Something that keeps nagging at me, as a person who goes to new areas all of the time: Look around at the landmarks on your way in, so that you have the most rudimentary sense of what things should look like on the way out (I actually turn around at various points along the way)
Great advice Bee - especially if the terrain is relatively uniform. I've done a lot of desert canyon hiking over the years in California, Utah and Arizona, and that trick is really important - especially if you're off an established trail and just exploring. I would imagine hiking in heavily snowed and iced terrain would be similar - except building a cairn at junctions isn't an option.
