To further prevent the possibility of losing one’s self he should blaze the trail as he tries to travel out and keep straight with the compass if there is no sun, moon or stars to act as guides. One cannot depend much on Nature’s signs such as the preponderance of tree limbs on the south side, moss on the north side, etc. In a country that has been lumbered over old trails and woods roads should be followed down hill as the lowlands and water courses are the invariable destination of logs and these old trails and tote roads usually guide the traveler to some lumber camp or clearing from which a well defined road is apt to lead. As a last resort strike running water and follow it tenaciously. In it and along its shore the wanderer may perchance find food, he may possibly launch a raft upon it and he certainly will not die of thirst. If you find yourself hopelessly lost the first thing to do is to keep cool and avoid panic for the greatest danger is fear which robs one of his judgment. If you are near a party and have a gun shoot twice in succession repeating after long waits.[1] Smoke distress signals are made by starting two green stuff fires about fifty feet apart. Get on a high point for a lookout. [1] The signal varies with the locality. In some sections it is one shot, then a pause, and then two shots in quick succession; in other localities it is two shots in quick succession, then a pause, and then a single shot. Ascertain what the distress signal in any locality is before venturing into the wilderness. The back pack man is in no immediate danger so long as his outfit is with him but let it be separated from him by mishap in a strange country and his woodcraft ingenuity will be taxed. If night draws close build a little bivouac fire and camp before dark, make yourself comfortable, get in plenty of fresh wood to keep up the fire all night, build a wind screen on three sides of fallen logs, brush and browse, and if possible lay something on the bare ground to keep you off the dirt. One should make it a rule never to leave the camp without taking a small emergency bag along which would greatly assist in case of getting lost. It should contain a compass, maps, First Aid packet, match box, fish line and hooks, emergency ration and a knife. CHAPTER V PACKS AND PACKING Back packing of the wilderness adventurer’s outfit is one of the necessary evils to be endured for the privilege of enjoying the freedom of travel and the peace and quietude of cheerful camps in the untracked solitudes of the great outdoors. Truly its trials and tribulations are many, yet when fully mastered and one becomes an adept in cruising methods it spells absolute independence of everything except food supplies. Packing at best is a hard plod but it is to be remembered that there is a certain pleasure in even the roughest experience and that in after years only the pleasant things remain in reminiscence.