Question: What do you do if lost in the woods? Answer: Anything but what two lost hikers on Old Speck mountain in Grafton Township did Thursday.

Two buddies found themselves marooned in the Western Maine forest at 4 p.m., without rain gear or food, and were found in Ketchum on Friday, a literal “country mile” from where they started. They had broken into a camp. One burned his pants on a campfire. They wore plastic bags over their shoes to keep dry.

The pair were unhurt, thankfully. But their misadventure highlights the importance of using simple common sense when wandering in Maine’s woods. Bring a compass, at the least. Some high-energy foodstuffs as well. Layer clothing to prepare for any weather.

A cell phone is a modern necessity, also. The pair from Old Speck alerted authorities to their plight on a phone with a dying battery; perhaps a fully charged backup battery should be added to the gear list too.

Providing an itinerary of the hike to a friend or relative is also highly recommended. But not as much as the most important thing: Staying put. These two hikers went into harm’s way because of poor preparedness.

There’s little reason to make the same mistake.