Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07
NEWCOMERS IN TOURIST LIFE
OFTEN MAY LOSE THEIR WAY
Many Experienced Campers Find Difficulty
and Lose Valuable Time in Hunting
Roads-Some Pertinent SUGGESTIONS

running about. as in the cast of the
man who is lost while afoot. If the
point where one was originally lost
is not marked, one is likely to run
around in circles without realizing it,
thus wasting a lot of good energy to
no purpose.
If the adventurer happens to be in
his car at the time he will be wasting
precious gasoline in addition to his
own energy. That is one reason why
1t is frequently advisable to step out
of the car under such circumstances
and explore the situation afoot
The car itself makes an excellent
mark of the original point of becom.
ing lost, and If some member of the
party will remain with the car and
sound the horn occasionally the ex-
piorer viii have an excellent guide
in event of any difficulty in finding
his way hack 10 the car
No matter how lost or puzzled re.
garding the way, experienced tourists
advise to switch off the ignition and
save the gas. Some motorists will
allow their engines to idle for as much
as 10 minutes at A stretch while they
browse about trying to get a line on
where they are. This only aggra.
Yates the situation and frequently
serves TO deafen the driver to sounds
that might serve to give him a clue
as tn his whereabouts.
With the engine running, for in
stance. a distant train whistle might
pass unnoticed. The cackling of a hen
or the familiar utterances of some
other domestic animal indicates the
proximity of farm, and the rational
motorist will set out to look for it.
He is likely to miss such clues alto.
hn 10ft hi
but the Gathering of his own engine
When one is lost with the car 1t Is
usually an easy matter to drive up
to nearest high point. From there a
view Of the surrounding country may
lead to discovery of main highway
in the distance. Even IL the way to
reach it is not at once apparent, know
ing the general direction will be very
great help.
Point TO Remember.
| It is important to remember to Sc
| lect the wider and more Travelled road
whenever approaching a fork. Some
times it is not easy to choose the bet
ter Travelled road from those that do
not seem to be Travelled at all, but in
spection of the ground generally will
reveal tire marks, hoof impressions or
| footprints. If the motorist will make
a wise choice at each fork, he soon
will reach civilization.
| One difficulty with the automobile Is
that it sometimes adds to the problem
by breaking down. Failing to start
the car. the tourist then is on his own
resources and finds himself in the po-
sition of a hiker who has lost his
bearings. The car may have broken
down in some wooded path where au-
tomobiles do not pass more frequently
than once a day or once a week, and
he is then as badly off as the man
who gazes up at the tall timber and
realizes that he is lost. Here is where
certain preparations are advisable.
Always Carry a Compass.
In the first place, one always should
be equipped with a compass, although
experienced travellers agree that a
compass is useless unless one has had
some experience in using it. The six
requisites of the hiker's or campers
| equipment-ax, compass, matches,
whistle. knife and first-aid kit-apply
to all who adventure off the main
| Travelled lines, but in each instance /.
| is highly important to know how 10
use of these lifesavers.