Illustration
Compared to being trapped, falling, going missing, or hypothermia, very few 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 consistently ranks as the top cause of mountaineering accidents every year, with its proportion on the rise.
From 2014 to 2016, the proportion of outdoor accidents caused by getting lost nationwide were 40%, 45%, and 45% respectively. In October 2016 alone, there were over 1,000 reported cases of outdoor getting-lost incidents across the country (source: Huize.com). Moreover, secondary issues such as hypothermia and loss of contact resulting from getting lost accounted for as high as 80%.
Generally speaking, simply getting lost isn't fatal if handled properly. But if you unfortunately lose your way in winter, the extremely low temperatures and sudden snowstorms can turn it into a life-or-death challenge.
Fatal consequences
After snowfall, existing trails may be covered. In severe weather like snowstorms, visibility is drastically reduced, further increasing the risk of getting lost. Once lost, panic can set in—you might miss turns due to anxiety, becoming increasingly disoriented, or even mentally break down and give up.
Overall, getting lost in winter may lead to the following outcomes:
Injury——Once lost, you may end up on unfamiliar routes that could include sheer cliffs. Without proper preparation, crossing them becomes difficult—minor injuries may include twisting an ankle among rocks, while serious cases could involve falling off cliffs. Both are possible.
In July 2010, a young teacher from Shanghai, Xiao Ren, got lost while descending Cangshan Mountain and accidentally fell off a cliff, breaking his leg and going missing. Over 3,000 rescuers were mobilized, and his body was found on the 13th day.
The picturesque Cangshan Mountain also harbors deadly dangers. Image source: hdwallpapers.in
In winter, outdoors, make sure your warmth measures are sufficient—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, with severe cases possibly leading to amputation.
The body undergoes vasoconstriction, cellular freezing, skin whitening, 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 easily exposed areas, which require special attention to keep warm.Physical exhaustion——Winter snowfall, combined with carrying more gear and wearing bulky clothing, makes walking inherently difficult. Add to that high physical exertion and insufficient energy replenishment, along with hypothermia, and physical exhaustion can easily occur. Physical exhaustion can lead to further problems: increased risk of injury, accelerated hypothermia, and in severe cases, even hallucinations.
Fatal outcomes——Getting lost and encountering a steep cliff, or suffering from severe hypothermia that causes muscle stiffness and weak heartbeat and breathing, can result in death.
During this year’s May Day holiday, a sudden blizzard led to over 20 hikers going missing on the Aotai trekking route, culminating in the tragic deaths of three people due to hypothermia.
Winter is the peak season for getting lost
Aside from encountering severe weather, winter is the season most likely to cause people to get lost.
Fog formation——In winter, due to low temperatures, water vapor in the air exceeds saturation and condenses into droplets. When enough water molecules combine with tiny dust particles in the air, and the water molecules themselves also bond together, 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 often covered by dense fog in the afternoon due to its terrain and high air humidity, leading to frequent incidents of getting lost.
Early darkness——In winter, days are short and nights are long, and it gets dark quickly, especially in the wilderness. 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 place to set up camp quickly. After it gets dark, visibility becomes poor, and you may miss your planned route and lose your bearings.
In winter, it gets dark earlier. Photo/Schak
In winter, identifying trail marks becomes more challenging. Photo/Beiling-Shunzi
Blizzard is one of the biggest obstacles during the Aotai trek.
If you unfortunately encounter a blizzard, the likelihood of getting lost and suffering from hypothermia increases exponentially.
Measures to take if you get lost
Getting lost isn't particularly terrifying, but what’s truly frightening is failing to take proper self-protection and rescue measures after getting lost. Mastering some basic outdoor navigation and survival knowledge can help you extricate yourself from a lost situation or increase your chances of being successfully rescued.
Stay Calm——It's completely normal to feel nervous after getting lost, but you should avoid blind panic. If overwhelmed by negative emotions, it can impair rational judgment and make it difficult to take subsequent actions in a scientific and reasonable manner.
