Trail Marking

[captpschar]

I'm going to give a back country scout in the Olympics wilderness areas a shot this year, leaning towards a back country hunt if it goes well.  I'm concerned about going off trail in such a remote area, and I'm looking for input.

I've always explored really open areas that are hard to get turned around in (southwest, badlands), or stayed on trail in closer more confusing terrain (northern forests).  The Olympic wilderness areas seem like something halfway between these sorts of terrain, and this will be my first time going off trail where there's a reasonable chance I could get turned around.  I'm going to have to figure out a way to mark my path, and I'm not sure which approach is best.

How do you guys mark your paths when you go off trail?  Cairns?  Marking Tape?  Is there an approach that works for you that's a bit unusual?  How do you think of it?  What's best?

[vandeman17]

Gps that tracks my path

[300rum]

I use a GPS but I don't use it to get back unless I really need it.  I mark the truck and then turn it off and use dead-reckoning from then on.  On thing that works for me is that I look at my back trail occasionally.  That isn't going to work so well in a forest but it is good to get in the habit anyway.

I use a beaner on a string and carry my gps in my pocket.  This way, if I ever get separated from my pack (which I don't do) at least I will have my gps, my knife, and a lighter.

Don't be afraid to get out there.     

[brocka]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

[Stein]

GPS and a compass with a basic map showing at least roads, water and trails.

I only use marking tape for blood tarails and getting back to kill sites.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[captpschar]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

I feel the same way about it.  Thinking over using it my first thought is forgetting to take it down and being disgusted with myself lol.

[captpschar]

GPS and a compass with a basic map showing at least roads, water and trails.

I only use marking tape for blood tarails and getting back to kill sites.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is probably going to be the way I go.  I got some decent maps made up through the USGS website, and I think I’ll use my phone as a GPS with a recharger just in case.

[dreamunelk]

Gps that tracks my path

 

[cougforester]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Where do you do this? There is likely a reason why those ribbons were hung. Road centerlines or clearing limits, timber harvest boundary, cruise ribbon....  I get it's not pretty but man I get so mad when someone rips my ribbon down.

[trophyhunt]

In the past old trappers and Indians would blaze a trail, Ive seen some blazes that were very old, kinda cool.

[bkaech]

If you know where the trials are, where the peaks are, and the streams are it should be easy to make it back to the trail. Look at and have maps so you know the landscape. Don’t cross any streams or ridges that you don’t know and know how to walk in a direction/have compass.

[SteelheadTed]

You can't go wrong with the following, IMO:

• OnX maps as your main navigation tool (the benefits are huge and some of which you don't realize until you start using it)
• Know how to orient the old fashioned way with a map and compass.  You need to really know this and have practiced it

Option 2 is a backup if option 1 fails; battery dies, phone dies, phone takes a swim, whatever.  Don't rely on technology alone.  Just like a safety on a rifle, it isn't full proof.  In fact, I'd say you are far more likely to experience a tech failure than a safety failure on your weapon.

[SteelheadTed]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

I agree it is annoying but the chance this causes someone some real heartache (whether they are marking a trail, timber harvest markers, whatever) is not worth risking just because it annoys your eyes. 

Because it may be on public land does not give you standing to remove it.

[Doublelunger]

I like to get to know an area as much as I can before I ever get there.  I'll spend a ton of time looking over an area on google earth. I feel like when I finally put boots on the gound I usually have a pretty good general understanding of the area which really puts my mind at ease. I also had to learn (the hard way)that I tend to underestimate how difficult country is based off of escouting on google earth. 

[Doublelunger]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Most marking tape is biodegradable and has a life of 6-24 months. Most of the time its hung for a pretty good reason too.

[captpschar]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Most marking tape is biodegradable and has a life of 6-24 months. Most of the time its hung for a pretty good reason too.

Where does someone get biodegradable marking tape?

[SuperX]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Most marking tape is biodegradable and has a life of 6-24 months. Most of the time its hung for a pretty good reason too.

Where does someone get biodegradable marking tape?

Safeway, in the toilet paper isle! 

[brocka]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Where do you do this? There is likely a reason why those ribbons were hung. Road centerlines or clearing limits, timber harvest boundary, cruise ribbon....  I get it's not pretty but man I get so mad when someone rips my ribbon down.

I have never taken marking tape down in an area that there would be a road, clear-cuts or timber harvest. I do not hunt areas where those would take place. Plus I do have a little common sense. The ribbon I have pulled down and packed out is in the wilderness areas or in national forest where, frankly its flat out litter. I also found some ribbon on some state land while pheasant hunting last year that led into some into very thick Russian olives. I followed it and it took me right to a marijuana grow site. Should I leave it up next time so they can get to their weed?

