Lost while hiking: the STOP method
Don't cut downhill — staying put gets you rescued faster than wandering
01 What to do now
- 01
S — Stop
Stop moving immediately — continuing to walk only takes you further off course
- 02
T — Think
Try to recall how you got here; if you can't retrace your steps, stay where you are
- 03
O — Observe
Take stock of your remaining food, water, and gear, and observe your surroundings
- 04
P — Plan
Make a plan to wait for rescue, ration your remaining food and water, stay warm, and prepare to wait
- 05
How to call for help
Where you have signal, call your local emergency number; use your phone's offline map to confirm your coordinates and report them to search & rescue; at night, signal SOS with a headlamp or phone flashlight (3 short, 3 long, 3 short); in daylight, use something reflective
02 Common myths
Cutting downhill to find a way when lost: valley terrain is more complex and signal is worse, making search & rescue much harder
Moving again after reporting your location: rescue teams search based on your reported coordinates — moving on your own means they can't find you