Lost in the mountains

[Member 24198]

I always use onx on my phone and carry a sat communicator.

 

[TTSX]

it was hunting season, every body was armed, an old gray haired dude in the middle of no where ,,,,,,,,,cmon man!

 

[AshWilliams]

With Black Friday looming now would be a perfect time to pick up a GPS.

 

[357 MAX]

I started to update my pack yesterday. I still have a till Sunday to fill my tag so,,,,,,maybe

 

[Spitpatch]

I started to update my pack yesterday. I still have a till Sunday to fill my tag so,,,,,,maybe

Coupla elk in that area sittin' around sayin',

"Remember that dude we ditched last week? Yeah, man, I hear he's comin' back for more!"

 

[Member 24198]

I started to update my pack yesterday. I still have a till Sunday to fill my tag so,,,,,,maybe

At a minimum, get onx.

 

[TTSX]

At a minimum, get onx.

They have an analog version of that, too. I think it's called... A map

 

[357 MAX]

With Black Friday looming now would be a perfect time to pick up a GPS.

I was told by a friend about an app that I can get on my phone for that.

 

[357 MAX]

At a minimum, get onx.

yes that's the one

 

[Member 24198]

They have an analog version of that, too. I think it's called... A map

Is that what boomers call it these days?

 

[TTSX]

Is that what boomers call it these days?

 

[Bobbygun]

Is that what boomers call it these days?

This boomer has OnX on his Garmin Rino. The real benefit of the Rino is I can poll the location of my directionally challenged son and know exactly where he is. My aged hunting buddy with a morbid sense of humor always tells me that when he keels over someday, it will be easy for me to find his body and take it back to civilization. I assure him I will have to gut him out first. He said at that point, he doesn't think he will really care.

 

[357 MAX]

I have to give a shout-out to the people that gave me a ride great local people. I was pretty rank after whetting myself in the night, the guy was Mike I can't remember his wife's name. Mike had harvested a bull in that area earlier. his wife had a cow tag. Silvies unit fsrd. 31 a lot of elk had been crossing and recrossing the roads.

 

[Mikej]

I have to give a shout-out to the people that gave me a ride great local people. I was pretty rank after whetting myself in the night, the guy was Mike I can't remember his wife's name. Mike had harvested a bull in that area earlier. his wife had a cow tag. Silvies unit fsrd. 31 a lot of elk had been crossing and recrossing the roads.

I'm glad it turned out good for you. I know "That" feeling. Wifey and I mushroom hunting in Mt Hood NF. We don't go too far from the car. Usually make a loop of sorts. I came to a place where I should have come to the road, where the car would be a couple hundred yard down. I didn't. I sent Wifey back about 100 yards to a unique, multi-trunked, tree. Staying in contact contact with "Marc/Polo". Once she got to that tree I went to her. I recognized the way we came in after that, That's a terrible feeling trying to process in you mind where you are. (Shudder)

 

[Koda]

All it takes is one time getting turned around to realize just how quickly nature can reclaim you. Hunting is more dangerous because were intentionally going off trail to find them. In my early 20s I used to never carry a map and compass, didn't know how to use them and simply relied on my "good sense of direction". I eventually got lost big time spent half the day wondering around till I found an old road grade and stuck to it. Darkness was settling in and I was scared, it started drizzling. Eventually off in the distance I saw a person, my dad... I was saved (or so I thought). He called out to me and scrambled down to the road, when we met up both of us simultaneously said "boy am I glad to see you". The look on both our faces was priceless.

After that, I bought a compass and a book on how to use one (pre gps days) and always carried a map and compass now. Today I use a phone app (I keep a paper map and cheap small compass as backup). I use the Caltopo phone app, far superior to the others Ive tried (IMO) and the free version will get anyone started with excellent usable free topo maps. For the less tech savvy an old school map and compass is essential still. Whatever anyone decides to use, everyone needs a navigation system in their pack. A nav system is one of the 10 essentials.

Photo of conditions this year elk hunting off trail. I had just missed a few elk in this pocket meadow based on the fresh tracks, they led into the dark timber heading into a drainage. I followed for a long time but could not catch up to them. The snow was heavy and the scene reminded me to watch my step and not twist an ankle or injure myself out there. Navigation no longer the issue but injury is now. Conditions like this just remind me how quickly nature can make one disappear.

Now go get your elk.

 

[2gr8dgs]

I meet up with people like you often while out hunting. Most times I let them know that when I'm done with my hunt I will swing by and help them out. With your lack of preparation, you were not being responsible for yourself. Your mad at people who chose to not be responsible for you.

 

[Tlock]

They have an analog version of that, too. I think it's called... A map

Youd be surprised how many people can't read a map.....

 

[RVTECH]

All it takes is one time getting turned around to realize just how quickly nature can reclaim you. Hunting is more dangerous because were intentionally going off trail to find them.

Ditto this - and I experienced a similar situation myself.

While bow hunting many years ago in the Ochocos and trying to get back to camp I realized I was lost.

While still early I decided to try to turn around, retrace my steps and see if I could recognize anything I passed earlier but to no avail.

Well, the day was wearing on but I decided to keep moving until near last light and then I would make camp for the night. Fortunately I was 'moderately' prepared for a night.

Well, I was almost ready to pack it in for the night when I saw what looked like a fenceline in the distance so I headed for it and found a road that looked familiar and after thinking about it I recognized it was the road my friend and I had came in on two days earlier - so I decided to stay on the road and hope I was right.

Well about 9:30 that night I walked into camp and saw a folding chair in front of a tree with a note from my friend telling me to stay here as he was going come back every half hour till 11 or so and If he did not see me here (or find me elsewhere) he was going into Prineville and contact LEOs and start the 'search' process. Friend rolls up about 10 and we are on our way.

Well, I realized later I made several common mistakes - # 1 was I failed to keep 'Eyes on the horizon' - for land marks, peaks etc I could use for orientation.

Something else I learned later was to ALWAYS carry a roll of blaze orange surveyor tape and hang or tie a piece in a tree at a junction, crossing etc. anywhere from a deviation from the main trail.

 

[Koda]

some levity on the matter.




source

 

[titsonritz]

No compass? No map?