Signaling
Choose high-contrast colors for signal panels
Contrast beats color. What matters is that your signal looks nothing like the ground around it.
Step-by-step
In snow or on light rock: use dark materials — a garbage bag, dark jacket, or scorched wood.
In green forest or grass: use bright orange, yellow, or blaze pink if you have them; a silver space blanket also works.
On dark ground or wet dirt: light or reflective materials — foil, mirrors, or white cloth.
Weight the corners and edges with rocks so the panel doesn't blow away.
Combine ground panels with a geometric shape — a big X or triangle — so aircraft recognize it as human-made.
Tip: Bright red is the color humans notice fastest in natural settings. If you have a red jacket, keep it on top when signaling.
Related outdoor skills
Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.