• No concept of being lost.
• No navigational skills.
• Tend to wander aimlessly.
• Remain in general area.
• Attracted by random events (a tunnel, path or animal).
• Usually found sleeping (anywhere--against a rock, under/in a log, under a bush, under a picnic table).

DETECTABILITY
 

90% in good weather
75% in bad weather
(will retreat if weather foul)

TRAVEL AIDS
57% used paths, trail
(others scoot under bush)

• Have definite interest (playmate, pet or exploring).
• More mobile, can go further than 1-3 yr old.
• Attracted by something familiar.
• Concept of lost, try return home or go back to someplace they are familiar with.
• When tired, will sleep in some shelter (cave, hollow).
• Stranger resistant at first.

DETECTABILITY
90% in good weather
75% in bad weather
(will retreat if weather foul)
 

TRAVEL AIDS
57% used paths, trail
(others scoot under bush)

• Oriented to familiar setting, confused in a strange environment.
• May intentionally run away if mad, or to avoid punishment, or gain attention.
• May not answer until cold/hungry.
• Similiar fears as adult, only enhanced - greater sense of fear/loneliness/helplessness.
• Navigation & direction skills much more developed.
• Often lost as a result of being placed in a strange environment by adults.
• Often will not answer when called, darkness usually brings on a willingness to accept help & be found.

DETECTABILITY
65% in good weather
10% in bad weather
(will hide if weather foul)

TRAVEL AIDS
87% used paths, trail

YOUNG PERSONS:
93% found within 2 mi.

• Tend to concentrate on game, not navigation.
• Tend to overextend into dark and push beyond physical abilities.
• Often try to take short cuts.
• Tendency to follow game to dense underbrush or deep snows, deadfall areas, boulder fields, etc. with little regard for exhaustion or navigation.
• Often only prepared for the day.
• Unprepared for extremely foul weather-heavy storms/improved hunting.
• When weather turns colder most take shelter.

REASON LOST: Disoriented, misjudge time/distance, accidental or intentional separation

DETECTABILITY
83% in good weather * Communicative
66% in bad weather * Mobile
Detectability enhanced due to bright clothing
17% wear dark clothing

TRAVEL AIDS
39% used natural drainages
(paths, trails usually not available)

• Generally 15-35 yrs old.
• 85% good physical condition.
• Most are in good mental condition.
• 33% have much experience, most have limited experience.
• 80% properly equipped & clothed, 50% no survival training (East US).
• 40% adequate equip/clothing, 40-50% questionable, 20% inadequate for Colorado.
• Cause - human error caused by subject.
• Weather a factor in 18%, darkness in 33%.
• Many wander about and go cross-country (in the west).
• Civilization and landmarks not attractors.
• 66% found within 2 mi from PLS.
• Calif. 87% found within 5 mi.
• Colo. 78% found within 5 mi.
• East US 97% found within 4 mi.
• 90% not moving for more than 24 hrs.
• Calif. and Colo. 45% moved at night. East US 80% moved at night.
• 25-60% found by SAR using attraction, confinement, hasty and heli-search.
• 25-45% found themselves.

• Generally relies on trails with set destination.
• Trails create problems if overgrown, snow covered, poor junctions, slide over trail, trail not maintained, poorly defined junctions.
• Mismatched abilities: ....one may get tired, fall behind and eventually get disoriented/lost.
• Take other trails or short cuts - cutting switchbacks-leading to disorientation or going down wrong hill or drainage.
• Poor or no map or compass.
• Very dependent on trails and travel aids for navigation.

REASON LOST: 40% Disoriented
20% accidental & intentional
separation, poor supervision
25-30% misjudge time/distance

DETECTABILITY
75% in good weather
67% in bad weather
 

TRAVEL AIDS
75% used paths, trail or drainage

• Largely under 30 yrs old. 33% are 10-15 yrs old.
• Good physical and mental condition.
• Not necessarily experienced, less than 20% with much experience, most with little experience.
• 40% adequately equipped/clothed, 30% questionable, 30% not.
• Cause - human error caused by subject, weather, darkness.
• 82-90% found within 5 mi of PLS.
• 67% found within 2 mi of PLS.
• 92% moving less than 24 hrs.
• 30-40% travelled at night.
• 40% found by hasty team.
• 17% confinement/attraction instrumental.
• 5% found by dogs.
• 3% found by line searchers.

Those who travelled more than 10 mi, also descended several thousand feet, and followed trails, as opposed to going cross-country.

