View Full Version : how often can you get lost in the same place?
does this happen to you, too? there's a section of the CT AT that I've hiked twice recently, and each time I've come to a roughly 150 degree switchback on level ground, wandered past the switchback point on some rocks, realized i'd missed the switchback, turned around... and not been able to tell which trail i came on. Fine the first time, but the second time i felt like an idiot. i'll try again tomorrow and see if i can go for three! got my record beat already?
Do pranks count? Because I heard of a prank pulled on Bong a few years back...
Well, you are not alone in this. I think that we sometimes have an unconscious mental image of what the trail looked like and we just move along thinkng we are going in the right direction.
When my Dad became unable to drive, he often asked me to drive him on day trips to the places he remembered going. His vision and memory weren't very good and we often got lost for a while. We lived in Wisconsin and it seemed like every time we crossed the river to Iowa I was sure to get turned around fairly seriously. I was thinking about this one day and it occured to me that on the east side of the river I was used to navigating by the hills and valleys that drain to the river on the west. But in Iowa the land drains to the east. After I figured this out I did not get lost again.
Anumber1
08-20-2010, 01:09
in my highschool days my buddies and I would always get lost looking for this certain cabin on a mountain in NH. Of course we had no idea what we were doing and for some reason insisted on hiking at night and in the rain... etc.
Took 5 trips up that mountain until I finally stayed at the cabin.
kayak karl
08-20-2010, 01:09
i don't know how many times driving in the pines in my CJ i'd look at the kids and say "we've been lost here before haven't we?"
um, I don't get lost, just tend to lose my specific bearings relative to the larger scale
Hikes in Rain
08-20-2010, 08:57
Not just on the trail. I've lived in this little city for almost 14 years, and.......
Blue Jay
08-20-2010, 09:52
I can top that. While concentrating on the rocks, I've hit my head on the same branch on the south side of Dragon's Tooth 3 TIMES. I did however stop myself from kicking the tree and hurting my foot this time.:banana
One Half
08-20-2010, 10:59
I'm "famous" for saying "I don't know where I am but I know I've been lost here before." :)
I can top that. While concentrating on the rocks, I've hit my head on the same branch on the south side of Dragon's Tooth 3 TIMES. I did however stop myself from kicking the tree and hurting my foot this time.:banana
Bring Saw, Cut Branch next time. :D
Senility is never pretty.
couscous
08-20-2010, 11:42
i'll try again tomorrow and see if i can go for three!
You could become a trail maintainer with the CCAMC (http://www.ct-amc.org/trails/TrailsListings.shtm) and improve the blazing. My blazing paint is Sweeping Blue 2408 so I can't help.
innermountain
08-20-2010, 16:05
The "mental images" that one person mentioned play a huge role in how we do in survival situations or when we're lost. If any of you want to read a GREAT book on the subject, I highly recommend "Deep Survival: Who Live and Dies in the Wilderness and Why." One of my favs. He gets into our mental maps and how the people who survive are able to change their mental maps more quickly than people who don't survive. The ones that don't try and hang on to how they were viewing the situation before (their old map) instead of changing their map to fit the new situation (the potential new map). Kids younger than like 8 or 10 do great when they get lost, because they aren't as attached to their mental maps (or maybe don't even really have any) and so they accept their circumstances readily and don't get panicked. It's very interesting stuff...
twosticks
08-20-2010, 16:12
i don't know how many times driving in the pines in my CJ i'd look at the kids and say "we've been lost here before haven't we?"
By the Pines you mean the Pine Barrens in NJ? and what year CJ?
I took my 79 CJ-7 there many a time and said the same thing.
crazyonelost
08-20-2010, 16:51
I took my boy in Raccoon Creek State Park a few weeks ago. I hiked this 20 mile loop several times and from different direction. This particular weekend,must of had a brain fart and traveled 8 miles the opposite direction of what I wanted. I kept thinking the whole time. something didn't seem right,but what I remember of the stuff along the trail the trail and said. We must be going in the right direction. Cause here is this section of trees.
I should have looked at the map instead of putting it in my map. DUh!!! what a way to teach my boy about hiking and finding your way.
Old Grouse
08-20-2010, 17:01
When you're lost, you're learning!
Or as we used to say in motorsports, "See America: Get Lost On A Rally!"
I'm "famous" for saying "I don't know where I am but I know I've been lost here before." :)
well, I like that. I was soooo careful today... and did not get lost for the third time in the same place. I'm very proud of myself. You all have helped me to see the virtue of lossedness, and I thank you for that.
johnnybgood
08-20-2010, 19:32
well, I like that. I was soooo careful today... and did not get lost for the third time in the same place. I'm very proud of myself. You all have helped me to see the virtue of lossedness, and I thank you for that.
Glad to see that the 3rd time was the charm.
I was like you were having amnesia and deja-vu at the same time.
I travel most of nine states.
I am rarely lost, but consistantly recognize where to turn around to get where I am going.
Graywolf
08-22-2010, 02:48
does this happen to you, too? there's a section of the CT AT that I've hiked twice recently, and each time I've come to a roughly 150 degree switchback on level ground, wandered past the switchback point on some rocks, realized i'd missed the switchback, turned around... and not been able to tell which trail i came on. Fine the first time, but the second time i felt like an idiot. i'll try again tomorrow and see if i can go for three! got my record beat already?
What section of the Colorado Trail crosses the Appalachian Trail?? Now I'm lost.:-?
Safety Pins
08-22-2010, 19:33
Lazarus: I've also gotten turned around on the trail in Connecticut -- later couldn't figure how the heck it happened. It was near the small "lemon squeeze" in the vicinity of Pine Swamp Lean-To. Where did you get turned around?
Senility is never pretty.
But at least you can hide your own Easter eggs and still enjoy the challenge of the hunt.
does this happen to you, too? there's a section of the CT AT that I've hiked twice recently, and each time I've come to a roughly 150 degree switchback on level ground, wandered past the switchback point on some rocks, realized i'd missed the switchback, turned around... and not been able to tell which trail i came on. Fine the first time, but the second time i felt like an idiot. i'll try again tomorrow and see if i can go for three! got my record beat already?
Aren't you the guy who told me there were no hills in CT? :)
And encouraged me to hike in NY during a blizzard? :) :)
Bare Bear
08-23-2010, 11:20
Around Joshua Tree Natl Park it is all sand and dessert; there are many places where you find multiple trials converging....very easy to get lost if you have not been 'looking up' for a mountain marker. It used to scare my sweetie until she came to trust my judgement. We bushwacked a lot to get to places then and it always worked out.
pretty sure that was some other risen from the dead guy.
Aren't you the guy who told me there were no hills in CT? :)
And encouraged me to hike in NY during a blizzard? :) :)
for me it was on Schaghticoke mountain, north of the Ten Mile River Shelter. Just silly, i think.
Lazarus: I've also gotten turned around on the trail in Connecticut -- later couldn't figure how the heck it happened. It was near the small "lemon squeeze" in the vicinity of Pine Swamp Lean-To. Where did you get turned around?
for me it was on Schaghticoke mountain, north of the Ten Mile River Shelter. Just silly, i think.
If you ever get back down my way we'll have to hit some of these gentle southern balds together!