When lost in nature, those 2 tools can come in handy. For 66 year old Appalachian trail hiker Geraldine Largay she had access to both but failed to use them. There's and old saying when in Rome due as the Roman's do. In other words follow their lead. If you want to build a structure in your backyard say a shed, you want to learn something about how to actually do it. You talk to others who know how and look it up on the internet, or get a book on it. There you will learn the tools you will need and most important how to use the tools. Then do small projects first for practice. This is called doing your due diligence.
Nature is beautiful at times and deadly as well. Know what your up against so as to properly prepare for any problems you might run into. On a hike in the woods a compass is a must. More important is how to use said compass. Geraldine had the compass but had no clue how to use it. With the compass you leave the trail. Look at compass and pick a direction north south east or west. If you leave trail heading north time your self, say 10 minutes to do your duty. When returning you reverse your direction and head south for 10 minutes back to the trail. Having geographic maps is a plus too. Also know how to read them. If you don't have a compass use a marker. Carry a roll of colorful tape from Home Depot. There is no sticky on it and can be torn with little effort by your fingers. Wrap small sections of tape on bush or tree branches. As you move forward look back to keep that piece of tape in view. Whe you start to lose sight of it, time to place another marker.
As a teenager our troop did an overnight at a campsite. It snowed 4 inches that night unexpectedly. That morning the parents where down below to collect their kids. My patrol leader Roy, who was also a young teeensger and me decided to walk out. He had a compass. We walked 15 minutes came across a very small clearing mountain laurel everywhere and bare deciduous trees. Another 15 minutes later the same clearing, looked like we went around in a circle I said. Roy said it did look the same but we go by the compass and we did. Two hours later were standing on a snow covered road, where we made it back to his house. The power of a compass.
Where there is smoke. There is fire. When lost for 2 days it's time to start one. Gather all the dead fall. 2 piles, 1 small one for the fire and the bigger 1 to feed the smaller pile. Once it's going add green or wet leaves. This makes it more smokey. The fire has to be big enough for the smoke to be able to escape the forest canopy. A forest fire could also help your cause.
Unfortunately for Geraldine they found her in her tent 2 years later. She died. She was less than 2 miles from the trail.
When lost tell yourself you will get out of this predicament. I do this all the time. It works for any predicament you come up with. I also call on divine spirit's help. It is always on the ready. And I thank it when it comes through.
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