🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 9 (from laksa164)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa009.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://mthikes.com/what-to-do-lost-woods/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://mthikes.com/what-to-do-lost-woods/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/mthikes.com\/what-to-do-lost-woods\/","crawl_time":1775738353,"first_indexed_time":1588819681,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,mthikes!\/what-to-do-lost-woods\/ s443","src_root_hash":"3282110786849656009","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"What to do When You’re Lost in the Woods | MTHikes.com","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Category\n:\nHiking Articles\n,\nHiking Skills\nYou feel your chest tighten up, your heart races, and your eyes dart back and forth trying to find a way out. You’ve become lost in the woods, and you just realized that you can’t find the way out. As the terror subsides, there’s the urge to just run- your adrenaline starts pumping, and your body tries to fix the problem by telling you to go as far as you can in a single direction. When the adrenaline wears off, you realize how hopeless your situation is. The landscape seems alien to you- did you cross this path before? The woods close in on you, and the trail seems miles away. What do you do, now?\nDon’t Panic\nThe first thing to do when you’re lost is to try and keep calm, which is difficult to do since being lost is one of our most primal fears. However, fear and anxiety have never helped anyone in an emergency situation. Consider the fact that you are not alone- between 1992 and 2007 there were over 65,439 search and rescue attempts made, during which only 2,659 involved fatalities. That means that you have a 96% chance of making it, which are really good odds. Bearing that statistic firmly in mind, you will need to assess your situation next.\nStop and Assess the Situation\nThe next thing to do when you’re lost is to stop and access the situation you’re in. This is where the self rescue vs. reliance on a search and rescue team comes into play. To make this extremely important decision, you need to ask yourself several questions:\n1.) Do I know roughly where I am?\nDo you know where you are? Do you know which valley or drainage you are in? Do you know the geography in the area? If you answered no to all of these questions, stay put. Wandering through the woods with no idea where you are is extremely dangerous, and will hurt your chances for rescue.\nFollowing water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.\n2.) Is there running water nearby?\nOne good rule on self rescuing is to follow water downhill. Generally speaking, roads and civilization lie downhill of a mountain, so following a stream downhill can be a smart move. It can also be a dangerous path, however, as the chances of meeting wildlife, or slipping and falling, greatly increase with following a body of water through the forest. If you do decide to follow a stream to civilization, try to stay approximately 100 feet from the stream. This will reduce the chances of meeting wildlife, slipping, or being blocked by cliffs.\n3.) Is it safe to stay where I am?\nIf you’re on an exposed rockfield, or on a high alpine plateau, you need to find a safe shelter immediately. Since rock fields typically don’t provide adequate shelter from anything, you should find the safest way down to the tree line that you can find, and follow it down. Finding shelter is an absolute must in an emergency situation, and you must make it your highest priority.\n4.) Does anyone know that I am here?\nIf your friends or family won’t miss you for a few days, self rescue becomes a more realistic option. Alternatively, if your family will miss you at sundown, it might make more sense to spend the night on the mountain. Although it seems that it is counter productive to wait for rescue, it usually is better than hiking in the wrong direction in search of help.\nSelf Rescuing\nIf you are absolutely certain that you can find the trailhead on your own, self rescuing may be a viable option. Although I don’t normally recommend it (far too many hikers have made rescue more difficult for a search and rescue team by hiking further into the mountains), self rescue can be a viable option if you know the area well, and have a general idea of where you are. From here (assuming you have enough daylight for an off-trail trek) find a waypoint that is downhill and clearly visible, and work towards it. As you move along, keep adjusting your direction of travel, until you reach your target. Once you’ve reached that target, re-assess your situation. Pick a new waypoint in the same direction, keep moving downhill, and hopefully towards the trailhead and civilization.