Route Planning and Staying Found

Plan from the map

• Mark the starting point, destination, and intended route.
• Identify major trail junctions, stream crossings, ridges, saddles, roads, and other checkpoints along the way.
• Estimate distance between checkpoints and note major elevation gain or loss.
• Choose obvious attack points and catching features near difficult locations.
• Identify places where a wrong turn would have serious consequences.
• Check land closures, weather, water availability, daylight, and emergency access before departure.

Use checkpoints instead of one long leg

A long route is easier to manage when broken into short sections. At each checkpoint, confirm location before moving on. If one segment does not match expectations, the possible error is limited to that segment instead of the entire day.

What to do when the map stops matching

1. Stop. Continuing while uncertain usually makes the problem larger.
2. Stay calm and think back to the last place you were certain of your location.
3. Observe the terrain around you. Look for ridges, streams, roads, slopes, junctions, and other features that can be matched to the map.
4. Check direction and distance traveled since the last known point.
5. If the correct position cannot be established confidently, stay together and use the group emergency plan rather than wandering in different directions.

If truly lost

Follow the unit’s emergency plan and leader instructions. In many situations, staying in a safe location makes it easier for rescuers to find you than continuing to travel without a reliable plan. Protect yourself from weather, make yourself visible, conserve phone battery if you have service, and use emergency signaling methods appropriate to the situation.