However, if an experienced tracking crew is called immediately, they can usually determine the direction taken by the victim. The terrain of the area is also a factor in determining the direction of travel. Even a track of several feet can often give a clue to the direction taken and eliminate searching the other half of the circle. And, when the track can be followed for a distance to determine the direction of travel, the shape of the search area can be reduced from a 360° circle to a pie-shaped wedge of perhaps 30°. This is a mathematical theory, but it seems to hold up quite well in most searches. The above-mentioned potential search area is larger than general, but illustrates how the size of the search area can get out of hand.
A tracking team generally consists of three people: a point man (or woman) and two flankers. The point man is in front of the others and to one side of the track, while the flankers are several feet behind on each side of the point man. They never step in front to avoid obliterating a clue. In this manner, each tracker is looking from a different angle, increasing the chance of spotting a clue. Such a clue might be a disturbed pebble or stick flattened into the ground, even a flattened blade of grass—any notable disturbance to the natural surroundings.
Early morning or late afternoon are the best times for tracking because the angle of light make clues easier to detect. The sun casts a longer shadow when low than when it is overhead, and every little pebble and stick becomes more apparent. Where small rocks or sticks have been stepped on by a flat human foot, the flattened area does not have the small shadows behind each upraised pebble as is evident in the area surrounding it
Using a Tracking Stick
A tracking stick can also help in spotting small clues. It can be a ski pole without the basket, a straight willow limb or similar tool.
When you see a normal track, mark the stride (the distance from the toe of one track to the heel of the next) on the end of your tracking stick with a pencil mark or by carving or scratching it in with a knife. Remember that the length of stride will vary when the person is going uphill or downhill.
Your tracking stick should also have the length and width of the track marked on it. And you should make a sketch of the track showing any nail marks, grooves or other distinguishing marks which might be found in a clear footprint left in mud or dirt.
What if you locate a toe mark on the last track but cannot find the next step? By placing the tracking stick on the toe of the last track and measuring the stride you can make a slow arc with the stick and find the next step.
Your eye has been on the general area where that next track should be, whereas now it is focused on a small section at the point of your tracking stick as it moves in an arc. You are then better able to locate a bent blade of grass, disturbed pebble, discolored foliage or other clues because your focus is more concentrated.
While you are learning to track, do not take shortcuts. For example, perhaps you might not have located any clues on finding the victim’s next step, but can see a track ahead. Do not jump ahead on that track. Stop and train your eye to locate the clues that lead to it before you proceed.
In the case of a lost child or in the event that darkness or a storm is threatening, experienced tracking teams can work together. As one team works out a located track, the other team makes a half-circle several hundred yards ahead of the first team on the chance of locating the extended track, being careful not to erase or obliterate any clues. This can sometimes save time, not having to work out the entire trail track-by-track. Once a clue is found, the first team can then leap-frog ahead of the other team and vice-versa.
Having coordinated search and rescue teams for many years, I can verify that a good tracking team, on the scene before a large group of ground searchers arrives can save many hours and often the life of the victim(s). Often the sheriff, who is in charge of any county emergency, calls for help and the general public responds by offering to assist in looking for lost children. But any time a group, or even one individual, traverses an area, many clues become completely erased. That is why, particularly in the case of accidentally lost children, I highly recommend that a skilled tracking team or two be put into the area before a general ground search crew is called and the clues are destroyed. Search and Rescue teams are becoming more alert to preserving tracking clues and training others to do the same.
Still, I have seen searches with more than 200 well-meaning, untrained people meandering through the area hoping to assist. Many of them will walk on the established trails and destroy most of the tracking clues. Then the direction is often difficult, or impossible, to determine by tracking or other methods. As a result, the search time lengthens and the search fails; the victim is found dead several months later within easy distance of the search area.
The clues are usually there if you know how and where to look for them, but don’t expect the impossible. We often hear of someone who can accomplish super-human feats, like tracking an ant across pavement or a porcupine up a tree. Perhaps it can be done under extraordinary conditions, but those kinds of stunts are not commonplace.
Over my many tracking years, I have experienced some incidents involving what I call “darn fool’s luck,” but it was only because the luck was combined with fifty years of practice that it produced so-called “amazing” results. The moraclass="underline" don’t neglect the clues while praying for a miracle.
Another side of tracking is learning to mark a trail for your own future use. As a licensed guide, I conduct various five- and six-day backpacking excursions into remote mountain areas. Most of the time we hike on the standard Forest Service trails that are marked with long and short blazes cut into trees, posts along the routes or piles of rocks. But occasionally I like to provide my customers with a feel for the pioneering spirit by leaving the standard thoroughfare and striking off cross-country, hiking from ridge to ridge or canyon to canyon. As you can imagine, there are often cliffs, rock ledges, tangled timber or similar obstacles in these places that block the path of the backpackers.
Add to that the fact that when going through tall timber you cannot see distant landmarks that would normally guide you in flat terrain. So years ago, when initially blazing these short-cut routes, I left small markers along the way that were identifiable to me for future use.
Sometimes I would follow an elk trail around the side of a mountain to a certain spot and then leave that trail to hike through the timber and come out on a certain ridge, creek valley, camping and fishing area or other designated location. When checking out the route I picked up several small two- to three-inch rocks. One of these would be left on top of a large boulder along the trail, another on top of a rock, or I set two of the small stones up with one on top of the other within sight of the last one. I continued this across the mountain, around swampy areas, cliffs or other obstacles. It is not natural for a small rock to be perched on another, so to a trained eye the unnatural placement can be used as a guide.
My markers are so small and unobtrusive that they are not offensive to the view of hikers, and my subliminal trail is fairly permanent because winter snow and winds do not disturb the rocks. I marked some of those areas through timber and criss-crossing elk trails more than thirty years ago. Each summer, I guide groups through these same courses to come out at an exact location two or three miles away. The hikers often wonder how I manage to come out precisely on course, but those small rock markers still catch my trained eye. I immediately detect that small, out-of-place stone that is missed by everyone else.
I have witnessed bow hunters and others going into remote timbered areas marking their trail with bright, orange-colored plastic ribbon tied to trees or bushes every few yards. But they do not retrieve those ribbons as they return. I have seen others, one a nationally-known person, use a spraycan of bright paint to mark a trail to follow back. Those ribbons and paint are still there years later, an eyesore for anyone who might venture that way or be taking photos. If you insist on using ribbons to mark a temporary trail, and circumstances are such that you might not return by that route (if you are on a search and rescue mission, for example), use bright-colored crepe paper. It is biodegradable and soon dissipates in the sun, rain and snow.