\nIf you are rescued by a search and rescue team, or wander out of the wilderness by yourself, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must. A quality\n \nfirst aid kit\n, and packing these\nessential items\n will significantly improve your chances of survival. Although we like to think that getting lost only happens in large forests, it can happen anytime you are in the outdoors. Remember that a clear head will serve you well- don’t panic, keep re-assessing your situation, and with the right preparedness you’ll survive.","attrs_markdown":"[MTHikes.com](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/)\n\nMontana Hiking Trails, Maps, and Guides\n\n- [Montana Hiking Trails](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/hikes-in-montana\/)\n- [Hiking Articles](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/hiking-articles\/)\n\n# What to do When You’re Lost in the Woods\n**Category**: [Hiking Articles](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/), [Hiking Skills](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/hiking-skills\/)\n\n# [![what to do when you're lost in the woods](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost.jpg)\nYou feel your chest tighten up, your heart races, and your eyes dart back and forth trying to find a way out. You’ve become lost in the woods, and you just realized that you can’t find the way out. As the terror subsides, there’s the urge to just run- your adrenaline starts pumping, and your body tries to fix the problem by telling you to go as far as you can in a single direction. When the adrenaline wears off, you realize how hopeless your situation is. The landscape seems alien to you- did you cross this path before? The woods close in on you, and the trail seems miles away. What do you do, now?\n\n**Don’t Panic**\n\nThe first thing to do when you’re lost is to try and keep calm, which is difficult to do since being lost is one of our most primal fears. However, fear and anxiety have never helped anyone in an emergency situation. Consider the fact that you are not alone- between 1992 and 2007 there were over 65,439 search and rescue attempts made, during which only 2,659 involved fatalities. That means that you have a 96% chance of making it, which are really good odds. Bearing that statistic firmly in mind, you will need to assess your situation next.\n\n**Stop and Assess the Situation**\n\nThe next thing to do when you’re lost is to stop and access the situation you’re in. This is where the self rescue vs. reliance on a search and rescue team comes into play. To make this extremely important decision, you need to ask yourself several questions:\n\n1\\.) Do I know roughly where I am?\n\nDo you know where you are? Do you know which valley or drainage you are in? Do you know the geography in the area? If you answered no to all of these questions, stay put. Wandering through the woods with no idea where you are is extremely dangerous, and will hurt your chances for rescue.\n\n[![Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/when-youre-lost-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/when-youre-lost.jpg)\n\nFollowing water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.\n\n2\\.) Is there running water nearby?\n\nOne good rule on self rescuing is to follow water downhill. Generally speaking, roads and civilization lie downhill of a mountain, so following a stream downhill can be a smart move. It can also be a dangerous path, however, as the chances of meeting wildlife, or slipping and falling, greatly increase with following a body of water through the forest. If you do decide to follow a stream to civilization, try to stay approximately 100 feet from the stream. This will reduce the chances of meeting wildlife, slipping, or being blocked by cliffs.\n\n3\\.) Is it safe to stay where I am?\n\nIf you’re on an exposed rockfield, or on a high alpine plateau, you need to find a safe shelter immediately. Since rock fields typically don’t provide adequate shelter from anything, you should find the safest way down to the tree line that you can find, and follow it down. Finding shelter is an absolute must in an emergency situation, and you must make it your highest priority.\n\n4\\.) Does anyone know that I am here?\n\nIf your friends or family won’t miss you for a few days, self rescue becomes a more realistic option. Alternatively, if your family will miss you at sundown, it might make more sense to spend the night on the mountain. Although it seems that it is counter productive to wait for rescue, it usually is better than hiking in the wrong direction in search of help.\n\n**Self Rescuing**\n\nIf you are absolutely certain that you can find the trailhead on your own, self rescuing may be a viable option. Although I don’t normally recommend it (far too many hikers have made rescue more difficult for a search and rescue team by hiking further into the mountains), self rescue can be a viable option if you know the area well, and have a general idea of where you are. From here (assuming you have enough daylight for an off-trail trek) find a waypoint that is downhill and clearly visible, and work towards it. As you move along, keep adjusting your direction of travel, until you reach your target. Once you’ve reached that target, re-assess your situation. Pick a new waypoint in the same direction, keep moving downhill, and hopefully towards the trailhead and civilization.