In reply to Rob Exile Ward:
How many of us have arrived at summit, wandered round to find a place to sit, had the mist come in, then become unsure of which direction we need to go? Solved with map and compass of course.
Now imagine you do this in thick vegetation / forest. Now imagine you didn't take a beating when you left the path. Now imagine you wander in the direction you think you've come from only to go further from the path. Now imagine you're completely exhausted, cut bleeding and demoralised with no idea where the trail lies. Imagine your map doesn't quite show the roads there abouts combined with your total disorientation.
I remember descending a mountain in Alaska 16 years ago. I should have returned on the trail I ascended but I wanted to traverse the mountain. The bushes from above didn't look too big and I thought I could see a route down. Well those bushes were trees tall enough to hide any view once I was in them, the ground was steep and un trodden, and it was a battle to get down. I was cut and dripping in sweat by the time I emerged onto another trail out of there. It looked easy enough from above and looking at the map it didn't seem far. So I totally get how this happened. I think we forget how cultivated out forests are and how much easier it is to traverse them.