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Compared to being trapped, falling, going missing, or hypothermia, very few people would think of getting lost.
According to the "China Outdoor Safety Accident Analysis Report" published over the past three years by the China Mountaineering Association, getting lost has consistently ranked as the top cause of mountain accidents each year, with the proportion showing an upward trend.
From 2014 to 2016, the national data percentages of outdoor accidents caused by getting lost were 40%, 45%, and 45% respectively. In October 2016 alone, there were over 1,000 outdoor getting-lost incidents nationwide (data source: Huize.com). Furthermore, consequences such as hypothermia and loss of contact caused by getting lost reached as high as 80%.
Usually, simply getting lost is not fatal if handled properly. But if you unfortunately lose your way in winter, the extremely low temperatures and possible sudden snowstorms can lead to a life-or-death situation.
Fatal consequences
After snowfall, existing trails may be covered, and in bad weather, blizzards can significantly reduce visibility, increasing the risk of getting lost. Once lost, panic can set in, causing you to miss turns and become increasingly disoriented, or even break down mentally and give up.
Overall, getting lost in winter may lead to the following consequences:
Injury——After getting lost, you may venture onto unfamiliar routes that could include sheer cliffs. Without proper preparation, crossing them safely becomes difficult—you might twist an ankle among rocks, or worse, fall off a cliff. Both scenarios are possible.
In July 2010, a young teacher from Shanghai named Xiao Ren got lost while descending from Cangshan Mountain, fell off a cliff, and suffered a leg fracture before going missing. Over 3,000 rescuers were mobilized, and the victim’s body was found on the 13th day.
The picturesque Cangshan Mountain also harbors deadly dangers. Image source: hdwallpapers.in
In winter outdoors, proper warmth measures are essential—otherwise, hypothermia can easily occur. Photo/yeoner
Above 8,000 meters altitude, exposing your bare hands to the air for just five minutes can cause frostbite, which in severe cases may lead to amputation.
The body undergoes vasoconstriction, cellular freezing, skin whitening, and ice formation, eventually resulting in frostbite. Image source: haoqi.org
The body parts most prone to frostbite are the hands, feet, nose, ears, and other areas frequently exposed to the elements — these areas must be kept warm at all costs.Physical exhaustion —In winter, snow accumulation, plus the extra weight of gear and bulky clothing, make walking inherently difficult. Coupled with high energy expenditure, if energy isn’t replenished in time and hypothermia sets in, physical exhaustion can easily occur. This exhaustion leads to further issues: increased risk of injury, accelerated heat loss, and in severe cases, even hallucinations.
Fatal outcomes —Getting lost and encountering a steep cliff, or suffering from severe hypothermia, can cause muscle stiffness, weak heartbeat and breathing, ultimately leading to death.
During this year’s May Day holiday, a sudden blizzard led to over 20 hikers going missing on the Aotai trekking route, resulting in the tragic deaths of three people due to hypothermia.
Winter is peak season for getting lost.
Aside from encountering bad weather, winter is the season when getting lost is most likely to happen.
Frequent fog —In winter, due to low temperatures, the air’s moisture exceeds saturation and condenses into water droplets. When enough water molecules bind with tiny dust particles in the air, and the water molecules themselves also coalesce, they form small droplets or ice crystals — creating fog.
Heizhugou is often shrouded in thick fog. Photo/lotour
For example, Heizhugou, known as the “Bermuda Triangle on land,” is frequently covered in heavy fog in the afternoon due to its terrain and high humidity, leading to disorientation.
Early darkness —In winter, days are short and nights are long, and it gets dark quickly — especially in the wild, where you might finish lunch and not walk far before the sun sets. Once the sun goes down, temperatures drop rapidly, so it’s important to find a suitable spot to camp as soon as possible. After nightfall, with limited visibility, you may stray off your intended path and lose direction.
In winter, it gets dark earlier. Photo/Schak
It’s more challenging to identify trail marks in winter. Photo/Beiling-Shunzi
Blizzard is one of the biggest obstacles during the Aotai trek.
If you’re unlucky enough to encounter a blizzard, the chances of getting lost and developing hypothermia increase exponentially.
Measures to take if you get lost
Getting lost isn't particularly scary; what's truly frightening is failing to take appropriate self-protection and rescue measures after getting lost. Mastering some basic outdoor navigation survival knowledge can help you extricate yourself if lost, or increase your chances of being successfully rescued.
Stay Calm——It’s completely normal to feel nervous when you’re lost, but you should avoid blind panic. Being overwhelmed by negative emotions can cloud your judgment and make it difficult to take subsequent actions in a scientific and rational manner.
If you’re lost as a group, it’s even more important to stay calm and work together; avoid panicking or arguing, which could put the whole team in greater danger.
