How not to get lost in the bush
- Thread starter John Y Cannuck
- Start date
P a v e m e n t? What is this strange thing?
The few times I've been out, it's been > 10km down an old logging bush road (sometimes just a trail) before getting out of the truck. I've heard that people get lucky and see deer/moose from the truck - it just hasn't happened to me yet.
Cosmic, what is a 'spoke' search?? I tried the google, but nothing came up.
- Location
- Just West of the GTA
First thing is orienteering skills - you MUST have them if you are going in to the bush. If you don't know what this means, google it, you will find lots of good information. My first rule is to know where I am AT ALL TIMES on a real paper map. I like to use real maps as a primary tool and the GPS as a backup.
I would very strongly recommend that everyone carry a small, but good quality zipper pull compass. Here in ON where we have to wear blaze orange I put it on my orange vest and other times of the year I put it on whatever jacket I wear, or it gets tied with a good knot to my belt. This way you have it when you don't think you will need it. People generally get in to trouble when they think that they know an area well and will never need a compass, or when they think that they can't get in to trouble because they aren't going in too far.
I would very strongly recommend that everyone carry a small, but good quality zipper pull compass. Here in ON where we have to wear blaze orange I put it on my orange vest and other times of the year I put it on whatever jacket I wear, or it gets tied with a good knot to my belt. This way you have it when you don't think you will need it. People generally get in to trouble when they think that they know an area well and will never need a compass, or when they think that they can't get in to trouble because they aren't going in too far.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Great Info, great thread! STICKY!
Never travel in the woods without a deck of cards.
Why? you might ask.
Because, if you get lost, all you have to do is to start playing solitaire, and inevitably somebody, somebody, will come along and tell you what your next move should be.
Now you are no longer lost in the woods
Why? you might ask.
Because, if you get lost, all you have to do is to start playing solitaire, and inevitably somebody, somebody, will come along and tell you what your next move should be.
Now you are no longer lost in the woods
Good INFO.....One thing to remember. A Compass and GPS go hand in hand, you need both to properly take advantage of topo maps and bearings.
I am part of the GSAR team and just spent 14 hrs looking for a lady that got lost yesterday.....its not hard to get lost!!
I am part of the GSAR team and just spent 14 hrs looking for a lady that got lost yesterday.....its not hard to get lost!!
Probably an iron formation. These are large naturally occuring formations that can extend for many kilometers. They will render your compass useless when you walk over them.
TBS always trust your compass if there is a disagreement between it and your "gut instincts". That's what I've learned in almost 30 years of bush bashing.
Always know the overall general azimuth of the main road system in your area and always know where you are relative to the road system. If you get turned around, just follow a bearing with your compass which is at right angles to the azimuth of the main road.
eg. The main road in the area overall runs NE-SW. You are hunting on the south side of the road. To hit the road follow a bearing 90 degrees to 045/225 ie. follow a 315 bearing. Sooner or later you will hit the main road.
Oh yeah, stay calm. When you first realize that you are turned around you will experience some level of panic. I have felt it and I am very experienced in the bush. If it is safe to do so, sit down, have a smoke or a drink of water and bite to eat. You may be able to figure out which way to go. The sit down will help you to calm down and avoid panicking and doing something stupid.
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I have got lost twice.
The first time I went into the bush to pee. I saw an old trail and follwed it out of curiosity. Then I got off the trail and suddenly realized I had not noted a damn thing about sun position, road azmith, zilch before starting off. I walked a big circle and managed to cut the trail.
Second time I was following a ridge that was parrallel to the road, about 2 klicks inland. My plan was that I would just head down to the road when it started to get dark. I had not looked at a map. If I had i would have seen the ridged curved away from the road and the road turned sharply away from the ridge.
When I hit a lake instead of the road, I climbed the ridge and started to back-track. I prepared to spend the night. It was dark. Around 11:00 my friends found my truck and fired some shots. I had a small Maglite on my keychain, and was able to navigate out.
My usual practice is to look at the map and note the magnetic heading that gets me back to the road. I then install this heading on my compass. This is Plan B to get out.
The first time I went into the bush to pee. I saw an old trail and follwed it out of curiosity. Then I got off the trail and suddenly realized I had not noted a damn thing about sun position, road azmith, zilch before starting off. I walked a big circle and managed to cut the trail.
Second time I was following a ridge that was parrallel to the road, about 2 klicks inland. My plan was that I would just head down to the road when it started to get dark. I had not looked at a map. If I had i would have seen the ridged curved away from the road and the road turned sharply away from the ridge.