\n\nIf you are rescued by a search and rescue team, or wander out of the wilderness by yourself, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must. A quality[first aid kit](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/how-to-build-a-backpacking-first-aid-kit\/ \"How to Build a Backpacking First Aid Kit\"), and packing these [essential items](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/emergency-supplies-to-take-backpacking\/ \"Emergency Supplies to Take Backpacking\") will significantly improve your chances of survival. Although we like to think that getting lost only happens in large forests, it can happen anytime you are in the outdoors. Remember that a clear head will serve you well- don’t panic, keep re-assessing your situation, and with the right preparedness you’ll survive.\n\n### Post navigation\n[← Previous post](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/hobo-stove\/ \"How to Make a Hobo Stove\")\n\n[Next post →](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/passage-falls-absaroka-range\/ \"Passage Falls- Absaroka Range\")\n\nSite Navigation\n\n- [Montana Hiking Trails](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/hikes-in-montana\/)\n- [Hiking Articles](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/hiking-articles\/)\n\n- [Difficult Hikes](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/difficult-hikes\/)\n- [Easy Day Hikes](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/easy-day-hikes\/)\n- [Hiking Articles](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/)\n  - [Hiking Gear](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/hiking-gear\/)\n  - [Hiking Safety](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/hiking-safety\/)\n  - [Hiking Skills](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/hiking-skills\/)\n- [Hiking Trails in the Black Hills](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-trails-in-the-black-hills\/)\n- [Hiking Trails in the Front Range](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-trails-in-the-front-range\/)\n- [Hiking Trails in the Sonoran Desert](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-trails-in-the-sonoran-desert\/)\n- [Hiking Trails in Yellowstone National Park](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-trails-in-yellowstone-national-park\/)\n- [Moderate Day Hikes](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/moderate-day-hikes\/)\n- [Montana Hiking Trails](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/places-to-hike-in-montana\/)\n  - [Hiking Trails in the Absaroka Range](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/places-to-hike-in-montana\/hiking-trails-in-the-absaroka-range\/)\n  - [Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/places-to-hike-in-montana\/beartooth-mountains\/)\n  - [Hiking Trails in the Gallatin Range](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/places-to-hike-in-montana\/hiking-trails-in-the-gallatin-range\/)\n  - [Hiking Trails in the Madison Range](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/places-to-hike-in-montana\/hiking-trails-in-the-madison-range\/)\n  - [Hiking Trails in the Pryor Mountains](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/places-to-hike-in-montana\/hiking-trails-in-the-pryor-mountains\/)\n\n© 2015 MTHikes.com, All Rights Reserved","attrs_readable_markdown":"**Category**: [Hiking Articles](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/), [Hiking Skills](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/category\/hiking-articles\/hiking-skills\/)\n\n## [![what to do when you're lost in the woods](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost.jpg)\nYou feel your chest tighten up, your heart races, and your eyes dart back and forth trying to find a way out. You’ve become lost in the woods, and you just realized that you can’t find the way out. As the terror subsides, there’s the urge to just run- your adrenaline starts pumping, and your body tries to fix the problem by telling you to go as far as you can in a single direction. When the adrenaline wears off, you realize how hopeless your situation is. The landscape seems alien to you- did you cross this path before? The woods close in on you, and the trail seems miles away. What do you do, now?\n\n**Don’t Panic**\n\nThe first thing to do when you’re lost is to try and keep calm, which is difficult to do since being lost is one of our most primal fears. However, fear and anxiety have never helped anyone in an emergency situation. Consider the fact that you are not alone- between 1992 and 2007 there were over 65,439 search and rescue attempts made, during which only 2,659 involved fatalities. That means that you have a 96% chance of making it, which are really good odds. Bearing that statistic firmly in mind, you will need to assess your situation next.\n\n**Stop and Assess the Situation**\n\nThe next thing to do when you’re lost is to stop and access the situation you’re in. This is where the self rescue vs. reliance on a search and rescue team comes into play. To make this extremely important decision, you need to ask yourself several questions:\n\n1\\.) Do I know roughly where I am?\n\nDo you know where you are? Do you know which valley or drainage you are in? Do you know the geography in the area? If you answered no to all of these questions, stay put. Wandering through the woods with no idea where you are is extremely dangerous, and will hurt your chances for rescue.\n\n[![Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/when-youre-lost-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/when-youre-lost.jpg)\n\nFollowing water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.