I don't kow, Craig : "I talked to an SAR guy tonight. He said if they don't find you in the first 3 days they will stop looking for you. You then are on your own and need to get yourself out. Then you have 3 weeks before you starve to death."

Sorry, I don't buy this. I'd like to hear from some of the active SAR folks who hang out on this forum, but I think the conclusion that after 3 days they're not looking for you is apt to get someone killed. This depends on too many things, and we've all read about SAR actions going on longer than 3 days.

If you're lost.. stay put unless you're in a dangerous spot. You ALREADY don't know where you are... how's it going to get better? Actually, IMHO, for a true lost-in-the-wilds experience (and I've had one!) I worry more about signaling than a compass. Moving around burns calories, increases need for water, and probably increases the liklihood of an injury. I'm going to 1)talk myself out of scurring around the countryside making a moving target of myself for the SAR folks, 2)stay calm, 3)stay put, and 4)signal any way I can.