When I hit a lake instead of the road, I climbed the ridge and started to back-track. I prepared to spend the night. It was dark. Around 11:00 my friends found my truck and fired some shots. I had a small Maglite on my keychain, and was able to navigate out.
My usual practice is to look at the map and note the magnetic heading that gets me back to the road. I then install this heading on my compass. This is Plan B to get out.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Mark where you are, and do a walk in a straight line in each direction, using flagging tape to find your way back.
Similar to what you do if following a blood trail and you lose it. Mark the last spot, and circle until you pick it up again.
"TBS always trust your compass if there is a disagreement between it and your "gut instincts". That's what I've learned in almost 30 years of bush bashing."
I once took a compass reading to confirm the way out and it was about 90 degrees off what I "knew" to be the right course to take. Sicne there was snow on the ground, I back tracked and found I had curved 90 degrees and not noticed.
I once took a compass reading to confirm the way out and it was about 90 degrees off what I "knew" to be the right course to take. Sicne there was snow on the ground, I back tracked and found I had curved 90 degrees and not noticed.
.. A little, but not much, off the Original Post. My "Ranger Compass " died after half a decade or more of faithful service. The replacement, recently acquired is one of the US "Carmenga Compasses" ( No not the Tritium version ! ) And so far it's working out really well ! Settles down very quickly, due to the "Induction Damping" and the vibration of the Bikes single cylinder, thumping away on gravel roads, hasn't harmed it. Being, in a former life, a Ships Navigating Officer, I really appreciate the ease of taking bearings without having to use mirrors, and avoiding the sun's glare ! If one's taste runs to the Lensatic, it's definitely worth spending the extra money for the Carmenga vs the Cheap Knock-offs ! ... David K
David, it's hard to beat a Silva Ranger. As some of you know, I once flew BC foresters in the wilderness. Everyone of them had a Ranger compass, and when I started they gave me two of them! They said to keep one in my pocket and leave one in the aircraft, in case I was stranded some place and had to walk and maybe didn't have the one in my pocket.
I think it is safe to say that these trained foresters and bushmen believed in having a good compass with you.
Bruce
I think it is safe to say that these trained foresters and bushmen believed in having a good compass with you.
Bruce
.. I certainly used, and liked the Silva Ranger ! But so far at least, the "Carmenga" suits me better, and I certainly prefer it. The Luminosity is truly excellent, not that, frankly, I'm going to be out and about, wandering the Woods in the Dark anyway ! No fluid to leak, or Bubble to develop, being an added bonus ! ... The same Compass, but with the Tritium Dial, is the Standard US Army Issue . ..... David K
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Compass is number one in my books. If you know the general topography, having a compass which points to NORTH is invaluable.
.. Having become, momentarily, "Confused" as to direction, once Hunting Kangaroos, in very flat, and largely featureless terrain, I learned my lesson VERY well ! Carry a compass and refer to it, look back once in awhile, leave the odd mark on the ground, or by placing rocks to mark your own passage. And the most important rule, don't get lost in the first place !! ..... David K
In speaking of the Silva Ranger, I should have stated it was the classic, undisputed king of the hill, a half century ago.
But, like everything else, something better will come along. Yes, they did get bubbles, but for a lot of years you could send it to the Canadian base at Toronto for a very few cents, and the company would remove the bubble and generally check it, before returning it to you, free of charge.
In use by the foresters in the bush, the compass took a terrible beating. They all carried it looped to their vest on about a ten inch cord. They would sight with it, then without removing their eye from their target, they would drop the compass and let it dangle on it's cord, until they advanced the two chains, 132 feet, then did it all over again.
I wonder if the new versions will take this kind of abuse?
But, like everything else, something better will come along. Yes, they did get bubbles, but for a lot of years you could send it to the Canadian base at Toronto for a very few cents, and the company would remove the bubble and generally check it, before returning it to you, free of charge.
In use by the foresters in the bush, the compass took a terrible beating. They all carried it looped to their vest on about a ten inch cord. They would sight with it, then without removing their eye from their target, they would drop the compass and let it dangle on it's cord, until they advanced the two chains, 132 feet, then did it all over again.
I wonder if the new versions will take this kind of abuse?
Silva Ranger 15TDCL has been my orienteering compass for almost 30 years. I have had one de-magnetize and fail after about 8 years of very hard use (150+ bush days per year). It stopped working on me when I was on a helicopter drop off traverse deep in the Panamanian jungle. I replace mine more often now.
My Silva Ranger backs up my newest Sunto. Sunto only because it has a luminous compass rose, which comes in handy for night searches. Still like the Ranger in the daytime,though.
Geologist, how often do you recommend replacements, based on your incident?
Geologist, how often do you recommend replacements, based on your incident?
