Mountain climbing is an activity with extremely high self-challenge, and of course, challenges also come with risks. In recent years, with the continuous rise in outdoor activities such as hiking and rock climbing, incidents of hikers getting trapped or injured on mountains have become frequent, with some even losing their lives. Therefore, when a hiker is trapped on a mountain or lost in the wild, taking proper self-rescue measures becomes very important.
Borrownatural elements to determine direction
Getting lost and trapped isn't necessarily terrifying—the key lies in how to find a way out after getting lost. Mastering some basic wilderness survival knowledge can be very helpful for self-rescue and escape when lost.
Use a compass (magnetic needle) to determine direction. A good-quality compass is essential for outdoor travel. However, the compass needle points to “north” or “N,” which indicates magnetic north—not true north. There is a deviation angle between magnetic north and true north, so you should calculate the difference in magnetic declination to get the accurate compass direction.
A wristwatch with hands can also be used. Lay the watch flat with the face upward, rotate the watch, and point the hour hand at the sun. At this point, the hour hand and the 12 o’clock mark on the dial form an angle. The bisector of this angle points in the direction of south.
You can also rely on nature to find direction. The North Star is the best indicator of north—the direction it points to is due north.
The Big Dipper, also known as the Ursa Major constellation, looks like a giant ladle and is easily spotted on a clear night. By extending the line formed by the two stars at the edge of the ladle about five times outward, you will see a relatively bright star—that is the North Star, indicating true north.
Determine direction based on the growth of plants. The side of a tree or moss that has lush foliage usually faces south, while the sparse side faces north.
Additionally, observing tree rings can also help determine direction. The side of the tree with sparse rings faces south, while the side with dense rings faces north.
Trapped? Send out a distress signal first
Nowadays, almost everyone carries mobile phones or other communication devices. If you are trapped on a mountain, the first method of seeking help should naturally be calling for rescue via your phone or contacting family and friends.
However, you might experience poor phone signal or run out of battery on the mountain, so it's also important to know other ways to ask for help.
If you carry a whistle, blow it continuously to attract attention. The mountains are usually quiet, so sound can carry far. If you don’t have a whistle, shouting for help is also an option. But don’t shout too often to avoid wasting too much energy.
At night, fire is the most effective signal. Build three fires arranged in a triangle (the internationally recognized distress signal), or in a straight line. As long as time and conditions allow, build the fire(s) as quickly as possible and carefully tend them to keep them burning.
You can also use branches, brightly colored cloth, or any other highly visible objects to form an SOS or other distress signals. If there are planes flying overhead, they are more likely to spot these.
Additionally, if you get lost during the day in the wild, you can use a mirror to reflect intermittent light signals toward possible residential areas or rescue aircraft using sunlight. Alternatively, lay clothes on the ground or drape them over treetops to form large geometric patterns as signals.
Find proper shelter
When trapped in the wild, isolated and unable to get out of danger in a short time—or if someone is injured and immobile, forcing you to wait for rescue on the spot—you may need to spend the night in the wild and set up a temporary shelter.
Depending on local geographical conditions, you can make use of what nature provides. Sometimes you can find ready-made or slightly modified natural shelters for temporary lodging, such as caves, hollows in trees, or tree roots.
If no other shelter is available, some depressions in the ground can be used. Cover the depression with branches and weeds, and pad the bottom with dry grass to sleep on.
This kind of makeshift shelter acts like a shallow underground dugout, providing better insulation and wind protection than a tent—especially in cold areas where such shelters could even be used for longer-term living.
If there’s no ready-made or semi-ready shelter, you’ll have to build one from scratch. There are no fixed materials for building a shelter. Depending on your surroundings, you have many choices. With a bit of creativity and experimentation, it’s not difficult to build a comfortable and sturdy shelter.
Treat wounds promptly if injured
Falls are common while hiking. If a hiker falls from a height, never move or pull the injured person arbitrarily. On-site first aid should involve stopping bleeding, bandaging wounds, and immobilizing any fractured areas according to the injury.
Falling injuries often involve damage to the cervical spine or spinal cord, and moving the injured person carelessly can worsen the condition. Three to four people should support the injured person’s head, shoulders, hips, and legs, with one person giving instructions. They should all move together to gently lift the person onto a wooden board and secure them. Avoid using soft items like bedsheets for transport.
Neck-injured patients should also have their heads immobilized with a cervical collar. In the absence of a cervical collar, place a sandbag or piece of clothing on each side of the injured person’s neck to prevent head rotation or flexion that could worsen spinal damage.
Fellow travelers should immediately call 119 and 120, and dispatch one or two people to the nearest main intersection to the incident site to wait and guide rescue personnel. The remaining individuals should designate one person to verbally comfort the injured person to help alleviate their mental distress.
At the same time, others should try to clear obstacles around the incident site to expand the working area for subsequent firefighting and rescue efforts, aiming to buy more time for the rescue.