CLIMBERS:

• Range from "Hill walkers" to "Scramblers" to "Rock climbers" to "Ice climbing" to "Alpine Mountaineering".
• Best climbing ages are "30-35" not uncommon "14-60".
• Climb for the pure joy of climbing.
• They do not need to have a great deal of physical strength nor superior co-ordination.
• Avalanches are the major cause of fatalities.
• Falling is the major cause of injuries.
• Stranded by weather or rock fall (landslide).
• Well equipped and self-sufficent.
• Tend to stay on or near routes.
• ** Check for scuff marks near cliff.

Many climbing accidents never get reported because of pride.

• May be affected by senility or Alzheimer's; mentally retarded, or a form of psychosis.
• Sometimes oriented to the past.
• Behaviour characteristics very similar to that of children.
• Easily attracted by things.
• Active ones will overexert themselves.
• If active and lucid, likely to overextend self rapidly.
• High hypothermia risk - lower normal temperatures.
• Many have suboptimal nutrition, are less able to generate heat from reserve calories, and are poorly clothed.

*** 44% travelled more than 4 mi (Calif.), 84% (East US) less than 2 mi.

DETECTABILITY * Often deaf or hard of hearing
59% in good weather
10% in bad weather
(Difficulty in locating subjects, most found in prone position regardless of weather condition)

TRAVEL AIDS
47% used travel aids - (hunters used path or game trail).
Those lost in bush areas seldom used any type of trail.
Frequently found under brush, or in densely treed areas.
 

• Act and react similar to kids 6-12.
• Usually does not respond to name called.
• Remain in same area for days.
• Usually hidden from view - fright, hiding from elements.
• No physical impairments but will not help themselves.
• Easily attracted by sights and sounds.
• May set off to explore without any sense of direction or how to return.

DETECTABILITY
(kids 6-12)
65% in good weather
10% in bad weather
(due to bad weather crawl under logs, heavy branches)

TRAVEL AIDS
67% used travel aids - (used paths, game trails, streams or drainages).
33% were found in brushy areas.

• Often seeking solitude.
• Usually found within sight and sound of civilization.
• All maintain they weren't lost - merely getting away to think.
• Felt intruded upon.
• Some avoided being found.
• (US) Found near prominent locations ex. scenic lake/hill, lookout.
• (US) Tend not to go into underbrush.
• (US) Most tend to go upward to distinctive locations.
• (CAN) Tend to settle down in first secluded spot, often next to a tree.
• (CAN) Attracted to secluded, open spaces, surrounded by trees, some distance away from trails. Don't travel far.

DETECTABILITY
Not responsive to searchers - feel it is an intrusion upon their solitude.

TRAVEL AIDS
Usually stay in one place.

• Pinecone, berry, mushroom pickers; rock hounds; photographers.
• Poor survival risk.
• Go in good weather, no extra clothing.
• Generally unprepared (physically, clothing).
• Complete disorientation.
• Attempts to find their way usually gets them further into trouble - because of disorientation.
• Intentions are usually to stay in one location.
• Doesn't know the area.
• Little or no food, water or survival gear.

REASON LOST: disoriented, poor supervision, intentional separation

DETECTABILITY
75% in good weather
50% in bad weather
(will retreat if weather foul) * high % are communicative.
 

TRAVEL AIDS
50% used paths, trail or drainage

• More cases for young [ <8 yrs old] and older [ >60 yrs old].
• Generally good physical condition.
• 65-70% in good mental condition.
• 40-50% adequately equipped.
• 45-55% properly clothed, 30% questionable, 15% not.
• Cause - human error, caused by subject.
• Greater likelihood to wander about or go cross-country.
• 69% found within 2 mi of PLS.
• 90% found within 5 mi of PLS.
• 33% found within 1/2 mi of PLS.
• 90% not moving more that 24 hrs.
• 30-50% move at night.
• Found by variety of techniques.

• Generally under 35 yrs old.
• Almost all are in good physical and mental condition.
• 33% have much experience, significant number with some experience.
• Generally well equipped and clothed.
• 60% have survival training.
• Cause - Human error caused by subject - 33% weather, 20% darkness.
• 54% found within 2 mi. from PLS.
• 82-85% found within 5 mi.
• 83% are not moving more than 24 hrs.
• 30-45% move at night.
• 50% found by hasty search, visual tracking. 50% by themselves.

REASON LOST:
Disoriented, misjudge time/distance
30% accidental & intentional separation.
20% poor map or no map.

DETECTABILITY
* 50% Mobile * Almost all are communicative

TRAVEL AIDS
Used path or trail or drainages.
25% attracted by civilization.