My 10 Mistakes while Lost in the Woods

I can’t believe how stupid I was. A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend on the Hood Canal at my annual Writer’s Retreat. It is a wonderful experience for a writer and the epitome of a retreat. Of course, it wasn’t held in 2020 but I still consider it annual.

It’s held at St. Andrew’s House in Union, WA. St. Andrew’s House is an old hunting lodge built in 1928 and purchased by the Episcopal Church in the 1950’s. It is beautiful, rustic and so relaxing.

We were kept plentifully busy with classes, assignments and working on our stories throughout the whole weekend. On Sunday, I had an hour of free time before lunch. Next to St. Andrew’s House is a cancer retreat center – a peaceful place where cancer patients can step away from day-to-day life and rest. The grounds are filled with flowers, a green house and an incredible view of Hood Canal.

Behind the cancer center is a forest. There is a wide dirt path that loops through the trees. All along the path are cairns – stacks of stones - as well as stones formed in circles or hearts and decorated with pine cones and sea shells. Symbols of hope placed there by the visitors at the center.

I’ve walked this path every time I’ve come to my retreat. From St. Andrews House and back, it is less than half an hour.

With an hour before lunch, I drank a small glass of water [much too small I would learn], grabbed my camera and headed out. This was the Sunday that temperatures were to soar to 109 degrees but it was in the morning and was somewhere in the mid-80’s. I would be in the shade most of the time and back long before it got hot.

Everything was familiar starting out. A tree trunk carved to look like a hiking boot. A wooden trail sign and the cairns around the loop. I was in the shade and it was comfortably warm. I was no more than a ten minute walk away from my destination.

As I was walking, I noticed a path branching out from the path I was on. And this is where the mistakes came in.

Mistake #1: I decided to take an unmarked trail.

Mistake #2: I assumed that since the first trail looped back around, that this one would too.

Mistake #3: I assumed that since this was a cancer retreat center that they would make sure the trails were well marked.

Mistake #4: Walking for a really long time with no trail markers instead of turning back the way I had come.

I walked for about 45 minutes when I came to the only trail sign that I had seen. It said Harmony Hill / Big Rock Trail and the arrow was pointing back down the way I’d come. I had no idea what Harmony Hill was. For the first time I pulled out my phone.

Mistake #5: Not relying on my phone sooner.

I googled Harmony Hill. It was the name of the Cancer Retreat Center.

I finally realized that this trail was not looping. So I turned and headed back down. I had fifteen minutes till lunch. I decided that if I hurried and ran some of the way, I would only be a few minutes late.

One more thing about this trail. It had very few trees so I was in the sun most of the time. But I was hopeful. Now I knew where I was going.

Mistake #6: Thinking I knew where I was going.

Mistake #7: Not using the GPS on my phone. Why? Because I didn’t think it would work in the woods. I thought it would only work in areas with streets.

Mistake #8: Not even trying to see if my GPS would work.

My thoughts on Mistakes 7 & 8 above. By now I was really hot, thirsty and probably dehydrated. When you are dehydrated, you don’t think too clearly. And to be honest, from the moment I thought it would be a good idea to take that side trail, I wonder if I wasn’t already not thinking clearly.

When lunch time rolled around and I realized that I wasn’t going to be back in time, I called St. Andrew’s and told them where I was. But I wasn’t worried. I was headed back and just needed a little more time.

Mistake #9: I wasn’t worried. So they weren’t worried.

I kept walking. And walking. There was a trail sign. All it said was Trail. And you could choose either direction. So I chose one. [Mistake #10]

By now I was really hot and thirsty. I had taken pictures along the way but was too tired to take very many now. But one of the photos I had taken was of a huge boulder about 4 feet high that other explorers had place a row of small round stones across the top. It looked like a row of peas. I had seen that boulder before and felt relief. I was going back the way I’d come.

Until I saw it the third time. And I realized that I had gone in a loop. I knew where I had made a mistake. It was at the trail sign. I had chosen the wrong way. All I could do was keep walking that loop until I came to the trail sign again. This time I chose the other direction but now I was so hot and tired I realized that I was in trouble.

I called St. Andrews and told them what happened. And the humbling thing – that I needed help. That’s when they mentioned my GPS. Was I using it? Of course not.

So I pulled up my GPS and lo and behold, it worked and I was on my way again. It said I was over two miles away. And I kept walking. Two miles at my speed and the condition I was in is a very long time but I had no choice.

Then the GPS lost its signal. I called again. This time I really needed help. “Sit down in the shade and rest. Give us the best description you can of where you are at.”

I had no idea where I was at except that according to the GPS, it was called Dorothy Ct. Trail.

They asked me to download an app to help locate me. I fumbled with it but couldn’t quite get it. I’m clearly a bit disoriented now.

Sitting or lying down is not a simple thing in the woods. There were no fallen logs to sit on. The ground is covered with rocks and blackberry thorns. I finally found a spot in the shade under some ferns and pines. The photo that accompanies this post was taken while lying there. It seemed like I had been laying there for half an hour but in reality, I think it was only a ten minutes.

My husband called. He was scheduled to pick me up at 1:00 when the retreat was over. “Lay down, rest, wait for them to come and get you.” One thing I discovered – it is hard to talk when you are this tired and dehydrated.

I also realized that they still had no idea where I was so how could they find me. I got up and started walking again. GPS still wouldn’t give me anything except the name of the trail. I finally got the app to work so now I could send them the locator code. Now they had an idea where I was. They were on their way.

I stayed in communication with them and finally came out at a public street. I texted them the address of the nearest house. I stared at the houses debating if I should knock on a door and ask for water. I didn’t. Too tired to move any further. Not sure what reaction I’d get. Didn’t want to move from the roadway where my rescuers would be looking for me.

Finally they were there. Air conditioning. Water. Such simple things and I was so grateful for them. They also brought snacks in case my blood sugar was low. I was not hungry at all. Maybe it was the hearty breakfast of eggs, oatmeal and fruit I had that morning. Or maybe this is what exhaustion and dehydration do to you.

I was worried that they would be mad at me. And that I had ruined the last few hours of our wonderful retreat. But they were happy to see me. Even though the retreat was supposed to be over, all but one was able to stay and we finished out the closing ceremony. Thank you to all of you.

And my husband? He just shook his head and said, “That’s my wife.”

What did I learn? Don’t assume anything – even if I’m familiar with the area.

Think things through. Be more aware of my surroundings. Rely on my GPS. Bring water no matter what!