What to Do If You Get Lost in the Mountains

Losing the trail is more common than you might think, especially in fog or as evening approaches. What makes the difference is reacting early rather than continuing in the hope that the trail will reappear.

1. Stop as soon as you are unsure

Every minute you keep walking while disoriented increases the distance to your last known location. Stop, drink, eat something, and breathe: decisions made in a rush and when hungry are worse.

2. Determine your location

1. Open your map and look for the last trail marker or junction you remember with certainty.
2. Identify visible landscape features: a river, a ridge, a dirt road, a reservoir.
3. Check your coordinates using your phone's GPS and locate them on the map.

3. Decide whether to turn back or stay put

If you know for certain which way you came and there is enough daylight left, retrace your steps to the last safe location. If you do not know, or if it is already late or foggy, it is safer to stay in a visible, sheltered location than to descend through unfamiliar terrain.

Warning:Never descend into a ravine or gully to take a “shortcut” to the valley. They often end at cliffs and are the cause of many rescues and serious accidents.

4. Call for help

In Spain and throughout the European Union, the emergency phone number is 112. When calling, give the following information in order: what happened, how many people are in your group, whether anyone is injured, your coordinates or the most precise geographic reference you have, your approximate elevation, the current weather, and your remaining battery level. Afterward, keep your phone on and conserve battery power.

If you have no cell service, try moving to higher ground or finding an open spot. An emergency call can sometimes go through another available network even when your carrier has no signal.

5. Make yourself visible while you wait

• Put on all the clothing you have and insulate yourself from the ground; cold is the greatest risk while waiting.
• Use your emergency blanket with the silver side facing your body.
• Position yourself in a clearing visible from the air, not under dense tree cover.
• International distress signals: six whistle blasts or flashes per minute, followed by a one-minute pause, then repeat.
• If a helicopter appears, raise both arms in a “Y” to indicate that you need help.

This guide is not a substitute for emergency services or specific mountain safety training. If you have any reasonable doubt, call 112 as soon as possible: an early call makes rescue much easier.