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Plan on getting lost in the wilderness anytime soon? Few do, but Juneau's history is replete with examples of lost hikers or boaters.

"There are very few people in this community who haven't had someone who ... didn't come home as expected for dinner one night," said Ruth Danner, chapter president of the Association of Government Accountants. Her group organized a forum Thursday night at Centennial Hall to discuss how to survive in Southeast Alaska.

The event drew about 70 people and featured booths from the various professional and volunteer organizations in Juneau that organize and take part in search and rescues.

The forum also featured a panel discussion with various experts about what to do once lost, and how to avoid getting lost in the first place.

Their advice was pretty straightforward, and the tips ranged from bringing extra gear and communication equipment to bringing along a buddy.

"Don't do anything in Alaska by yourself," said Boyce Bingham of the Civil Air Patrol. "This isn't Kansas."

A recent addition to the search and rescue world are affordable personal Global Positioning System transmitters that can be used in remote locations to send for help while pinpointing locations for rescuers, said Mitch Horton, general manager of TEMSCO Helicopters.

Horton said the device is about the size of a pack of cigarettes and at $150 is "a pretty good buy."

Ray Howard, the president of the Juneau Snowmobile Club, said he could have used such a device last year, when he was stuck in the woods at night with a friend. Howard said he had all the gear he needed to make it through the night, but had no way of communicating with his family that he was all right.

One of the most popular rescuers at the forum was Ki, a thick chocolate lab and member of SEADOGS, the canine volunteer rescue group.

Her owner, Kirk Radach, had this advice for the future lost: If Ki finds you, stay in one spot, make noise and don't be alarmed if Ki runs off - she's going to get help.

• Contact reporter Alan Suderman at 523-2268 or alan.suderman@juneauempire.com.