Signaling
Choose high-contrast colors for signal panels
Contrast beats color. What matters is that your signal looks nothing like the ground around it.
Topic summary
Contrast beats color. What matters is that your signal looks nothing like the ground around it.
Intended uses
Signaling skill (all levels, ~5 min practice)
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.