Author Topic: got turned around today - Ever happen to you? (Read 2523 times)

scootrd · « **on:** November 22, 2009, 12:41:16 PM »

A buddy called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to check out some new terrain. Told him sure. So after a cup of coffee at my house around 5am, we headed out. Parked the truck around 6:30 am and started walking up an old logging road for about 1hour. When the logging road ended we took a compass reading and headed N NW crossing a creek and continued on till we crested a ridge. Sun was out so we stopped for lunch (it was about 12:00 )on a large Boulder. After lunch temps started dropping so we decided to start head back. When we reached the creek, we crossed over and headed back towards the logging road. We dumped out on the logging road around 2:30pm. Figured we just intersected it a little further down then where it must have ended.

Hiking down the logging road we both became aware the terrain looked quite different. Much more conifers than I remembered, But it was getting late and with temps dropping, we were committed , and at least were heading downhill.
We popped out of the woods around Dark 30. and guess what no Truck in sight.

Now the tough decision left or right back to the truck? About the time we were contemplating which way to head, a car came by and we were able to stop and ask directions. It appears we were about 7 miles further east of where we entered.

Nearest we can both figure was once we crossed the creek we overshot the original logging road above where it had ended and picked up the second road thinking it was the original. Following that road down took us quite a bit further SE than we expected to be.

I'm trying to pull up some Topo maps of the area to see if it shows the logging roads.
All in all an interesting Saturday hike (and a bit cold) day in the woods.

Anybody else ever get turned around ?
If so..Tell us your story

ironglow · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2009, 12:51:43 PM »

Anyone who hasn't..hasn't been out there..

mechanic · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2009, 01:30:11 PM »

Got busy tracking a deer once, across another's property so trying to avoid skyline on hills. Long story short, it got dark faster than I thought, my flashlight would not turn on, and it was cloudy. I found a wash with a high bank to put to my back, built a fire and settled in for the night. About 3 hours later a truck horn woke me. I was about 1000 yds. behind some man's house and on his land. I had walked almost ten miles cross country.

kynardsj · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2009, 01:33:42 PM »

Don't reckon I've ever been lost but have been mighty confused a few times.

Lurker · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2009, 01:41:23 PM »

Quote from: kynardsj on November 22, 2009, 01:33:42 PM

Don't reckon I've ever been lost but have been mighty confused a few times.

This was Bryan Keith's line from the Chaleston Heston Movie, "The Mountain Men."

Bill

kynardsj · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2009, 01:44:08 PM »

Exactly where I got it from. One of my favorite movies. I'm also fond of saying " Heap of trouble, oh yeah, heap of trouble." Frapp talking to Tyler about Running Moon.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2009, 01:50:46 PM »

That's why I started to carry a small gps.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2009, 03:07:18 PM »

Got turned around 1 night in the thicket behind my fathers house tracking a hog. Flashlights died on us. Hunted there for years but it sure changes in the dark. Finally got a phone signal and called home. Had them ring the school bell in the yard so we could get our bearings. Now carry 3 lights when heading out.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2009, 03:24:51 PM »

Daniel Boone said that he was never lost, but had been a might perplexed and puzzled for about 2 weeks when exploring Kentucky. POWDERMAN.

Almtnman · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2009, 02:02:34 AM »

I have been turned around out there a time or two myself. It's not a good feeling when you don't know exactly where you are or which way to go next. I started getting topo maps of the area I hunt if it's a large tract of land and carry a couple of compass's with me, one to make sure the other one is working properly. The engineer map training, compass & dead reckoning courses that I took in the Army helped me in that department and it has got me back on track several times.

ironglow · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2009, 08:01:51 AM »

One need not be that far from home either. As squirrelluck said, he wasn't far from home and in a real thicket. I have been confused in a hemlock stand with fallen timbers for an hour or two..no sun, moon or wind to go by..you may not be far... but you can literally go in circles.

teamnelson · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2009, 08:50:25 AM »

Nothing worse than the feeling of being lost; worst I've ever been was underwater - thank God for bubbles so I could at least find up. Tested some of the first GPS systems with 5th Group 20 years ago, still don't trust them. Got a new one for the car, and its routinely wrong. So I keep maps and compass handy all the time; I also review my route to unfamiliar places before I turn the key.

Victor3 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2009, 06:56:56 PM »

Quote from: ironglow on November 23, 2009, 08:01:51 AM

One need not be that far from home either. As squirrelluck said, he wasn't far from home and in a real thicket. I have been confused in a hemlock stand with fallen timbers for an hour or two..no sun, moon or wind to go by..you may not be far... but you can literally go in circles.

Worst I've ever been lost was hunting with my Dad when I was about 10. We were out for quail and Dad took a shot at one, leaving a pattern on a muddy hill. We hiked for a couple more hours until dusk, and came to that same spot where we could see the shotgun blast on the hill. Dad had no idea how we got back to that same place, and it was the 1st time I remember him having a worried look on his face (not a good feeling for a 10 year old). We found the truck just before the last light faded, and Dad told me it was just by dumb luck.