Anyway, good to know that its biodegradable. That makes me feel alot better about it!

Anybody else want to blast me for trying to clean up our wilderness, national forest and state land?

[Shawn Ryan]

... I'm looking for input.

/ / / /

How do you guys mark your paths when you go off trail?  Cairns?  Marking Tape?  Is there an approach that works for you that's a bit unusual?  How do you think of it?  What's best?

Cairns. Definitely, cairns.  That way you'll be so busy building cairns that you won't have wandered far from the parking lot.

Sorry, couldn't resist and/or bad judgment today. But seriously, the replies above have you covered: Navigation skills, GPS, paper map, compass, and lots of pre-trip planning/map reviewing. And, seriously, thanks for asking. That's what this place is good for.

[2MANY]

If it's a trail why mark it?

[SteelheadTed]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Where do you do this? There is likely a reason why those ribbons were hung. Road centerlines or clearing limits, timber harvest boundary, cruise ribbon....  I get it's not pretty but man I get so mad when someone rips my ribbon down.

I have never taken marking tape down in an area that there would be a road, clear-cuts or timber harvest. I do not hunt areas where those would take place. Plus I do have a little common sense. The ribbon I have pulled down and packed out is in the wilderness areas or in national forest where, frankly its flat out litter. I also found some ribbon on some state land while pheasant hunting last year that led into some into very thick Russian olives. I followed it and it took me right to a marijuana grow site. Should I leave it up next time so they can get to their weed?

Anyway, good to know that its biodegradable. That makes me feel alot better about it!

Anybody else want to blast me for trying to clean up our wilderness, national forest and state land?

I'm not sure you got blasted but I think it a reasonable criticism.  Some folks take trail cameras that aren't theirs because they say it is "littering".   Is that OK?  At what point is it OK to remove something you didn't put there?

[Stein]

I was waiting for someone to mention trail cams.  Seems like you can either leave stuff in the woods or not.  I leave trail tape but pull it on the way out and it is the kind that breaks down in a season either way.  Trail tape is a legitimate marking tool in my mind just the same as leaving a bunch of cams or bait or salt around.

Now a big pile of TP on the side of the road we can have a discussion about.

[WapitiTalk1]

I was waiting for someone to mention trail cams.  Seems like you can either leave stuff in the woods or not.  I leave trail tape but pull it on the way out and it is the kind that breaks down in a season either way.  Trail tape is a legitimate marking tool in my mind just the same as leaving a bunch of cams or bait or salt around.

Now a big pile of TP on the side of the road we can have a discussion about.

Well put 

[JimmyHoffa]

Seems best to find big, easy to find natural markers--snags, dead trees, twisted trees, oddball species.  Then mark in between them.  Flagging can be color dependent or even need wind.  I think the neon green and pink seem to work best, especially if you hang it high.  Orange and yellow can be tough to find in fall sometimes.  The reflective tacks work pretty good.  Problem with marking a trail in any sense is others will find it and use it.  Kind of have to find ways to keep the marks kind of hidden, but easy for you to find.

[optic2]

I'm going to give a back country scout in the Olympics wilderness areas a shot this year, leaning towards a back country hunt if it goes well.  I'm concerned about going off trail in such a remote area, and I'm looking for input.

I've always explored really open areas that are hard to get turned around in (southwest, badlands), or stayed on trail in closer more confusing terrain (northern forests).  The Olympic wilderness areas seem like something halfway between these sorts of terrain, and this will be my first time going off trail where there's a reasonable chance I could get turned around.  I'm going to have to figure out a way to mark my path, and I'm not sure which approach is best.

How do you guys mark your paths when you go off trail?  Cairns?  Marking Tape?  Is there an approach that works for you that's a bit unusual?  How do you think of it?  What's best?

Buy this book. Learn it backwards and forwards. Also buy and inreach in case you get completely lost or get injured in the backcountry. You may be able to find your way out, but if you break your ankle then you aren't going anywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Navigation-Finding-Altimeter-Mountaineers/dp/1594859450/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=wilderness+navigation&qid=1558498955&s=gateway&sr=8-1

[lee]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Most marking tape is biodegradable and has a life of 6-24 months. Most of the time its hung for a pretty good reason too.

Where does someone get biodegradable marking tape?

Costco,.... Kirkland brand double ply!!!!!!

Sorry I couldn't resist,... but would be interested in this kind of tape.

As other's have stated,  I always carry my GPS with installed maps, a compass and printed maps sealed in water proof..... only thing I also carry not mentioned yet is an PLB.... just in case the SHTF.