\n\n2\\.) Is there running water nearby?\n\nOne good rule on self rescuing is to follow water downhill. Generally speaking, roads and civilization lie downhill of a mountain, so following a stream downhill can be a smart move. It can also be a dangerous path, however, as the chances of meeting wildlife, or slipping and falling, greatly increase with following a body of water through the forest. If you do decide to follow a stream to civilization, try to stay approximately 100 feet from the stream. This will reduce the chances of meeting wildlife, slipping, or being blocked by cliffs.\n\n3\\.) Is it safe to stay where I am?\n\nIf you’re on an exposed rockfield, or on a high alpine plateau, you need to find a safe shelter immediately. Since rock fields typically don’t provide adequate shelter from anything, you should find the safest way down to the tree line that you can find, and follow it down. Finding shelter is an absolute must in an emergency situation, and you must make it your highest priority.\n\n4\\.) Does anyone know that I am here?\n\nIf your friends or family won’t miss you for a few days, self rescue becomes a more realistic option. Alternatively, if your family will miss you at sundown, it might make more sense to spend the night on the mountain. Although it seems that it is counter productive to wait for rescue, it usually is better than hiking in the wrong direction in search of help.\n\n**Self Rescuing**\n\nIf you are absolutely certain that you can find the trailhead on your own, self rescuing may be a viable option. Although I don’t normally recommend it (far too many hikers have made rescue more difficult for a search and rescue team by hiking further into the mountains), self rescue can be a viable option if you know the area well, and have a general idea of where you are. From here (assuming you have enough daylight for an off-trail trek) find a waypoint that is downhill and clearly visible, and work towards it. As you move along, keep adjusting your direction of travel, until you reach your target. Once you’ve reached that target, re-assess your situation. Pick a new waypoint in the same direction, keep moving downhill, and hopefully towards the trailhead and civilization.\n\nIf you are rescued by a search and rescue team, or wander out of the wilderness by yourself, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must. A quality[first aid kit](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/how-to-build-a-backpacking-first-aid-kit\/ \"How to Build a Backpacking First Aid Kit\"), and packing these [essential items](https:\/\/mthikes.com\/emergency-supplies-to-take-backpacking\/ \"Emergency Supplies to Take Backpacking\") will significantly improve your chances of survival. Although we like to think that getting lost only happens in large forests, it can happen anytime you are in the outdoors. Remember that a clear head will serve you well- don’t panic, keep re-assessing your situation, and with the right preparedness you’ll survive.","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

23 hours ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://mthikes.com/what-to-do-lost-woods/
Last Crawled	2026-04-09 12:39:13 (23 hours ago)
First Indexed	2020-05-07 02:48:01 (5 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	What to do When You’re Lost in the Woods \| MTHikes.com
Meta Description	null
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	Category : Hiking Articles , Hiking Skills You feel your chest tighten up, your heart races, and your eyes dart back and forth trying to find a way out. You’ve become lost in the woods, and you just realized that you can’t find the way out. As the terror subsides, there’s the urge to just run- your adrenaline starts pumping, and your body tries to fix the problem by telling you to go as far as you can in a single direction. When the adrenaline wears off, you realize how hopeless your situation is. The landscape seems alien to you- did you cross this path before? The woods close in on you, and the trail seems miles away. What do you do, now? Don’t Panic The first thing to do when you’re lost is to try and keep calm, which is difficult to do since being lost is one of our most primal fears. However, fear and anxiety have never helped anyone in an emergency situation. Consider the fact that you are not alone- between 1992 and 2007 there were over 65,439 search and rescue attempts made, during which only 2,659 involved fatalities. That means that you have a 96% chance of making it, which are really good odds. Bearing that statistic firmly in mind, you will need to assess your situation next. Stop and Assess the Situation The next thing to do when you’re lost is to stop and access the situation you’re in. This is where the self rescue vs. reliance on a search and rescue team comes into play. To make this extremely important decision, you need to ask yourself several questions: 1.) Do I know roughly where I am? Do you know where you are? Do you know which valley or drainage you are in? Do you know the geography in the area? If you answered no to all of these questions, stay put. Wandering through the woods with no idea where you are is extremely dangerous, and will hurt your chances for rescue. Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help. 2.) Is there running water nearby? One good rule on self rescuing is to follow water downhill. Generally speaking, roads and civilization lie downhill of a mountain, so following a stream downhill can be a smart move. It can also be a dangerous path, however, as the chances of meeting wildlife, or slipping and falling, greatly increase with following a body of water through the forest. If you do decide to follow a stream to civilization, try to stay approximately 100 feet from the stream. This will reduce the chances of meeting wildlife, slipping, or being blocked by cliffs. 3.) Is it safe to stay where I am? If you’re on an exposed rockfield, or on a high alpine plateau, you need to find a safe shelter immediately. Since rock fields typically don’t provide adequate shelter from anything, you should find the safest way down to the tree line that you can find, and follow it down. Finding shelter is an absolute must in an emergency situation, and you must make it your highest priority. 4.) Does anyone know that I am here? If your friends or family won’t miss you for a few days, self rescue becomes a more realistic option. Alternatively, if your family will miss you at sundown, it might make more sense to spend the night on the mountain. Although it seems that it is counter productive to wait for rescue, it usually is better than hiking in the wrong direction in search of help. Self Rescuing If you are absolutely certain that you can find the trailhead on your own, self rescuing may be a viable option. Although I don’t normally recommend it (far too many hikers have made rescue more difficult for a search and rescue team by hiking further into the mountains), self rescue can be a viable option if you know the area well, and have a general idea of where you are. From here (assuming you have enough daylight for an off-trail trek) find a waypoint that is downhill and clearly visible, and work towards it. As you move along, keep adjusting your direction of travel, until you reach your target. Once you’ve reached that target, re-assess your situation. Pick a new waypoint in the same direction, keep moving downhill, and hopefully towards the trailhead and civilization. If you are rescued by a search and rescue team, or wander out of the wilderness by yourself, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must. A quality first aid kit , and packing these essential items will significantly improve your chances of survival. Although we like to think that getting lost only happens in large forests, it can happen anytime you are in the outdoors. Remember that a clear head will serve you well- don’t panic, keep re-assessing your situation, and with the right preparedness you’ll survive.
Markdown	[MTHikes.com](https://mthikes.com/) Montana Hiking Trails, Maps, and Guides - [Montana Hiking Trails](https://mthikes.com/hikes-in-montana/) - [Hiking Articles](https://mthikes.com/hiking-articles/) # What to do When You’re Lost in the Woods Category: [Hiking Articles](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/), [Hiking Skills](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/hiking-skills/) # [![what to do when you're lost in the woods](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost-300x225.jpg)](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost.jpg) You feel your chest tighten up, your heart races, and your eyes dart back and forth trying to find a way out. You’ve become lost in the woods, and you just realized that you can’t find the way out. As the terror subsides, there’s the urge to just run- your adrenaline starts pumping, and your body tries to fix the problem by telling you to go as far as you can in a single direction. When the adrenaline wears off, you realize how hopeless your situation is. The landscape seems alien to you- did you cross this path before? The woods close in on you, and the trail seems miles away. What do you do, now? Don’t Panic The first thing to do when you’re lost is to try and keep calm, which is difficult to do since being lost is one of our most primal fears. However, fear and anxiety have never helped anyone in an emergency situation. Consider the fact that you are not alone- between 1992 and 2007 there were over 65,439 search and rescue attempts made, during which only 2,659 involved fatalities. That means that you have a 96% chance of making it, which are really good odds. Bearing that statistic firmly in mind, you will need to assess your situation next. Stop and Assess the Situation The next thing to do when you’re lost is to stop and access the situation you’re in. This is where the self rescue vs. reliance on a search and rescue team comes into play. To make this extremely important decision, you need to ask yourself several questions: 1\.) Do I know roughly where I am? Do you know where you are? Do you know which valley or drainage you are in? Do you know the geography in the area? If you answered no to all of these questions, stay put. Wandering through the woods with no idea where you are is extremely dangerous, and will hurt your chances for rescue. [![Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/when-youre-lost-300x225.jpg)](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/when-youre-lost.jpg) Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help. 2\.) Is there running water nearby? One good rule on self rescuing is to follow water downhill. Generally speaking, roads and civilization lie downhill of a mountain, so following a stream downhill can be a smart move. It can also be a dangerous path, however, as the chances of meeting wildlife, or slipping and falling, greatly increase with following a body of water through the forest. If you do decide to follow a stream to civilization, try to stay approximately 100 feet from the stream. This will reduce the chances of meeting wildlife, slipping, or being blocked by cliffs. 