He said "Vic, I promise that will never happen again (a good feeling for a 10 year old

). Don't tell Mom about this." It never happened again, and I never told Mom.

I always take a flashlight with me now, even if it's 5:00 AM when I leave. It's a lot easier now that the small, super-duper LED ones are available. In fact, I just yesterday bought another one with three light levels...

http://www.countycomm.com/aaa.html

Hodr · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2009, 08:33:39 PM »

In 1967 weapons platoon, Co C, 3Bn, 6 Inf was on winter training from Berlin Brigade and down in West Germany. Hit a bad storm with heavy snow in white out conditions, so the Lt found a level spot and said set up for night on first level ground they came to. Most of the tent pegs got bent and everyone figured ground was frozen but they got tents up and under cover. Next morning came up clear and they found out they had set up on a concrete runway at the airport. They took a lot of ribbing from the rest of the battalion. Since the Lt got them through with no frostbite or injury the Col. put him up for company comand with a recomendation in his file. It hust goes to prove, "If it's stupid and it works, it ain't stupid"

blindhari

kynardsj · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2009, 01:50:32 AM »

The fanny pack that always goes with me into the woods nowadays carries several Bic lighters, fire starting material, 3 Mini Maglights, a one dollar rain pancho, a space blanket, nylon cord, extra ammo, toilet tissue, extra knife and usually a couple of candy bars. Haven't needed much of the stuff, except the candy bars, but it's there if I do.

Dee · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2009, 02:21:23 AM »

Like someone else already said: If you ain't been turned around, you ain't been in the woods. I have been, and although it doesn't really worry me, it aggravates me, because by the time I realize I am turned around, I am tired and want to go home or to camp.
I always travel light, but I always have a full zippo lighter, a good knife, and a good rifle, so it will work out. As I've gotten older (I'm 60) my wife also makes me take a phone. I don't like it, but my hunting is unfortunately done most times alone, so I guess it's a good idea.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2009, 03:31:57 AM »

I was hunting in the Shawnee national forest in southern Illinois. I walked pretty far in and found a nice place to set up a ground blind.

After about two hours I heard a noise behind me. When I turned around I saw this wall of water heading toward me through the trees.

By the time I got my rain poncho out of my backpack, I was already soaked.

I got totally turned around in the confusion. Little creek beds I stepped over on the way in were now three feet across and raging downhill.

I started getting mad at myself and started going in circles so I stopped and sat down for a while to calm down.

I eventually found a permanent tree stand that someone had built and followed some marker tape out of the woods.

My buddies were looking for me and we met up about halfway out.

They saw the same wall of water coming down the road toward them and jumped into the truck.

When the wind hit it rocked the truck back and forth and they were getting concerned.

A 1/4 mile away, the tops of trees were ripped off.

Almtnman · « **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2009, 04:07:27 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on November 24, 2009, 01:50:32 AM

The fanny pack that always goes with me into the woods nowadays carries several Bic lighters, fire starting material, 3 Mini Maglights, a one dollar rain pancho, a space blanket, nylon cord, extra ammo, extra knife and usually a couple of candy bars. Haven't needed much of the stuff, except the candy bars, but it's there if I do.

I basically carry almost the same stuff when I head to the woods to hunt. My snacks are usually a couple of packs of jalapeno cheese crackers and a couple of bags of peanuts, along with a Mtn Dew and a bottle of water. I also include a small roll of toilet paper for taking care of business and marking a trail that I want to find if I'm unsure of backtracking. Also in mine is a water proof match container, a whistle, 2 compasses which I wear one on a cord on my neck and a bright hunter orange piece of cloth with four safety pins at each corner. I also have a small container of push pins that I can tack to trees and mark for finding a place back if I don't know the area enough.

GRIMJIM's post reminded me of a hunt I went on once. I had my hunting buddy drop me off and I walked about a mile or so to a deer stand. He drove on about 4 or 5 miles away to hunt another area. I told him to pick me up about mid day. When I walked in, it was completely dark but I knew where I was going. Along about 8:30 am or so a storm started brewing and it got pretty bad. The wind was howling, it was lightning heavy and striking trees very near me. I got very scared as I am afraid of lightning and I had over 3 hours to wait to walk back out to the road to wait on my hunting partner. That was a very scary day and hunt for me, so I check the weather forecast very carefully now before heading to the woods.

gustmouse · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2009, 12:01:45 PM »

There’s this one hillside were I hunt turkey and deer that almost always turns me around. It’s Hemlock with White Pine and lots of under growth. It’s hard to get my bearings in there. The canopy looks the same and it always messes me up.
There’s a woods road to it’s north which many times I find by GPS or compass.
I’ll be there Saturday and I’m sure it’ll mess with me again. I usually carry enough gear and some food. So I could build a primitive shelter and eat some. But haven’t had to yet!

