A reporter once asked Daniel Boone if he had ever been lost. Old Dan’l thought for a few moments then replied, “No sir, but once I was a might confused for a few days.” Here’s a few tips for staying found on the trail and what to do if you should become “a might confused.”

1) Check with the local land manager to find out the rules and regulations for the section of trail you are planning to hike. Ask about hunting dates, road closures, water availability, burn schedules and the hours they are open.

2) Check with local trail maintainers for up to date trail conditions, especially after storms and fires.

3) File a hike plan with a friend or family member. This should include where you are going, where your car will be parked and when you expect to return home. ( Don’t forget to call your friend or family when you get home! ) If you get to the trailhead and change your itinerary, tell a local land manager or leave a copy of your changed itinerary in your vehicle.

4) Make sure you have the most up-to-date maps of your hiking area. FTA hiking maps are updated every year but some free brochure maps in land manager kiosks are several years old and may not show all the trails and roads correctly.

5) Before you hike out, study the map to get a good general overview of the area. Identify emergency cut out points and major landmarks. Know where the closest access points are to the trail and what direction they are from the trail.

6) Check local weather conditions before you head out. Wear or carry clothing appropriate to the anticipated weather.

7) If you carry a GPS, record a waypoint at your starting location and/or your vehicle.

8) Carry the basics in your pack – small first aid kit, water, water purification, jacket or rain gear, flashlight, whistle, matches and a snack.

9) The Florida Trail is marked with blazes every hundred feet or so, but occasionally a storm or fire may take out one or more blaze trees. If you are not sure whether you are stillon the trail and can’t find a blaze in front of you, try looking behind you for a blaze.

10) If injured on the trail or you find that you are more than “a might confused”, stay put and wait for help. As we tell the kids, “Hug a tree!” If you followed the steps outlined above, someone will come looking for you soon, but the further away from your projected route you wander, the longer it will take them to find you.

Deb Blick, Trail Resource Coordinator
Dan McKeague, Intern