3\.) Is it safe to stay where I am? If you’re on an exposed rockfield, or on a high alpine plateau, you need to find a safe shelter immediately. Since rock fields typically don’t provide adequate shelter from anything, you should find the safest way down to the tree line that you can find, and follow it down. Finding shelter is an absolute must in an emergency situation, and you must make it your highest priority. 4\.) Does anyone know that I am here? If your friends or family won’t miss you for a few days, self rescue becomes a more realistic option. Alternatively, if your family will miss you at sundown, it might make more sense to spend the night on the mountain. Although it seems that it is counter productive to wait for rescue, it usually is better than hiking in the wrong direction in search of help. Self Rescuing If you are absolutely certain that you can find the trailhead on your own, self rescuing may be a viable option. Although I don’t normally recommend it (far too many hikers have made rescue more difficult for a search and rescue team by hiking further into the mountains), self rescue can be a viable option if you know the area well, and have a general idea of where you are. From here (assuming you have enough daylight for an off-trail trek) find a waypoint that is downhill and clearly visible, and work towards it. As you move along, keep adjusting your direction of travel, until you reach your target. Once you’ve reached that target, re-assess your situation. Pick a new waypoint in the same direction, keep moving downhill, and hopefully towards the trailhead and civilization. If you are rescued by a search and rescue team, or wander out of the wilderness by yourself, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must. A quality[first aid kit](https://mthikes.com/how-to-build-a-backpacking-first-aid-kit/ "How to Build a Backpacking First Aid Kit"), and packing these [essential items](https://mthikes.com/emergency-supplies-to-take-backpacking/ "Emergency Supplies to Take Backpacking") will significantly improve your chances of survival. Although we like to think that getting lost only happens in large forests, it can happen anytime you are in the outdoors. Remember that a clear head will serve you well- don’t panic, keep re-assessing your situation, and with the right preparedness you’ll survive. ### Post navigation [← Previous post](https://mthikes.com/hobo-stove/ "How to Make a Hobo Stove") [Next post →](https://mthikes.com/passage-falls-absaroka-range/ "Passage Falls- Absaroka Range") Site Navigation - [Montana Hiking Trails](https://mthikes.com/hikes-in-montana/) - [Hiking Articles](https://mthikes.com/hiking-articles/) - [Difficult Hikes](https://mthikes.com/category/difficult-hikes/) - [Easy Day Hikes](https://mthikes.com/category/easy-day-hikes/) - [Hiking Articles](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/) - [Hiking Gear](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/hiking-gear/) - [Hiking Safety](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/hiking-safety/) - [Hiking Skills](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/hiking-skills/) - [Hiking Trails in the Black Hills](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-trails-in-the-black-hills/) - [Hiking Trails in the Front Range](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-trails-in-the-front-range/) - [Hiking Trails in the Sonoran Desert](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-trails-in-the-sonoran-desert/) - [Hiking Trails in Yellowstone National Park](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-trails-in-yellowstone-national-park/) - [Moderate Day Hikes](https://mthikes.com/category/moderate-day-hikes/) - [Montana Hiking Trails](https://mthikes.com/category/places-to-hike-in-montana/) - [Hiking Trails in the Absaroka Range](https://mthikes.com/category/places-to-hike-in-montana/hiking-trails-in-the-absaroka-range/) - [Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains](https://mthikes.com/category/places-to-hike-in-montana/beartooth-mountains/) - [Hiking Trails in the Gallatin Range](https://mthikes.com/category/places-to-hike-in-montana/hiking-trails-in-the-gallatin-range/) - [Hiking Trails in the Madison Range](https://mthikes.com/category/places-to-hike-in-montana/hiking-trails-in-the-madison-range/) - [Hiking Trails in the Pryor Mountains](https://mthikes.com/category/places-to-hike-in-montana/hiking-trails-in-the-pryor-mountains/) © 2015 MTHikes.com, All Rights Reserved
