The route that you select to travel while trying to evade the enemy depends upon the situation in which you find yourself, the weather conditions, and the nature of the terrain. Whether you select a ridge, stream, valley, coastline, dense forest, or mountain range to follow, be sure it is the safest rather than the easiest way. Experience has proven that the most difficult route is frequently the safest.

A route along a ridgeline is usually easier to follow than one through a valley. Game trails are frequently on top of ridges, and you can use them to guide your travel. Also, you find less vegetation, frequent high points for observing landmarks, and few streams and swamps to ford.

The use of a stream as a route is of particular advantage in strange country because it provides a fairly definite course and might lead to populated areas; also, the stream may provide you with fish and water and serve as a vehicle for travel by boat or raft. However, be prepared to ford, detour, or cut your way through the thick vegetation lining the stream. When you are following a stream in mountainous country, watch for falls, cliffs, and tributaries as checkpoints. In flat country, streams usually meander, are bordered by swamps, and are thick with undergrowth. Travel on these streams provides little opportunity to observe landmarks.

When you decide to follow a coastline, you can figure on a long, roundabout route. But it is a good starting point, an excellent base line from which to get your bearings, and a probable source of food. In strange country, study outstanding terrain features as you travel, and concentrate on maintaining your course. Climb to a high point and look at the general pattern of the land, character of the vegetation, the drainage patterns, and the trend of mountains and ridges. Choose a prominent landmark that you can see while you travel. As you near this landmark, line up another one ahead of you.

If you are traveling in a dense forest, you probably will not be able to spot distant landmarks. You can hold a course by lining up on two trees forward of your position in your direction of travel. As soon as you pass the first one, line up another beyond the second. You might find it helpful to look back occasionally to check the relative positions of landmarks or ground slope and contour.

You can usually use streams, ridges, and trees as guides in open country and as a means of retracing your route. On overcast days, in areas where the vegetation is dense, or whenever the country appears the same, mark your route. Use bent bushes, rocks, or notches placed on the back sides of trees at approximately eye level. Mark bushes by cutting vegetation or bending it so the under and lighter side of the leaves are facing upward. These signs are especially conspicuous in dense vegetation. But use them with discretion because you risk discovery by the enemy when you mark your route too plainly.

Even with a map, do not guide too confidently on man-made features or landmarks that are likely to change. The only safe landmarks are natural features, such as rivers and hills. In the jungle, for example, when a village site marked on a map is investigated, it often is an overgrown clearing. Similarly, one rainy season can change the course of a small stream or close an unused trail with dense shrub.

Use trails as guides that lead in the general direction of friendly forces; and when you come to a fork, use the path that appears most traveled as a guide. If you guide on the wrong trail and find yourself lost, stop and try to remember the last time you were sure of your location Mark your location where you were lost and start backtracking. Sooner or later you will discover a recognizable feature with which you can pinpoint your position.

Traveling at night is safe in the desert or open country but is not advisable in strange, wooded country. However, if you do travel at night, use a shielded light only when necessary to find your way over rough, dangerous spots or to read a map or compass. Since your eyes adjust to the darkness, alight blinds you to all but a small area that is illuminated. You can keep a fairly accurate course for short distances in open country by picking a bright star near the horizon as a guide star in your line of travel. Then line up the trees and other skyline landmarks ahead with the star. Be sure to check your direction frequently with the North Star or the Southern Cross and change guide stars whenever you need to change direction.

You may have to detour frequently in rough country.

To do this, you should try to follow methods, such as the one shown in figure 6-1. This method is used for estimating distance and average angle of departure for short detours. On your return from the detour, you estimate the angle and distance to regain your original line of travel. For greater accuracy, count paces and use a compass. Another method (fig. 6-2) allows you to

Figure 6-1.-Estimating distance and average angle of departure.

Figure 6-2.-Using a prominent landmark.

select a prominent landmark ahead and behind your line of travel. On returning from your detour, walk until you are again "lined up" on the two landmarks; then follow your original course. Another example for detouring is by compensating by paces and right angles, as shown in figure 6-3.