Had a close call--lesson learned!

[MagKarl]

Great story.  I think it's good to remind us now and then with a real example that it can happen to anyone of us at any time.  Several of the guys I hunt with now and then always give me a hard time about the size and weight of my pack.  Every time that I don't use much or any of it I question it myself.  Reading your post just affirms that all that emergency shelter, fire starting, navigation, clothing, food, and water I haul around is justified.  I also wear a cheap round compass on my belt at all times.   

[saylean]

Good point about the compass/gps Iceman. I am very glad to hear everyone got out ok, with little more than a scare.

A great reminder for all of us.

[MichaelJ]

This last september I took off up some logging roads outside of Moscow... thinking I would eventually hit an area where I could do some glassing I hike in about 2 miles... stayed up there all day looking for elk with no luck.  Made camp and hit the sack... I was feeling pretty down about the type of country I was in, so about 10 PM I took off for the truck.  I had a headlamp but soon found myself in the bottom of a canyon in chest high brush looking for the right ridge.  It took me two hours to get those two hours back to the truck.  It took me the first hour and 20 minutes to even find the road (which is what I hiked in on).  I had the means to survive (comfortably even), but felt like an idiot for packing up in the dark in strange country and knew that I could possibly be going in the wrong direction... Being lost sucks lol

Michael

[Little Fish]

I personally think a GPS is only one part of a larger survival kit. I like having a compass as back up plus enough gear for spending the night if necessary.

[dbllunger]

Good info...don't forget the good old compass.  I carry a GPS and compass.  Glad you did not have to spend the night.  Been turned around a couple times and it sucks and is a little scary.

[@RCHER]

Great heads up post, Todd. So glad everything turned out well. Lessons learned for sure.

[rainshadow1]

Fog sucks! (I grew up a commercial fisherman, I've always hated it! ) It takes an already dark, wet, disorienting landscape and double or triples it and turns it upside down!

Really glad everything turned out ok.

Whenever I'm hiking further than I know I can orient in any weather or darkness condition, I take the time to let the GPS orient, and then I waypoint the truck.

[Webfoot]

Glad all is well with you two.
Been there done that years ago. I now have a pack with all of the fixins for an elk kill and a night out if need be. I will not leave camp or the truck without that pack even if I think it will only be a short jaunt in the middle of the day.

John

[rosscrazyelk]

Glad to hear you guys are o.k   Stories like this are why My pack is heavy as hell full of everything. I would rather it be heavy than to be unprepared . Hope you thanked the man upstairs

[dreamingbig]

Glad to hear you both made it out okay.  I tend to carry the "kitchen sink" with me at all times but haven't had to use most of it yet.  I would be hard pressed to go without firestarter, matches & lighter, heavy duty space blanket, first aid kit, gps and compass, and at least 2 light sources (2 headlamps) with extra batteries.

Stay safe out there everyone and learn from Todd's experience.