Ashley Sharko and two college friends got lost for 55 hours in the Grand Tetons. They spent two near-freezing nights without food or water huddled under pine boughs. The incident taught Sharko some hard lessons about wilderness hiking: 1) Always leave a note about where you're heading (it was a text to her dad that aided her rescue); 2) follow water downstream to find civilization, but be prepared to turn back if it leads instead to cliffs or a waterfall; 3) stay in open areas during daylight search hours (Sharko was spotted by a helicopter). If you bed down for the night, mark a nearby open area with rocks or colorful gear; and 4) if you encounter a bear (as she did), avoid eye contact and back away slowly and quietly. If it's charging, jump, yell, and wave your arms to chase it away.