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Course Outline

  • Stay on the trail. Do not wander off into more remote areas.
  • Tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return.
  • Don’t travel alone.
  • Take enough food and water to last for at least two days in an emergency.
  • Bring a map and compass, and always orient yourself before leaving.
  • Wear layered clothing.
  • Don’t panic if you become lost.

Planning and preparation should keep you from having an outdoor misadventure. If something does go wrong—your vehicle breaks down, you run out of gas in a remote area, or you’re injured and can’t travel:

  • Stay on or near the trail—it will be easier for others to find you.
  • Switch into survival mode.

You now have three priorities: shelter, fire, and signal. After addressing these priorities, you can focus on water and food.

If You’re Lost in a Thick Fog

Don’t waste valuable time and energy traveling around aimlessly. Instead, stay calm and go into survival mode, especially after dark. Build a shelter and a fire.

ATV rider starting a fire near his lean-to shelter
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