Retrace Your Steps——The location where you first realized you were lost, or an area you've already passed through and confirmed, is generally not far off from the “correct path.” Lost individuals should try to return to that spot and use it as a base point for further exploration.
If you are completely lost or unable to identify the return path due to winter snow and wind, you should stay put, stay calm, and use available resources to determine the direction and route back.
Determine Direction——Using professional tools scientifically to find out your current position can provide a basis for your next steps. Here are several specific methods:
- GPS is the preferred tool—it can not only accurately indicate direction, but also precisely record your travel route. You can also use professional outdoor apps on your phone, such as Outdoor Assistant or Liuzhijiao, for direction guidance and route navigation. In addition, a compass and map are also great aids when lost.
- Make Reasonable Use of Items You Have: If you have a watch with hands, lay it flat with the dial facing up, then turn the watch so the hour hand points toward the sun. At this point, the angle formed between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock mark on the dial will have an angle bisector—the extended line of this bisector indicates the south direction.
- The North Star:The North Star is the best indicator of north—the direction it points to is true north.
- The Big Dipper:Also known as Ursa Major, it looks like a giant spoon and is easy to find on a clear night. By extending the line formed by the two stars at the edge of the “spoon,” you’ll see a brighter star about five times the distance away—this is the North Star, or true north.
- Sunlight:On a sunny day, plant a stick vertically into the ground and place a stone at the tip of its shadow. About 15 minutes later, when the tip of the shadow has moved, place another stone there. The line connecting the two stones is the east-west line, and the side perpendicular to this line that faces the sun is south. The taller, thinner, and more vertical the stick is, the longer the shadow moves, making your direction reading more accurate.
- Plant Growth:Trees and moss—The side of the tree canopy that is denser is usually the south side, while the sparser side is the north.
- Tree Rings:The side of the annual rings that is less dense faces south, while the denser side faces north.
Image Source: tianbazp.com
- A flat area sheltered from the wind. A relatively flat spot backed by a wall, cliff, or rock face is ideal. If you're in the mountains and there's snow, consider digging a snow cave to take shelter in case of storms.
- Stay near streams or rivers, but avoid riverbanks to prevent being caught in rising water or flash floods.
- Never rest in low-lying valley areas due to the risk of falling rocks.
Sending signals—If you’re confirmed lost and unable to find your way out, promptly use your mobile phone or other communication devices to contact family, friends, or the authorities. If you have poor signal or no battery, also master alternative ways to call for help.
Building a campfire is one way to send a signal. Image source: ravelandleisure.com
- If you carry a whistle, blow it continuously to attract attention, or shout for help—but avoid doing so too frequently to prevent exhausting yourself.
- During the day, use a mirror to reflect intermittent light signals toward possible residential areas or rescue aircraft in the sky using sunlight.
- Arrange branches, brightly colored cloth strips, or other highly visible objects into distress signals such as SOS.
- Use a pen to leave your personal information on trash (bags) and tie the trash (bags) to tree branches along your path.
- Break off branches along the way or fashion arrows from branches or stones to indicate your direction.
- Build a fire at night. In winter, dry twigs are highly flammable, so be sure to choose a safe, sheltered location to avoid starting a forest fire.
Staying warm, especially keeping your extremities warm, is the most important thing to do when lost. Image source: India.com
- If your inner clothing becomes wet, change into dry clothes as soon as possible.
- Wear as many of the clothes you have as possible, and make sure all zippers and buttons are fastened.
- Cross your arms inside your clothing, tucking your hands under your armpits to preserve warmth.
The experience of hiker “Camel,” who got lost for eight days during a crossing of the Xiate Ancient Trail during the 2015 May Day holiday and was eventually rescued, can also offer us some valuable lessons.
Taboos when lost
When lost, everything is uncertain. Acting blindly not only fails to solve problems but may also lead you into even greater trouble. In addition to rationally responding according to the key points above, those who are lost should especially avoid the following improper behaviors.
Creating random new paths—Getting lost can easily trigger anxiety, leading people to desperately try to escape their predicament without thinking clearly. Acting out of desperation, wishful thinking, or overconfidence may only waste energy and even push you into a dead end.
Panicking and rushing blindly is the worst thing to do when you’re lost. Image source: pixabay.com
It’s best to stay together with others when you’re lost. Image source: indiahikes.com
Losing the will to survive—Most people who have been successfully rescued after getting lost share one common trait: they believed they would be found. The will to survive is an extremely important piece of equipment for anyone trying to get out of a lost situation.
When you head outdoors, don’t underestimate the risks or overestimate your abilities. After all, in the face of any accident, whether you're a novice or a seasoned adventurer, you’re equally vulnerable.