America's expanding web of Interstate highways and countryside-gobbling sprawl might make it seem like there's less wilderness for a person to get lost in. But it's still possible to find yourself cut off from civilization with fatal results.

That was tragically illustrated when the body of James Kim was found Dec. 6 in a mountain creek in the Oregon wilderness. His family had been stranded on a snowy logging road for days after taking a wrong turn after the Thanksgiving holiday. His wife and two daughters were eventually rescued.

A week after Kim's body was found, three friends set out for a two-day climb on Oregon's highest peak. The men have been missing since one of them used his cell phone to say he and his friends were in trouble on Sunday. Searchers have been stymied my blizzard conditions on the mountain.

So what should you do if you find yourself lost in the snowy wilderness? Camping and survival experts offer these tips.

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STAY CALM

Don't run around screaming for help, says Chris Cole, founder and president of Campa USA, which designs trailers for outdoor adventurers. (Of course, if you see someone, yell to get his or her attention.)

"You risk panicking yourself and reinforcing the thought in your head that you can't take of yourself, that you need help and that you are lost," he says.

State of mind is the most important factor in survival, he says. He suggests adopting the attitude that you're not lost; you just don't know where you are.

"Fear and panic reduce your ability to make smart decisions," he says. "If your state of mind is clear and you are not panicking you will quite simply be able to look around you and find the resources you need to keep yourself alive."

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LOOK FOR SHELTER

Get out of the wind. "The chill factor in wind is the one thing that will decrease the temperature to the point where you now have a danger in dying of hypothermia," Cole says.

Cole says if you can't find shelter, digging a hole in the snow will help you stay warm.

"Dig a hole and get down as deep as you can into the snow," Cole says. "Walk down until you get into the tree line. Just by moving off a high part of the mountain and into some trees, you've reduced your exposure to wind."

If you are in a car or survived a plane crash, DON'T leave. A disabled vehicle can provide shelter from the wind, gasoline and oil can help start a fire, and the reflective mirrors can be used to signal search flights. Keep the dome light illuminated at night, tie something bright around the antenna.

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KEEP WARM

Your nose, fingers and toes are prone to frost bite, and the body loses most heat through the head and neck. So protect those parts as much as you can, says Cole.

If you are in a car that runs, turn the heat up all the way and run the car engine until the inside is comfortable, says Dr. Paul Auerbach, an expert in wilderness medicine. Then, shut off the engine and wait until it becomes uncomfortably cold inside the car (which could be 10 to 30 minutes depending on outside temperature). Start the engine again and run the heater until the occupants feel warm. Keep repeating this process.

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REGULATE YOUR SLEEP

Stay awake if possible, says Cole. Falling asleep for a long time means you are inactive, which can increase the risk of frostbite and exposure to hypothermia. If you are in a group, take turns sleeping.

"Sleep deprivation adds to a poor state of mind," he says. "The other reason one person should stay awake is in case there is a chopper, he or she can hear it, get out and start signaling for help."

If you are in a car, don't fall asleep with the engine running because of the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, says Auerbach.

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FOOD/WATER

Water is more important than food. But eating too much snow can lower your body temperature. Cole recommends taking a mouthful of snow, holding it in your mouth to warm it up and then swallowing it.

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GETTING FOUND

Don't venture too far from your vehicle, snow cave, or other shelter. If there is a large clearing nearby, go there and leave clues: HELP made out of sticks or stamped in the snow, wave something in the air, use a mirror to reflect sun light.

Don't send one person looking for help, says Monty Bell, immediate past president of the Mountain Rescue Association.

"Your chances of survival with a group or family increases dramatically," he says. "I can't tell you how many searches we go on and quickly find the group of people and then we're looking for someone who has wandered away. That's a very difficult person to find."

Should you choose to leave, mark your trail, so rescuers can find you and you can find your way back to the shelter, says Auerbach. Also, don't use clothing. Use sticks or rocks. Turn around every few minutes to take a mental picture of the landmarks you have passed.

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PREPARING YOURSELF

If you're planning a hiking or camping trip, what you pack will vary depending on where you are. Here, Auerbach outlines useful survival supplies: http://www.healthline.com/blogs/outdoor_health/2006/12/winter-tragedy.html

No kit is perfect, but many companies offer survival packs that will give you a good start toward preparing survival essentials: http://www.lifegearcompany.com

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asap reporter Megan Scott is based in New York.

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