re: If you ever get completely lost in the wild the best advice is to stop and stay put

I got lost briefly one time backpacking. The trailhead sign was missing where we were supposed to cross a creek so we missed it. the trail kept going another mile and just stopped. I crossed the creek only to find there was no trail on the otherside and that it was a giant island and the creek had forked. This was in Bankhead national forest. So we backtracked slowly and found the correct crossing.

backtrack if you aren't completely lost. Don't solo hike areas with poor trails if you are a newb unless you got a GPS. Always have a compass. Read the map before your adventure and stay close to a body of water.

Always keep a bottle of snipe spray or a side arm. Thems dangerous