Lee

[Stein]

Just google it.

https://www.amazon.com/Biodegradbl-Flagging-Tape-Orng-100ft/dp/B007PD2UMG/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_60_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G0MDA0HDJE2WXH1H399C

A bunch of the stuff sold at sporting goods stores is similar, they break down pretty quickly.

[fishngamereaper]

I run the Basemap app..pretty dang happy with it.

[Matth]

Marking tape is litter. Drives me nuts. I take it down and put it in my pack whenever I see some...so I wouldn't go that route as someone might be eating your breadcrumbs as you drop them.

Where do you do this? There is likely a reason why those ribbons were hung. Road centerlines or clearing limits, timber harvest boundary, cruise ribbon....  I get it's not pretty but man I get so mad when someone rips my ribbon down.

I have never taken marking tape down in an area that there would be a road, clear-cuts or timber harvest. I do not hunt areas where those would take place. Plus I do have a little common sense. The ribbon I have pulled down and packed out is in the wilderness areas or in national forest where, frankly its flat out litter. I also found some ribbon on some state land while pheasant hunting last year that led into some into very thick Russian olives. I followed it and it took me right to a marijuana grow site. Should I leave it up next time so they can get to their weed?

Anyway, good to know that its biodegradable. That makes me feel alot better about it!

Anybody else want to blast me for trying to clean up our wilderness, national forest and state land?

I agree with this completely. In the national forest, and in wilderness areas i pull it all down, and put it in my pocket. State, and private lands are a different story. I hunt the same area of the GP every year, and i pull it out of the same areas every year.

[Stein]

If it's a trail why mark it?

I don't think many people mark an established trail.  In the past, I have marked the place on a trail I need to peel of to get to a kill site as well as putting them near blood when trailing so you can find it again if you need to or look back and get an idea on the route the animal may be taking. 

They are also handy for showing other people where to go if you have a buddy trying to find you.

There are also a bunch of commercial uses from logging, biologists, forest managers, land managers and a long list of other people that use them to mark things.

[boneaddict]

Those equating trailcams to litter.       
stick a beer bottle on a branch....afterall it must have had a use and it isnt your property. 

A wilderness area isnt supposed to be cluttered with marking tape.  Has anyone heard of no trace.   Yowzhers.   Ill stop before .........


If you are uncomfortable about where you are going, Id suggest GPS, but for the life of me I wouldnt depend on it.   Basic woodsman skills need to be learned before adventuring beyond ones skill level.   Its smart to know your limitations.   Mother nature is not forgiving.

[Karl Blanchard]

Those equating trailcams to litter.       
stick a beer bottle on a branch....afterall it must have had a use and it isnt your property. 

A wilderness area isnt supposed to be cluttered with marking tape.  Has anyone heard of no trace.   Yowzhers.   Ill stop before .........


If you are uncomfortable about where you are going, Id suggest GPS, but for the life of me I wouldnt depend on it.   Basic woodsman skills need to be learned before adventuring beyond ones skill level.   Its smart to know your limitations.   Mother nature is not forgiving.

beat me to it Doug

[Stein]

I don't equate a trailcam to litter, nor do I consider marking a kill site or route to there with trail tape litter.  Seems that people tend to consider what they do right and just on both sides.

If you are leaving no trace, you aren't leaving anything in the woods that wasn't there before you came in.

[MR5x5]

2 compasses just in case batteries fail on one...

[2MANY]

Those equating trailcams to litter.       
stick a beer bottle on a branch....afterall it must have had a use and it isnt your property. 

A wilderness area isnt supposed to be cluttered with marking tape.  Has anyone heard of no trace.   Yowzhers.   Ill stop before .........


If you are uncomfortable about where you are going, Id suggest GPS, but for the life of me I wouldnt depend on it.   Basic woodsman skills need to be learned before adventuring beyond ones skill level.   Its smart to know your limitations.   Mother nature is not forgiving.

beat me to it Doug

The litter in the woods is pathetic these days.
Some people's kids.

[follow maggie]

I think you should start with smaller ventures. If you know how to use a map & compass, there's no need to be leaving tape all over the woods. Orienteering with a map & compass is pretty easy & enjoyable once you learn how, and REI offers free or low cost classes on it. If I cant see landmarks, I use a gps to show where I am & a bearing to where I want to be, then I plot it on the compass & start trekking.

[haugenna]

Fishing reel with as much line it can hold. Tie one pice to a tree by the truck and open the bail. Walk until you are out. Reel yourself back to the truck.

I am joking but I bet it has been done

My suggestion is to pick a route you want to take, a hunting loop, and walk it a few times with tape before season starts, make some blazes on trees, kick some dirt, top some small undergrowth and it gives you some reference points. Kicking through rotten logs is a good marker.  Remove tape.

