JHam asked how we kept track of where we were going on the trails. Many, if not most of the trails we have come across are very minimal until you get close to the village. The last two islands we hiked on the trails could not really be seen in many cases, it was more a matter of feeling your way. If you’re not on the trail, you can’t get through the underbrush/jungle. If you are on the trail, you move forward. Simple.

So…I have a machete and this also helps. Mostly it’s helpful for cutting coconuts to drink and eat, but sometimes it helps break trail and often I use it to mark a spot to use for coming back. A little cut on a tree that shows we were here. Sometimes when the trail forks, we just draw a line in the dirt.

A combination of things keeps us going the right direction. Also, we don’t walk late in the day because once the sun gets low you can’t see in the shade – a surefire way to spend the night in the bush.