Orienteering expert explains simple method for getting unlost in the forest
Latvian Orienteering Federation president Juris Žilko has shared advice on what to do if you get lost in the forest. He recommends moving from smaller paths toward larger roads until help can be found.
As mushroom season gets underway, more people are heading into Latvia's forests to forage, but not everyone considers how easy it is to lose your way in unfamiliar terrain. Speaking on TV24's program "Uz līnijas," Juris Žilko, president of the Latvian Orienteering Federation, explained what to do in such a situation.
Walk straight until you find a path
Žilko said that if a person has lost their sense of direction and cannot determine which way to go, one solution is to simply keep walking in a straight line until reaching some kind of path or road.
From small to large
Once a lost person reaches a path or road, the expert advises following a specific sequence: move from a smaller forest trail to a larger path, then to a gravel road, and finally to a bigger road. This gradual progression increases the chance of encountering other people or vehicles who can offer help.
Žilko emphasized that the key principle is to move from smaller to larger routes, gradually reaching a place where it becomes easier to orient oneself and find assistance. This method can be useful for anyone heading into the forest to pick mushrooms or spend time outdoors who isn't confident in their navigation skills.
