1. Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
Before you take off on the hike, be sure to review the map thoroughly and understand exactly where all the major landmarks are on your hike. If you can discern from the map where the rivers run in an area, or where there is a specific wooded area, this can help maintain your bearings on a hike. If it is available, be sure to sign into a hiking log at the park so that the official there knows that you are out on a hike. When you sign in, ask any park official if there are any upcoming weather conditions or issues with a particular trail that may necessitate that you avoid that trail. Finally, tell a friend or relative that you are going on the hike, and when to expect your return.
2. Be Aware
When you are hiking, it is easy to allow scenery to distract and cause you to lose your reference points. You must always pack a compass and a map to help find any landmarks or maintain directional bearings. To help with the bearings, try to notice certain landmarks as you pass, and mark the path every so often as you hike. In short, just be aware of the surroundings, and do not get too distracted by the natural beauty of the hike.
3. Backtrack if necessary
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not to trust your instincts on a hike. If you start to feel like you are lost, do not keep going or ignore the feeling. Simply stop and go back the way you came, until you see a landmark that you recognize. Too many times, people will make matters worse by trying to push in that pioneer sense that a hike can inspire.
4. Eat, Drink and Be Safe
Sometimes, hunger and thirst can drive the hiker to distraction, so much so that they lose their way on the hike. So, next time you go for a hike, be certain to pack plenty of water and food to keep your energy and awareness level at its peak efficiency. Stop at regular intervals of the hike to have a drink and a bite to eat as you mark your surroundings either visually or physically. Pack lightweight snacks for during the hike.
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