I was out hiking in the woods today, geocaching (I am an avid geocacher, which gets me out a LOT more than any other activity), and, while out looking for a cache today, I decided to "shortcut" through a state forest. Straight line distance was about .9 mile. I figured, that shouldnt take too long. So, I begin following the arrow on my GPS (I have a Garmin GPSmap 60Cx, which I load topos on as well), and head into the woods. Well, as it happens, I am in HEAVY cover (pine forest in New England, as well as tons of mountain laurel), and I couldnt get a good lock. Now, as I was blindly following the GPS, I was a little disoriented. So, I stop & think for a sec. About how far have I walked? not too far in. Do I want to keep pushing? Yes, after all, I HAVE to walk out eventually. Now, before I shut the GPS off, I recalled the cardinal direction I was moving, before I totally lost reception. So, I pulled out my handy little PSK, the one I got when I ordered my RSK Mk I knife, and pulled out the compass. I gotta say, at this point, I was a little excited that I got to use something I carry every day. So, I whip out the little compass, and follow a westerly direction (my original course, roughly). So, I use ONLY the compass to navigate for about 20 minutes, give or take, finally coming upon a trail, running, roughly, N-S. I pulled out the GPS at this point, switched it on, and find that I am only about 500' or so from where I am supposed to be. So, I mosey on up to the cache, sign the log, and head back. Of course, I find a jeep trail that ran roughly parallel to my path there, probably not more than 2-300' off to my right, as I was moving.
Now, I carry emergency gear with me, in the event I get lost. Besides the PSK, knife, & GPS, I also have a camelback MULE, without the bladder, a military canteen, an orange vest (its hunting season), a camera, binos, a journal, a headlamp, my cell phone, and a pair of nomex gloves (for reaching into holes & stone walls). So, absolute worst case scenario, if I got REALLY lost, I would have spent a mostly comfy night out. But, as with most places in new england, a good couple of hours walking in a straight line, you will hit a roda, house, or some sort of civilization. I was never in any real danger, but, it felt good to HAVE to use something I usually only carry around, just incase!