Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

36 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTsays that a lost man once came to his camp who hadwalked continuously for six days and nights and wasonly about six miles from his starting point. Fivehours of travel in any one direction would havetaken him out of the woods and saved him the subsequentloss of both feet by freezing.To avoid circling, one must travel by landmarks,or, where none are visible, as in thick woods, thenby compass. Consult the instrument every two orthree minutes, for a slight deviation, persisted in,soon swings you far aside. After going around anobstacle to the right, even up, by walking as far tothe left. Don't travel too fast—it would excite you,wear you out, and keep you from marking yourtrail as you went along. Keep a stiff upper lip, andassure yourself that this is not a tragedy but only aninteresting adventure—then it will turn out so.How to live off the country, in case of being outa long time, will be discussed hereafter.By the time you get out of this predicament youwill agree that the art of not getting lost is worthstudying. Let me now direct our attention to it.