A Newport couple was rescued from the woods of Piscataquis County Tuesday after separating from a small group of people they had been camping with for Memorial Day weekend. When asked why they’d taken a side trail, Michael Chapman, 40, and Kelli McFarlin, 38, reportedly had wanted a few minutes to themselves before realizing they were lost.

“When you’re out there, everything looks the same,” McFarlin said, while tears of relief ran down her face.

Indeed, everything out there in Maine’s wilderness — trees, shrubs, bushes; lots of green — really can all look the same. And having been lost, or believing I was for a few terrifying seconds in the backwoods of Maine myself, I can personally attest to the discomfort of the experience.

So how often does this kind of thing happen in our seemingly innocuous vacationland state?

More often, and in more areas, than you probably think.

These seven different lost-and-found stories, written over the last seven years, each describe a healthy variety of people — Maine residents and tourists alike — all going for much longer walks than they meant to in Maine’s backyard. Fortunately, all were able to, with good spirits and good health, walk out of the woods, and their unique experiences help educate us about what you should do, should you find yourself alone with the trees.

1. Text messages lead to a teen’s rescue (Nov. 17, 2008)

Maine sheriffs reported that a teenager’s text messages she had sent to her friend helped authorities locate her after she got lost in the woods in Poland. Fourteen-year-old Amanda Christakis of Poland took a walk in the woods late on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, after breaking up with her boyfriend.

 Due to her texts, the cellular company was able to track her coordinates, and after she later called 911, a rescue helicopter was able to find and transport her to a Lewiston hospital, where she was treated for hypothermia but otherwise unharmed.

2. Hiker reported missing in Hancock County turns up wet but safe (Oct. 4, 2011)

A Pennsylvania man and hiker spent a long night in the woods of Hancock County after apparently hiking farther than planned in the public reserve land around Black Mountain and Donnell Pond north of Sullivan.

Finding himself unable to navigate back to his car after nightfall, James Comerford, 65, decided to spend the rest of the night under a tree. The next morning, he was found by a contingent of the large search party preparing to look for him.

“He did exactly the correct thing,” said Sgt. Alan Gillis. “When he realized he could not get out before dark, he sat down and stayed put.”

3. Missing child found unhurt in Hartford woods (May 1, 2014)

A 5-year-old boy, identified as Demetrious Chase Landers, was lost for five hours in a wooded area between Main Street and Stetson Street, before being found by a neighborhood resident May 1, 2014. Fortunately, several local residents had volunteered as part of the rescue team, and numerous others had prepared to bring food, coffee, supplies and turn on porch lights to help, before the search ended.

4. Reward for rescue dog? A game of ball with the missing South Portland woman he found (July 9, 2014)

Last July, a 77-year-old South Portland woman, Ruth Francis Brennan, was found Wednesday, July 9, by Kobuck, a 5-year-old German Shepherd search and rescue dog, in the woods of Waterford after having been reported missing since that Monday.

Brennan, a power walker, had been last seen walking away from her camp on Five Kezar Ponds. Forty-eight hours later, she was located in a heavily wooded area, approximately 1.25 miles away from her where she had last been seen.

 “We all do this for today,” said Elizabeth Fossett of York and the owner of Kobuck, when crediting the rescue team made up of 146 people, including Maine police and wardens. “For the day we bring someone home to their family— alive, safe, and a happy reunion.”

5. Lost mom, 2 kids found by warden service in Argyle township (May 2, 2012)

The Maine Warden Service reported that a mother and her two children were rescued and safely returned to their home after getting lost while walking in the woods near their home in Argyle Township.

The mother, Kristina Ivey, 42, had called for help at 8 p.m. that Wednesday, May 2, at 8 p.m. as dark was approaching. Because of her call, police and wardens responded and aided in the rescue.

6. Lost cousins found in Hancock woods (July 2, 2011)

According to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, two girls were found bug-bitten but otherwise unharmed after getting lost on a local trail at around 5 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2011, and spending the night in the woods near their home in Hancock.

Amanda Shelly, 15, and her cousin, Selena Alley, 12, were found at about 7 a.m., along Kilkenny Stream that Saturday morning, having built a shelter and attempted to start a fire with their eyeglasses and sticks, after realizing they were lost.

7. Dresden man followed gut instinct about river to rescue Micah Thomas (March 15, 2012)

Tim Nason of Dresden was the man who found missing 12-year-old Micah Thomas on Thursday, March 15, 2012, after volunteering as part of the search party, and exploring his backyard of 95 acres on Alexander Road, near where the Eastern River runs.

“My feeling was, he’s going to go to the river,” Nason said. “I thought if I was that kid, that’s where I’d go.”

Micah Thomas, who’d been missing for almost 23 hours, after getting off the school bus and going into woods about 2 miles from his stop, was found sitting on a grassy bulge, scared, cold, but otherwise completely fine.

Tips for trail hikers and tourists:

So, with these stories in mind, what tips does the Maine Warden Service have for hikers or others who find themselves alone and lost?

Kevin Adam, with the Maine Warden Service, has some answers:

• Let a friend or relative know where you are going, what you are doing, and when you plan to return.
• Be prepared for the unexpected, and make sure to carry food, a blanket and matches.
• Think safety. Hikers should not try to make shortcuts.
• Carry a whistle, as the sound carries a long way.
• Stay in one place. Find a space that’s as open as possible, build a shelter and stay there.
• Don’t overdo it. Stay calm. Know your physical limitations.
• Finally, if you’re lost and have the means, call 911. “People don’t [call 911]. They call family members first,” Adam said. “If you don’t know where you are, call 911. It may require only a warden with you [cell phone-provided] GPS coordinates to walk in and find you.”