Know your route well, Its an important step in your travel you should be familiarizing yourself with the route map. Gain as much knowledge of the terrain as possible , get a general idea about the type of climate and surroundings that you are about to face.

As if in a group all of the team members should be aware as to the route that they are going and also a point should be marked in the map as an escape point as in any case if one of the members is lost he can return himself to the escape point.

While using an unfamiliar route use a map and a gps if possible. Also try to leave trace of your route if you are in a forest.

In the Army we called them rally points. They were points where we would stop for planned rests, refuel vehicles, or our destination. Everyone had maps, compasses and the locations of these points. Once we would reach a rally point, we would make sure everyone was accounted for before we would move on.

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Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

I am always aware of the route i am traveling. If i am traveling in a forest, mostly i would leave a trail to trace back.

Knowing the routes and the terrain are an important thing to do. On most cases people who face troubles or dangers would evacuate themselves to safety if they know the terrain especially when it comes to deserts and forests where the route can play a vital role.

Its a known fact that one cannot make the way out in an unfamiliar place. So if you are in to such a place, what i recommend is never go without a map or a compass and a gps if possible.

Losing the route is what we do when we in a new place. So the best thing is to have a compass, map and a gps device with us.
By this way we can regain the route.