This project focused on modeling an optimal search strategy for a lost backcountry explorer using least-cost path analysis in a GIS environment. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and a vegetation/land cover raster were used to generate a cost surface representing the difficulty of traversing different terrains. A cost distance surface was created from known trailheads to determine the most efficient route through the landscape. This project also acknowledged data limitations, especially the assumption that the lost individual stayed on the optimal path, and proposed further analysis using buffer zones around lakes and trails. It also considered potential 3D visualization in Google Earth to enhance spatial understanding and route planning.