[captpschar]

I think you should start with smaller ventures. If you know how to use a map & compass, there's no need to be leaving tape all over the woods. Orienteering with a map & compass is pretty easy & enjoyable once you learn how, and REI offers free or low cost classes on it. If I cant see landmarks, I use a gps to show where I am & a bearing to where I want to be, then I plot it on the compass & start trekking.

I've found that a compass does not help me find the exact beginning and turns to the passable route that allowed me to find my way over a dangerous and wooded rocky pass.  For me, setting a small cairn at the end of the safe route that got me into a basin helps me find the safe way back out of it.  Knowing that the safe pass that doesn't lead to a steep scree or a cliff is to the east doesn't help me. 

How do you use the compass to solve these kinds of problems?

[captpschar]

Fishing reel with as much line it can hold. Tie one pice to a tree by the truck and open the bail. Walk until you are out. Reel yourself back to the truck.

I am joking but I bet it has been done

My suggestion is to pick a route you want to take, a hunting loop, and walk it a few times with tape before season starts, make some blazes on trees, kick some dirt, top some small undergrowth and it gives you some reference points. Kicking through rotten logs is a good marker.  Remove tape.

Hey that's something, kicking a hole in a rotten log.   How about that.

[hunter399]

Landmarks,then more landmarks,and more landmarks.
Once you realize anything can be a landmark reading maps without a compass becomes so much better.stack some rocks on each other .put sticks on the ground in the shape of a arrow pointing the direction of main trail.But when you look at some terrain on maps landmarks will start jump at you streams ,gullys ,ridge tops,roads,mountain tops etc.Then the same area with a satellite view you will see landmarks trust me.

[haugenna]

Fishing reel with as much line it can hold. Tie one pice to a tree by the truck and open the bail. Walk until you are out. Reel yourself back to the truck.

I am joking but I bet it has been done

My suggestion is to pick a route you want to take, a hunting loop, and walk it a few times with tape before season starts, make some blazes on trees, kick some dirt, top some small undergrowth and it gives you some reference points. Kicking through rotten logs is a good marker.  Remove tape.

Hey that's something, kicking a hole in a rotten log.   How about that.

I am referring to a rotten log/limb lying flat on the ground, kicking the top off it making a U and a marker that doesn’t stick out like tape

[Crunchy]

Most good trails are not easily seen therefore I do not mark with anything obvious. 

[follow maggie]

I think you should start with smaller ventures. If you know how to use a map & compass, there's no need to be leaving tape all over the woods. Orienteering with a map & compass is pretty easy & enjoyable once you learn how, and REI offers free or low cost classes on it. If I cant see landmarks, I use a gps to show where I am & a bearing to where I want to be, then I plot it on the compass & start trekking.

 
I've found that a compass does not help me find the exact beginning and turns to the passable route that allowed me to find my way over a dangerous and wooded rocky pass.  For me, setting a small cairn at the end of the safe route that got me into a basin helps me find the safe way back out of it.  Knowing that the safe pass that doesn't lead to a steep scree or a cliff is to the east doesn't help me. 

How do you use the compass to solve these kinds of problems?

I always have a map- usgs & green trails are good. When I figure where I am and where I want to be I plot it on the map & study it about 10 minutes while I drink some water or have a snack. I carry the map in the front & look at it when I have to go around some obstacle

[bkaech]

If you are in Western Washington and Not going into a national park or wilderness area then just start walking. If you get lost, go down hill or in a set direction....You'll come to a road eventually, usually withing a 1/2 mile. It might be 20miles on the road to get back to your rig, but you won't die.... just start walking and you will figure it out.

[fishngamereaper]

I flag blood trails and kill sites. Makes navigation quicker especially in the thick or in the dark when I'm packing, or when I'm expecting help so they can find me. I do remove it when I'm done. For me I guess if I see old flag tape I assume it has a purpose. If I see new flag tape I still assume it has a purpose. If someone didnt remove their own trail tape its on them.

[MR5x5]

Roads.  Interesting. Unless I know the road, I make a point of staying off them while navigating.  They seem to turn my brain off, after all this road must know here it is going, right?  And for that matter, having a GPS with me, even off in my pack, turns my brain half off.  That said, I do carry one, but it has affected my ability to navigate by map and compass.

[Angry Perch]

2 compasses just in case batteries fail on one...

 

[captpschar]

Roads.  Interesting. Unless I know the road, I make a point of staying off them while navigating.  They seem to turn my brain off, after all this road must know here it is going, right?  And for that matter, having a GPS with me, even off in my pack, turns my brain half off.  That said, I do carry one, but it has affected my ability to navigate by map and compass.

That’s interesting, I have the same reaction to trails and gps.