When you need to find your way home…

Posted on by Hanna

There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.
~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

“How would it be,” said Pooh slowly, “if, as soon as we’re out of sight of this Pit, we try to find it again?”
“What’s the good of that?” said Rabbit.
“Well,” said Pooh, “we keep looking for Home and not finding it, so I thought that if we looked for this Pit, we’d be sure not to find it, which would be a Good Thing, because then we might find something that we weren’t looking for, which might be just what we were looking for, really.”
“I don’t see much sense in that,” said Rabbit.
“No,” said Pooh humbly, “there isn’t. But there was going to be when I began it. It’s just that something happened to it on the way.”
~  Milne, A. A.

A piece of advice for Winnie the Pooh and Rabbit:

  • Use a map or GPS on your phone to navigate your way back home.
  • Look for familiar landmarks or signs that can help guide you back.
  • Ask for directions from someone nearby or at a local business.
  • Call a friend or family member for assistance in finding your way home.
  • If you are lost in a remote area, try to retrace your steps or follow a trail or road back to familiar territory.
  • Stay calm and avoid panicking, as this can make it harder to think clearly and find your way home.
  • If all else fails, consider calling a taxi or rideshare service to take you back home.

I’m home safe and sound! 😉😊

13 thoughts on “When you need to find your way home…”

  1. I’ve always found it difficult to call a ride share when I am on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere, Hanna. Grin. My solution is to call it home.

    • Lovely comment, Curt. You know what they say? ‘Home is where your heart is’ 🎁😀
      Your response got me thinking about a post I wrote once, after going through a giant thick German catalog about mountain equipment (business in Munich) 😎
      Here is an excerpt from my post about safety in the mountains. The topic is inexhaustible, haha!

      There’s a big difference between walking on a trail in Kullen in Sweden compared to balancing on rocky terrain in a barren, snow-covered landscape in Norway.

      In Germany, they have a concept called “trittsicherheit.” I’ve highlighted some key points:

      *Being ‘Sure-Footed’ in the mountains requires you to coordinate your movements over uneven terrain without losing balance. This also means being able to adjust for a slight slip without serious consequences.

      *You need to assess the ground correctly. For example, knowing where it’s slippery. Some moss can be as slippery as soap when wet. You might also step on gravel, dirt, grass, etc.

      *You should be able to accurately gauge your own fitness, coordination, and strength, adjusting your pace according to fatigue. Experience shows that more accidents happen late in the afternoon due to physical and mental exhaustion.

      Additionally, you must be able to read and understand the map you carry and use your compass correctly. It’s okay to bring a GPS, but it can fail; the compass won’t.

      Your fitness level is crucial. If you want to have fun, incorporate interval training before you go and vary your workouts. It improves your oxygen intake and helps you move more effortlessly in the mountains.

      • All good advice, Hanna. I started wandering in the woods when I was 8 and have never stopped, part of that was leading wilderness treks for over 30 years. I particularly liked the comment about GPS. When I did my 750 mile trek down the Pacific Crest Trail to celebrate my 75th birthday, I found that most of the through hikers were depending on GPS. I couldn’t help but wonder what they would do if they broke their phone!

      • Thank you very much for your response and your story, Curt. I love your celebration of your 75th birthday!
        I remember your post about your excursions when you were a child. Am I remembering correctly? Did you have a wilderness next to your property?

    • You are most welcome, Jo! Thank you!!
      Taking the wrong turn has become a delightful experience for me! It’s amazing how it opens up new possibilities and perspectives. What’s more, I seldom find myself genuinely lost. So, why not take that chance and see where it leads you? 😊
      But not always! Years ago, I took the train out into the countryside to walk back through the woods in snow and freezing cold. It was incredibly beautiful. Looked like a plane advertisement from Finland. The only thing missing was the reindeer 😊 And now comes the point, it would have been fatal for me to get lost that particular day.

    • Thanks a lot, Ab! I have a weakness for getting lost when walking in nature, as long as I can handle it when it comes to 😊

  5. A good reminder that sometimes we need to get lost to find our way to where we really wanted to be.
    Great post.
    Many years ago, I was lost for several hours in the woods. I wish there was cell service and a ride share service back then, lol.

    • Hi Joseph! Thank you for your great story and your lovely comment!! 🎁
      I once had a bad experience on a nice summer day. Wearing summer clothes, we were caught off guard by a violent thunderstorm, with mostly hail. Vulnerability and learning are the words that cover that event 😊

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