If you’re lost as a group, it’s even more important to stay calm and work together; avoid panic or arguments that might worsen the situation.
Retrace Your Steps——The location where you first realized you were lost or an area you've already passed and confirmed is usually not far off from the "correct path." Lost individuals should try to return there and use it as a base point for further exploration.
If you are completely disoriented or unable to identify the return route due to winter snow or wind, you should stay put, calmly assess the situation, and use available resources to determine the direction and route back.
Determine Direction——Scientifically using professional tools to determine your current location can provide a basis for your next steps. There are several methods as follows:
- GPS is the preferred tool—it not only accurately indicates direction but also precisely records your travel route. You can also use professional outdoor apps on your smartphone, such as “Outdoor Assistant” or “Luzhi Foot,” for directional guidance and route navigation. Additionally, 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, rotate 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 extension of this bisector points south.
- The North Star: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, it looks like a giant ladle and is easy to find on a clear night. Extending a line from the two stars at the edge of the ladle about five times their distance will lead you to a brighter star—that is the North Star, indicating due north.
- Sunlight:On a clear day, plant a stick vertically into the ground and place a stone at the tip of its shadow. After about 15 minutes, when the tip of the shadow has moved, place another stone there. The line connecting the two stones indicates the east-west direction, and the side facing the sun perpendicular to that line is south. The taller, thinner, and more vertically planted the stick, the longer the shadow movement and the more accurate the direction determined.
- Plant Growth:Trees and moss—The side of a tree’s crown that is denser usually faces south, while the sparser side faces north.
- Tree Rings:The side of the tree rings that are spaced farther apart faces south, while the closer-spaced rings face north.
Image source: tianbazp.com
- A wind-sheltered flat area. A relatively flat spot against a wall or the leeward side of rocks is ideal. If you're on a snowy mountain, 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.
- Avoid resting in low-lying valleys due to the risk of falling rocks.
Signal for help——If you confirm that you are lost and cannot find your way out on your own, promptly use communication devices such as your mobile phone to contact family, friends, or the authorities. If you have poor or no mobile signal, you should also know alternative ways to seek help.
Building a campfire is one way to signal for help. 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 planes in the sky using sunlight.
- Arrange branches, brightly colored cloth strips, or other highly visible objects into SOS or other distress signals.
- Use a pen to leave your personal information on trash (bags) and tie the (bags) to tree branches along your path.
- Break off branches along the way or fashion arrows from branches and stones to indicate your direction.
- Build a fire at night. In winter, dry branches catch fire easily—be sure to choose a safe, wind-sheltered spot to avoid starting a wildfire.
Staying warm, especially keeping your extremities warm, is the most important thing to do when lost. Image source: India.com
- If your undergarments get wet, change them as soon as possible.
- Wear as much of the clothing you brought as possible, button up, and zip all zippers.
- Cross your arms inside your clothing with your palms tucked into your armpits to retain warmth.
The experience of hiker "Camel," who got lost for eight days during the La pass ancient trail crossing over the 2015 May Day holiday and was eventually rescued, can also offer us some insights.
Taboos after getting lost
After getting lost, everything is uncertain. Acting blindly not only fails to solve problems but may also land you in even bigger trouble. In addition to responding rationally according to the key points above, those who are lost should also avoid the following improper behaviors.
Recklessly creating new paths——Getting lost can easily lead to anxiety and a desire to escape the predicament hastily. Acting impulsively, relying on luck, or overestimating your abilities may only waste energy and could even push you into a dead end.
Panicking and acting rashly after getting lost is a big no-no. Image source: pixabay.com
It’s best to stick together when lost. Image source: indiahikes.com
Losing willpower—Most people who are successfully rescued after getting lost share the same belief: that they can hold on until rescuers arrive. The will to survive is also an extremely important piece of gear for anyone trying to get out of a lost situation.
When you head outdoors, don’t underestimate the situation or overestimate your own abilities. After all, in the face of any accident, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned adventurer, everyone is equally vulnerable.