Lost in the Backcountry
You’re hunting elk with your buddy in central Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest. You were keeping a little distance between the two of you so you could cover more ground, but somehow you got separated. Since you were bushwhacking and not following an established trail, you suddenly realize you’re lost. Evening is approaching, and the occasional rain that has been plaguing you all day is now steady and worsening. What do you do?
This scenario is the most likely threat to anyone who hunts or hikes in remote areas. The simple combination of getting lost and suffering from exposure can be deadly. Most hunting is done in cooler weather, and even 50 degrees is cold enough for hypothermia (the lowering of your body’s core temperature) to take effect. And while the rain is providing you with some much-needed hydration, the water in your clothes is stealing your body heat a lot faster than the cold air would alone.
This is already looking like the details of another lost hunter story, but in our scenario, there is one other disturbing variable: Your buddy is still out there, too. Is he lost like you? Should you walk around calling for him, or stay put? Is he looking for you? Did he make it back to camp?
It seems like a million questions are running through your mind, and the more you try to weigh your options, the more overwhelmed you get. Once the reality of your situation has set in, you have a very sobering choice to make. Do you stay put, make camp and signal for your friend? Or do you keep walking in hopes of finding him? What’s the right choice?
In this situation, you should definitely stay put and make camp. With night approaching and the rain coming down, there’s a very good chance you and your buddy will experience some degree of hypothermia. The decreased visibility from the rain and darkness makes falling down and injuring yourself more likely if you keep moving. You should find a spot to set up shelter and try to get a fire going.
If you both have a communication device, try yours. A cell phone, two-way radio or walkie-talkie can take the guesswork out of your escalating emergency. If you don’t have communication equipment, or there’s a problem connecting, use some low-tech gear, like a whistle. Blow three whistle blasts in a row every 15 minutes. This might attract your buddy’s attention and help him to find you, if he is still wandering out there.
If you can get a large bright fire going, the heat will help you stay warm and the light could help your buddy navigate toward your improvised camp. If you cannot get a fire going in the wet conditions and failing light, create the best shelter you can and wait until morning. Keep blowing your whistle periodically. If your buddy is still walking around in the dark, he will probably need your help.
Preventative Measures
Make sure that someone responsible knows where you are going, where you will be parking your vehicle, when you will be back and all the other details of your excursion. Get a map of the area and study it before your trip.
Take the map and a compass or GPS with you. Consult your map often so that you don’t get lost in the first place. Bring and use communication equipment. Have a plan with your buddy in case you get separated. Take into account the terrain, the expected weather and temperatures, and don’t be afraid to overpack a bit so you can handle the worst that Mother Nature throws at you.
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