[pct-l] Getting lost

[CMountainDave@aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

Okay, I agree that taking a bearing when leaving camp to go peak bagging or 
to travel cross country to another camp is always a smart thing to do. I've 
done it mant times in the Olympics where a thick fog rolling in is not 
exactly unusual. But I like to rely on other things as well such as hiking 
within earshot of a creek, or making cairns or even using marking ribbon (I 
never leave the ribbon and kick the cairns down upon my return.) The reason I 
don't like to rely on just the compass is because being off by the tiniest 
amount can cause you to miss what your looking for by even less than 50 
yards. In some places like Yellowstone there is an interplay of flat meadow 
and level forest and it is incredibly easy to get the numerous meadows 
confused. I know some people who climbed St Helens and took bearings before 
they left. A fog rolled in and they missed their camp on the return and had 
to spend a night on an unplanned bivoac. Nothing serious to be sure, but 
their absence caused concern for others in the party who did not get lost. So 
by all means carry a compass and map. They are definitely your primary 
insurance for not getting lost. I'm just a worry wart who likes to have a 
back up plan just in case when traveling cross country. (but not enough of 
one to carry a cell phone or GPS although GPS sounds very interesting and I'm 
certainly not adverse to experimenting with it.)