How do you signal without a mirror?

Recently, Vlad Putin (wonder what his real name is?), suggested a mylar space blanket could be used in place of a signal mirror.

Great tip! That’s the kind of answer I’m looking for. Keep them coming.

windscreen

My main compass has a sighting mirror too (Silva Guide 426, 1.2oz.). That way I can see who’s lost :)

The old Boy Scout signal was three spread-out small smoky fires, but you excluded that.

Turn your Space Blanket into a small hot air balloon….?

Laser pointer?

Doesn’t #1 negate the first part of #6? There’s no way to establish line-of-sight visual communication between ground and plane in forest cover. A smoky fire would be the only plausable way, so how about adding that back into the mix (since you’ve still got your gear)?

Rick, I excluded a smoky fire because that’s an obvious answer. Even in a dense forest there are natural breaks which may not be large enough to use a bright garment as a signal, but you would have a clean line of sight to the air to signal a passing plane or helicopter. As for a line of sight on the ground you may be right with the possible senario of you being in a well elevated position (not always likely). I posed this question to get an answer that is outside of the box, or perhaps to get an answer using items that you currently carry but would not normally relate to using as a signaling device.

Use your guylines, spectra cord, tent poles, twigs, and tarp cover, myler blanket etc to make a kite and fly that sucker above the tree tops!!!!

HAM radio.

On occasion I have had to carry an emergency handheld aircraft radio about the size of a GPS in the tundra. However, it is only good if you have a visual. We would have probably used it in conjunction with the bear banger/flare pen.

Snap light sticks can be useful.

By the way, a signal mirror can be used at night with the use of a flashlight.