move until you see a stream cut across a trail, you can stay there during waiting for someone come across. Here, you have water and you can also find something to eat along the stream.
If you think you still have ability, after resting and preparing enough water to bring along, you can continue your way. Please believe that the residential area is not far away. Be patient and you will be rescued.
< To be continued...>
2 comments:
Interesting and exiting :)
In addition to the post, you should always have a means of communication. Also, it is always important to bring your travel papers with you specially your travel insurance.
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