Mikey · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2009, 02:27:53 PM »

I'm still not back. Which way is Milwalkie?

hillbill · « **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2009, 02:48:35 PM »

heck i never been lost, im home now so that means i never been lost, i always made it home.well there was that one time when we was coon hunting and the fog rolled in, got bak to the truck and the dogs was all layed up under the truck.fog will git yu lost fer sure at night.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 24, 2009, 03:01:09 PM »

Quote from: ironglow on November 22, 2009, 12:51:43 PM

Anyone who hasn't..hasn't been out there..

How true is that!

I stop every few minutes or every terrain change, turn around and memorize what i see. This has become a habit because things look totally different when light changes, it gets dark, you are tracking a deer, you panic a bit,.... It is a good habit to get into.
Embarassing though once when i was a teenager,
, started yelling to my cousin, he said from his stand, 'what are you doing? you been stompin around here for an hour!' I was walking circles around his stand, when the light changed, I got lost.

charles p · « **Reply #22 on:** November 24, 2009, 03:40:21 PM »

While sitting with my back to a tree one morning I fell asleep. A fighter jet flying at treetop height awoke me several hours later. I got turned around and walked the wrong way for hours looking for the logging trail I went in on. Finally found a field that had been plowed. Figured a tractor had to get there somehow. By then I knew I was going the wrong way but I wasn't about to turn around with the prospect of a nearby road just ahead. Finally caught a ride on a log truck back to my hunting camp. The guy driving the truck laughed all
the way.

Another story. I was drifting a creek with a friend. It was a two day drift to our waiting truck. At mid day on the second day, I realized we were not going to make it out before nightfall. I got out on the bank with plans to walk out, thumb a ride to our truck, and meet my partner again before darkness. Shortly after he paddled away on a cold December day, I discovered I had gotten out on an island in the creek. Bad plan.

The Hermit · « **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2009, 04:12:41 PM »

At 74, I have to admit at being turned around a few times. When it occurs, I stop and laugh and remember what Tom Massey says " ya aint lost if you don't care where you are".

The Hermit

billy_56081 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 25, 2009, 04:22:57 PM »

I usually have a good sence of direction. I have never been lost but I have gotten really confused a several time. Everyone gets turned around if they travel at all.

Hunter Fishman · « **Reply #25 on:** January 16, 2010, 08:13:41 PM »

Spend a few days each month dissecting your areas on google earth satellite imagery & you shouldnt ever get lost.
I have memorized all open country in my area & sloped turrain, ravines, draws, benches, ridges, river bottoms, recent burn areas, fire breaks & most importantly visably permanant game trails. Yes, you can see game trails from satellite!
I have a mental compass in my head running 24-7, I always know which way I am facing even within the walls of buildings.

GOOGLE EARTH!
My most valueble tool in my hunting arsinal hands down!
scout from home before a hike/hunt or just on a rainy day when you cant get out!

you can zoom, tilt, pan, view earth or stars, mark & label anything, anywhere with various place marking symbols, it shows direction N.E.S.W., you can measure distance in a straight line or in a path, make a video tour of areas, time laps shadow casting, streets, mountains,lakes & some trails are labeled & theres even a street view where you can see the front of your house which is quite disturbing in my opinion!
Just type in any place or address in the world and your there! picture clarity varies from area to area.

In a nut shell,
you will learn so much, find new areas & make things easier for yourself if you use google earth.
I guarantee it!

Victor3 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 17, 2010, 02:38:56 AM »

Quote from: Hunter Fishman on January 16, 2010, 08:13:41 PM

I have a mental compass in my head running 24-7, I always know which way I am facing even within the walls of buildings.

Only if you know which way the door you entered is facing and the lights stay on while you're moving around.

Hunter Fishman · « **Reply #27 on:** January 17, 2010, 02:20:21 PM »

not A problem, I was in a situation where I wanted to go with my friends around town shopping but there was no room in the car except the trunk.
Guess who drew the short straw?
I crawled in shut the trunk & off we went.
I was able to call out where we were before they opened the trunk!

When you take note of direction & distance as much as I have it becomes instinct & I react without effort or much thought at all. do you ever have to remind yourself to breath? Same thing! It happens naturaly.
Use google earth for 7-8 years & you too will have this ability.
I cant explain it any better than that.

Hunter Fishman · « **Reply #28 on:** January 17, 2010, 02:25:09 PM »

I also found my way out of a multi level gold mine in the dark out in the sierras.
That was a bit of a challenge or just time consuming having to feel my way out through 3 levels.
I remembered the turns we took & the time it took to get there from the last.

Dee · « **Reply #29 on:** January 17, 2010, 02:32:45 PM »

Quote from: Hunter Fishman on January 17, 2010, 02:20:21 PM

not A problem, I was in a situation where I wanted to go with my friends around town shopping but there was no room in the car except the trunk.
Guess who drew the short straw?
I crawled in shut the trunk & off we went.
I was able to call out where we were before they opened the trunk!
When you take note of direction & distance as much as I have it becomes instinct & I react without effort or much thought at all. do you ever have to remind yourself to breath? Same thing! It happens naturaly.
Use google earth for 7-8 years & you too will have this ability.
I cant explain it any better than that.

I would truly like to see that trunk trick.