Readable Markdown	Category: [Hiking Articles](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/), [Hiking Skills](https://mthikes.com/category/hiking-articles/hiking-skills/) ## [![what to do when you're lost in the woods](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost-300x225.jpg)](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/what-to-do-when-you-are-lost.jpg) You feel your chest tighten up, your heart races, and your eyes dart back and forth trying to find a way out. You’ve become lost in the woods, and you just realized that you can’t find the way out. As the terror subsides, there’s the urge to just run- your adrenaline starts pumping, and your body tries to fix the problem by telling you to go as far as you can in a single direction. When the adrenaline wears off, you realize how hopeless your situation is. The landscape seems alien to you- did you cross this path before? The woods close in on you, and the trail seems miles away. What do you do, now? Don’t Panic The first thing to do when you’re lost is to try and keep calm, which is difficult to do since being lost is one of our most primal fears. However, fear and anxiety have never helped anyone in an emergency situation. Consider the fact that you are not alone- between 1992 and 2007 there were over 65,439 search and rescue attempts made, during which only 2,659 involved fatalities. That means that you have a 96% chance of making it, which are really good odds. Bearing that statistic firmly in mind, you will need to assess your situation next. Stop and Assess the Situation The next thing to do when you’re lost is to stop and access the situation you’re in. This is where the self rescue vs. reliance on a search and rescue team comes into play. To make this extremely important decision, you need to ask yourself several questions: 1\.) Do I know roughly where I am? Do you know where you are? Do you know which valley or drainage you are in? Do you know the geography in the area? If you answered no to all of these questions, stay put. Wandering through the woods with no idea where you are is extremely dangerous, and will hurt your chances for rescue. [![Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help.](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/when-youre-lost-300x225.jpg)](https://mthikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/when-youre-lost.jpg) Following water downhill can be a great way to find a trail, or help. 2\.) Is there running water nearby? One good rule on self rescuing is to follow water downhill. Generally speaking, roads and civilization lie downhill of a mountain, so following a stream downhill can be a smart move. It can also be a dangerous path, however, as the chances of meeting wildlife, or slipping and falling, greatly increase with following a body of water through the forest. If you do decide to follow a stream to civilization, try to stay approximately 100 feet from the stream. This will reduce the chances of meeting wildlife, slipping, or being blocked by cliffs. 3\.) Is it safe to stay where I am? If you’re on an exposed rockfield, or on a high alpine plateau, you need to find a safe shelter immediately. Since rock fields typically don’t provide adequate shelter from anything, you should find the safest way down to the tree line that you can find, and follow it down. Finding shelter is an absolute must in an emergency situation, and you must make it your highest priority. 4\.) Does anyone know that I am here? If your friends or family won’t miss you for a few days, self rescue becomes a more realistic option. Alternatively, if your family will miss you at sundown, it might make more sense to spend the night on the mountain. Although it seems that it is counter productive to wait for rescue, it usually is better than hiking in the wrong direction in search of help. Self Rescuing If you are absolutely certain that you can find the trailhead on your own, self rescuing may be a viable option. Although I don’t normally recommend it (far too many hikers have made rescue more difficult for a search and rescue team by hiking further into the mountains), self rescue can be a viable option if you know the area well, and have a general idea of where you are. From here (assuming you have enough daylight for an off-trail trek) find a waypoint that is downhill and clearly visible, and work towards it. As you move along, keep adjusting your direction of travel, until you reach your target. Once you’ve reached that target, re-assess your situation. Pick a new waypoint in the same direction, keep moving downhill, and hopefully towards the trailhead and civilization. If you are rescued by a search and rescue team, or wander out of the wilderness by yourself, keeping a positive attitude is an absolute must. A quality[first aid kit](https://mthikes.com/how-to-build-a-backpacking-first-aid-kit/ "How to Build a Backpacking First Aid Kit"), and packing these [essential items](https://mthikes.com/emergency-supplies-to-take-backpacking/ "Emergency Supplies to Take Backpacking") will significantly improve your chances of survival. Although we like to think that getting lost only happens in large forests, it can happen anytime you are in the outdoors. Remember that a clear head will serve you well- don’t panic, keep re-assessing your situation, and with the right preparedness you’ll survive.
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