Lost? STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan

Most people who get lost make it worse by pushing on, hurrying, and wandering farther from where searchers will look. The National Park Service’s standard advice is the acronym STOP.

S: Stop

As soon as you realize you don’t know where you are, stop walking. Sit down. Drink some water and eat something. Panic is the real enemy: it turns a few lost hours into a disaster.

T: Think

How did you get here? When did you last know where you were? What do you have with you: water, food, layers, light, a phone, a whistle? Who knows your plans, and when will they raise the alarm?

O: Observe

Look around. Can you see or hear a trail, road, river or landmark? What’s the weather doing, and how many hours of daylight are left? Is there shelter, water or a clearing nearby?

P: Plan

Make a deliberate decision. If you can’t navigate with confidence, stay put: searchers start from your last known point, and a person who stays in one place is far easier to find. Then:

• Make yourself visible. Pick an open spot nearby. Spread out bright clothing or a space blanket, and build a large signal from logs or rocks. The lost hikers in the NPS report laid out an “SOS” in logs and used a space blanket to signal and stay warm.
• Make yourself heard. A whistle carries much farther than a voice and uses less energy.
• Stay warm and dry before night falls: see hypothermia.
• Save your phone battery. Turn it off between check-ins, and try a text: it may get through when a call can’t.

Prevent it

Before you go: learn the area, carry the essentials even on a short hike (see the basic kit), and tell someone your route and when you’ll be back.