How Not To Get Lost

Getting lost is something I never really fear, but I know its a rather common place thing for people, especially in the days of GPS phones and what not.

I'm actually quite fortunate to remember the direction I've gone. M brain picks out land marks generally and retains them in case I need to backtrack. Its important especially if you need to return for the washroom, your place of stay or somewhere, where there are people to speak to about directions. If I am somewhere new, I'm never afraid to go to the tourist office and nab a map. Really, that's what they're there for.

The only reason I made it to the hostels on both occasions was because I stopped and asked directions. The first time I stopped twice and the second time a whopping Four, mind you the second time I had just taken a flight, a 4 hour train ride and a 30lb bag.


Above all the things I say, two things are important.

2.) Looking like a tourist with a map is okay. Really, if your lost, finding your way is more important than your self image.

1.) Never be afraid to ask directions, especially if its something you want to see or do.

I have a great example of this last one. My sister and I were going backpacking/camping on Isle of Skye, and along the 2 hour hike, she and I both fell behind the two other people with us. It was a significant enough lag, that the next day we both headed out early in order to get a head start. There had been, the day prior a long, steady down hill walk, and I had experienced enough up hill walks to know this was going to be a bitch the next day. Long slow and full of sweaty panting. My sister stopped a head of me (having gotten an early head out than I) and stopped to talk to an older couple. When I reached them, he finished explaining to her a steeper, much faster trail, ill used but would cut our walk up the hill by 20 minutes to a half hour. After thanking them, we found it and used it. While it was steep, it took all of five minutes to get to the top. We ended up beating our companions back and able stop for many sheep and water breaks! See not so scary, and way less work!

My Sister heading out. (We're going over that ridge ahead)

The further away little white dote is our destination.

There is the main trail twards the left of the ridge, the smaller one is not visible.

My sister taking a much needed water break after hauling ourselves up the steep trail.

Victory!!!