Cave Hiking | What to Do If you Get Lost
We all strive to avoid getting lost in any situation we find ourselves. We surround ourselves with maps and buy Thomas Guides so we don’t feel lost in the city. We hire experienced guides to help us climb mountains or explore caves, and in our modern age, we carry GPS systems with us when we go exploring the great outdoors. Try as we do, there may come a time where we find ourselves lost despite our best efforts. There are great articles available on what to do if you find yourself lost while hunting or camping, but what I want to focus on is what to do if you get lost while cave hiking.
No matter what setting your find yourself lost, the first thing to do is remain calm. Panicking will lead to disoriented thinking and confusion. If lost while hiking through dark, dense caves, follow these few tips to ensure your safe return.
- When you realize you are lost, sit down and face the way you were walking.
- Turn off all of your flashlights, headlamps or lanterns to conserve batteries and bulbs.
- Test your mobile phone signal if you brought one. If you cannot get a signal, turn it off to conserve battery life as well.
- Take stock of how you preplanned your trip. Did you tell someone you were going into the cave? What do they know about your expected return time? When will they start to look for you.
- Take stock of your supplies. How much food and water do you have with you? How long will your light sources last? Are your clothes warm enough for the night, if rescue does not come before then?
- Assess how far you’ve come? Can you find your way back? Is it better to move from your location or stay here until help arrives?
- Take your survival knife or other sharp object and scratch an identification mark (name or initials) and the time into the cave wall. This will help you find your way back to this spot or help others find you. Create an identification mark of some sort by piling rocks or tearing off some cloth if you cannot scratch into the surface. If you decide to move, make this mark in regular intervals as you walk.
- Conserve your light source the best you can. If you have an LED light with dimming capabilities, use the lower setting to help conserve battery life. If possible, light a fire when you rest to conserve your flashlights and lanterns for when you are moving.
These are simple steps you can follow to ensure a safe cave hike. As with any outdoor exploration, always enter caves educated about the terrain and trails or with a qualified guide to ensure your safe return home.
