An outdoor vacation such as hiking can be a terrific getaway. Vacations like hiking are far different than other vacations which often require you to make travel reservations and find hotel accommodations. However, some hikers like to make a hike part of a larger vacation and rent a house by a lake. This is a great idea. But, hiking does require some extra precaution unlike other popular getaways to the beach or popular tourist attraction.
Getting lost is possibly the most potential problem for those new to hiking. A few steps off the trail can result in a few additional yards in the wrong direction and, eventually, you are far away from your trail and lost. Or, sometimes hikers misread maps and find they are on a different trail than planned. The point is that however it happened, you are lost. Here is some advice to help you avoid getting lost and what you should do if you do get lost, though hopefully you avoid it in the first place.
It is important to heed to some simple guidelines. Always travel with an experienced hiker. Remain on the visible, clearly marked trails. Use a navigational tool, whether a map, compass or GPS device, but keep in mind that GPS...