Distress Signals
The best method is a signal fire. The international sign of distress is a triangle, so in life-threatening situations, it is recommended to build three fires in a triangular formation to attract the attention of aircraft flying overhead. However, if you find yourself alone in an open area, building three fires can be very difficult. In any case, one large and bright fire is better than three small ones.
Such a fire should be built as quickly as possible, and the flames should be very strong. This way, it can be seen at night, while a thick column of smoke will be visible during the day. Throw plenty of damp leaves or green branches into the fire to create a lot of smoke. (However, smoke signals are clearly visible only in windless, dry weather: strong wind, rain, or snow quickly disperse the smoke.) If you find birch bark or spruce branches, you'll see they burn best. Just be sure to watch the fire carefully to prevent a wildfire.
Map Reading and Proper Navigation
The ability to read a map and use a compass is the foremost skill of a scout and a soldier. If you can't reach your destination, you won't be able to accomplish your goal. But knowing how to read a map and take a compass bearing is not enough: you must also be able to "read" the terrain, the weather, and all the other signs nature provides.
Even before founding the Scout movement, Baden-Powell understood the critical importance of map-reading for a good scout or soldier. He recalled how, just before the start of the Anglo-Boer War, he was tasked with scouting the passes in the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa. After a thorough study, he discovered a number of inaccuracies on the map. Upon his return, he reported this to his superiors, understanding that this information was of strategic importance. But his words were ignored, and when the war began, the maps had not been corrected according to his notes. Worse still—his opinion that the defense of the town of Ladysmith was futile (as he knew the area well and perfectly understood the town was doomed) was also disregarded by the command. British troops were besieged there and suffered a crushing defeat. From those very days, Baden-Powell always demanded that his soldiers, and later his scouts, have an excellent knowledge of maps, be able to read them, and work with a compass. Moreover, they had to use these skills effectively.
The inability to read a map, or at least to identify what objects are depicted on it, has been the subject of many army jokes—if someone made a blunder in navigation, it was never forgotten! I recall one incident with a unit training in the desert. This unit was tasked with setting up an observation post (OP) near a small village. They were to be flown there by a local helicopter pilot. During the briefing, the pilot assured the unit commander that he knew the bridge over a dry riverbed, which was marked on the map, very well.
As it turned out, this pilot dropped the unit off at a bridge located 20 km north of the intended point, explaining that it looked very similar to the right bridge and was, moreover, "in the same desert"! Of course, that pilot was never entrusted with any tasks again. Fortunately, his mistake didn't cause any major harm, except that the unit had to march all night to reach the correct bridge. They were, of course, extremely tired but glad that their navigation skills didn't fail them—they reached the designated point exactly.
However, such mistakes can lead to tragic consequences. Rescue services often have to evacuate people from mountains or pull them out of swamps—people who got lost precisely because of their inability to read a map correctly.
Next guide: The Art of Animal Observation and the Secrets of Trackers Previous guide: How to Navigate by Weather Conditions on a Hike You can view the full list here: Survival Guides for the Mountains
