Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07

Newcomers to the motor camping
world probably have given little
thought to the possibility of becoming
lost while on tour and because of
the great system of highways which
stretches from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific and from the Gulf we'll up into
Canada, many believe that it is inn
possible for any motorist. no matter
how unfamiliar with the section of
the country. to have real difficulty in
getting back to civilization.
However, even experienced motorists
sometimes do lose their way and are
forced to devote precious hours in get
ting back to a spot from whence they
may continue their journey.
Especially is this true when explor
ing new roads in those sections of the
country which are sparsely inhabited.
In itself one of the greatest delights
In motoring. These roads often lead
to natures beauty spots and in prac-
tically every case they will reward
the one who has been adventurous
enough to risk them.
In certain sections of the country
there are roads used perhaps only
once a day, and sometimes even less
In case of getting lost on such a by
way the novice probably will start
back the way he came. soon to find
| himself in worse tangle than before
| 1t is too easy to take the wrong fork
| Of the road when one has not watched
| for landmarks and does not remember
| that in returning the lay of the land
| is reversed.
Needed Equipment Cited.
When the motorist starts exploring
unknown territory he must equip him
self with certain essentials. one of
| the chief of which is some knowledge
| of the outof-doors, which will enable
| him to direct his car properly and
arrive at his destination without mis-
| hap.
A number of experienced campers,
mixers and motor tourists have been
consulted with view to offering the
novice a few rules that will obviate
the danger of becoming lost and make
his outings the uninterrupted delight
he intended them to be. Almost in
varlably. however, experienced per-
sons insist that rules alone will not
do. 1t seems that one must acquire
a sort of knack of knowing what to
do when lost, and more particularly
of knowing how to keep from being
| lost.
| One veteran camper points out
that while the automobile itself offers
a quick means of getting back to the
main highway, If one has strayed off
the route. this advantage frequently
is disadvantage, for the tourist is
likely to lose himself with greater
speed by reason of the willingness of
the car to take him away from the
beaten track as quickly as it will
bring him back-if he knows the way
Just as it is insdvisable to run
around in circles when lost in the
woods alone. so is 1t poor plan to
try out every stray road encountered
when lost with the car. according tc
experienced motorists. Remaining
cool, calm and collected they insist
Is the first rule of the game and the
basis of the knack in developing a
good bump Of location.
The first thing to do when the
| country looks alarmingly strange and
the roads are leading nowhere is to
mark clearly the place where one is
lost. This is what the motor camper
should do if he happens to stray off
| into the woods and cannot find his
way back to the camp site. The natu.
raj impulse under such circumstances,
1t is said, is to start driving desper-
ately in some one direction, or to start